Walking on Air

I love it when things "Come Together" for me and this blog.   Several weeks ago, over at one of my favorite places online, Wings McCartney, posted some great fan photos of Paul McCartney taken in 1982.   I intended on posting them here but never got around to it because I posted other things.  Well I have  been sorting my Beatles fan magazines and found a fan story about meeting Paul in 1982 and sure enough the story takes place the same day as the photos!   So now I can post the story and photos together.   I love that!

The Story comes from the December 1983/January 1984 issue of Beatlefan magazine.  It was written by Linda Lampo.   The photos were taken September 24, 1982 outside of Air Studio by Janet Merrill.

 
I met Paul McCartney for the first time at AIR studios on Sept 23, 24, and 28, 1982.

I went to AIR Sept. 23 and a crowd was there, so I went inside to ask when Paul would arrive.  The doorman said he was there already, but to come back in an hour or two as he usually comes out at 6p.m.

So at 4:30 I came back and a half hour later I spotted Linda McCartney coming down the street.  She had come from dinner, and was being nice to everyone.  Then she went inside and at 6 p.m. both Paul and Linda came off the elevator.

Paul was fixing his tie and as they came out the door, they both said "Hi" to me (I was standing by the door).  I asked Paul to sign an autograph, but he was being rushed to go to a party, so he said, "I'll be here tomorrow.  Come back."

That's all I had to hear.  My husband took a picture while Paul laughed.

The next day Paul came alone.  At 1 p.m. his Volvo pulled up and he came around the Oxford Street corner and signed autographs.  He was wearing jeans and had a lot of gray hair, but looked good.  I called to him and he stopped and signed my photo.  He asked me if I liked the photo of him that was signing (which I thought was strange).  Then I gave him a ceramic guitar I had made.  He said he loved it because it was handmade.

My husband took another picture and Paul shook hands with him and said to us "I got the guitar," and turned to me, "you got the photograph," and to my  husband, "you got the snap."

September 28th was my next to last day in London and I had to see Paul one more time.  So, again I went to AIR, where I knew hew as still recording.  I was lucky as here he came again at 1 pm.  Everyone knew who we were waiting for.  But this time only three girls were close to him - me and two others (one, another American had her baby with her).

Paul stopped and said hello to us.  Then he played with the baby.  He was being very casual.  It was time for him to leave and so he started walking and as he got to the door, he turned around and said goodbye to me!  I naturally waved back.  He made it feel so pesonal.

That is one trip I'll never forget.