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When I First Met Tori - Christopher Whitney

 Who would have thought that a Christmas gift from 1987 would be as meaningful today as it was then?  When I was seven years old, my grandfather gave me the beautifully illustrated 50th anniversary edition Snow White book.  It was my favorite story as a kid.  Now at 22, 15 years later, I had the opportunity to give that book to my favorite musician, Tori Amos.

 My friend Joyce and I won the RAINN Auction for the Providence show at the Performing Arts Center on November 17, 2002.  The show was amazing as always.  We sat in the first row of the Orchestra Pit.  We were so close, we could touch the stage with our foot.  As Tori played, she made eye contact with us several times, which was awesome!

After the show, Joel escorted us backstage.  He also invited my Mom & Dad to wait backstage, and he kept them company which was nice.  As we were waiting outside her dressing room door, Joel and Steve (Tori’s bodyguards) were talking with us, and were really friendly.  We were also chatting with the other two winners, who were very nice too. Steve told us not to be nervous, as we may have seemed to be a little.  Then the door opened and Steve told us it was time-the time I had been waiting for!  I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I was happy and excited!  Joyce walked in first, and I followed.  The room was small, and had a candle lit on a glass table.  Tori gave Joyce a hug, and then looked at me and gave me a hug.  She was still wearing what she wore during the show.  Tori looked beautiful as always but seemed tired, which was understandable.  She had just finished an outstanding show for the 3rd night in a row.  She was attentive and was a real trooper though.  Joyce and I each had a gift bag filled with gifts for Tori.

 She glanced down at my bag first with curiosity.  It was a gift bag with a zebra print on it.  Since Mr Zebra is one of her songs, I thought it was cute.  She recognized the zebra print on the bag, and did a little dance humming her song Mr Zebra, which was adorable!  I first gave her a card, and she held it close to her heart and said “Thanks hun, I’ll read this when I have some private time.”  The first gift I took out was a small black wooden piano in a black case, that I had bought in Martha’s Vineyard over the summer.  She smiled and said with excitement, “It looks just like my Bosey!”  I asked her if she had ever been to Martha’s Vineyard, and she said, “No, but I’d love to go sometime.”  She had played Boys in the Trees that night, which was originally done by Carly Simon.  I told Tori that Carly Simon has a place on the Vineyard, and how it is a special place to my family and I, as we go to the island every summer.  It was also interesting how I had read an article about Tori a week before the show, and it mentioned that the b-side from ‘Scarlet’s Walk’, Seaside takes place in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.  These are two beautiful islands off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  I also mentioned this to Tori.  She was full of smiles.

The next gift I took out was the Snow White book.  I told her that I had heard that her daughter, Tash liked this story.  Her eyes got big and she said, “Oh yes, she’s obsessed with Snow White.”  I told her how it was my favorite story as a child, and I wanted her and the family to have it.  I told her my Granfather how had passed away in 1998 had given it to me, but it was something I wanted to give it to Tash. She looked concerned yet touched, as she said, “Are you sure?”  I told her, “Yes, it would mean so much to me for you to have it.”  She held the book up to her heart and said with a cute smile, “Thank you sweetie, I will treasure this.” 

My Granfather "Baba" with one of my Snow White Books - Aug 1986

I also mentioned how I love musicals such as “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music” and I know how Tori is enjoying “Mary Poppins” with Tash.  She told me “we’re rediscovering through her.” meaning Julie Andrews, who starred in “The Sound of Music”, and “Mary Poppins”.  There were a few other things in the bag that I gave her.  Steve joked and said, “It’s the never ending bag.”  We all laughed.  The other small gifts were, a Home Sweet Home Yankee Candle, and a few Mary Kay lip-glosses, as I know she likes candles and lip-gloss.  She commented, “Oh, this smells nice” when she opened the candle, and “Oh neat!” when she saw the lipgloss.  My mom is a Mary Kay Consultant, so I knew Tori would enjoy them.  Tori called my gifts “Treasures” 

I had two cameras, one was a digital camera.  Steve took a couple pictures with one, and Tori’s assistant, Chelsea, took one with the “Digi” as Tori called it.  It was so cute how Tori said it!  Tori signed my Scarlet’s Walk tour book, “To Chris”, mentioning the “treasures” and Snow White book.  “With Love, Tori Amos.”

 Joyce had a beautiful gift bag with a few things including a gorgeous pastel painting she did of Tori.  Before we were about to leave, I remembered another thing I wanted to tell Tori.  My mind was filled with things I wanted to say, as I was trying to remember them all.  I told her that the first time I saw her play live was at this same Theater in 1996.  She played Here, There and Everywhere by The Beatles.  It was one of the most beautiful covers I have ever heard Tori play.  I could see Tori trying to remember, and she said, “My husband and I danced to that at our wedding.”  I found that to be very fascinating.  As we were leaving, Tori waved goodbye with a big smile and said, “Thanks again sweetheart, take care.”  It really was a magical experience and just as wonderful as I thought it would be.  I remember thinking “Wow!” as we walked out of the room.  Tori is such a beautiful person, inside and out.  I will always remember this night, and am grateful to have had this opportunity.

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