When you get to my age, you spend a lot of time reflecting after using up most of your life's credits.
Today I stumbled across some photos from the late 1980s.
School wasn't a great experience for me. I was often bullied and didn't have many friends. That changed when I started trying to meet one of my favorite singers at the time - Kylie Minogue.
It turned out there were lots of folks just like me, all hoping to meet Kylie too :-)
Back then, meeting your favorite singer wasn't rocket science. You checked the TV listings, found out where they were appearing, and then waited outside. In London, that usually meant the BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, Broadcasting House near Oxford Circus, or wherever else they happened to be showing up.
What started as a shared interest quickly turned into genuine friendships. For the first time, I found myself surrounded by people who didn't drag me through the gravel or set my belongings on fire like some of the "friends" I had at school.
We'd also spend time outside PWL Studios hoping to meet Kylie and other Stock Aitken Waterman artists like Jason Donovan, Dannii Minogue, Sonia, and many more. Over time, Kylie and Jason's bodyguards got to know us and eventually trusted us enough to help us meet them more easily.
We were incredibly fortunate because over the years we got to meet Kylie many times and even spend time with her on various occasions.
One day I walked into my dad's shoe studio and was surprised to find Kylie there being fitted for a pair of shoes. She looked just as surprised to see me.
More than 35 years later, I'm still in touch with many of the friends I met during those days, although we've sadly lost contact with some along the way.
Looking back, Kylie was the reason we all ended up standing outside those studios, but the friendships we made along the way are what endured.
I haven't crossed paths with Kylie in decades, but I'm grateful for the memories and for the friendships that came from a shared admiration of her music.
If you recognize anyone in these photos, tell them to get in touch. It would be lovely to reconnect.
More photos on the site.
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