The Las Vegas Stories. Timm McCoy

 My Literal Whirlwind Trip For David.

On July 7, 2021 I received a letter in the mail from The Las Vegas Walk Of Fame inviting me to Las Vegas to celebrate David Cassidy's Star ceremony. I was taken by surprise thinking, "Who would remember I was ever friends with David?" Apparently, a lot of people. So, for a whole year I planned the trip 1 year out. Why? I do suffer from COPD and PTSD, you know, all the fashionable abbreviations.

Since COVID I have been secluded for 3 years. No contact with anyone. Mentally that's a lot safer with PTSD. So, after 10,000 changes in what I had to say, I finally had my story on David. Nothing to personal yet not so much about me, but I find it difficult not to talk about David without talking about me. Maybe a little A.D.D. too? So, my first venture into the real world since I was invited by Josh Robert Thompson who did Geoff The Gay Robot on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in 2014 for a 5 day stay in Los Angeles. Again, I regress.

 So, I pack my backs last night pre-flight. Zero hour 9 AM, (Sorry Elton). Got a limo to the Minneapolis Airport escorted by NSA to my plane. Going to Vegas was easy, setting on a isle seat, no one beside me. PTSD Heaven! Got into Vegas on April 11th, we flew right into a Sirocco. A dust storm that made everything look orange. So, yes, I did wear a mask. I wasn't taken any chances with COVID so I was 4 times vaxxed. Two shots, two boosters just 4 days before my flight. Got a limo to Bally's where I checked in without talking to anyone. Sweet!

Trust me, I love people, but not being around them for 3 years then thrusted into a gang of "Well Meaning Cassidians" was the next test. I had no idea what was ahead.

Morning. April 12th. Hardly slept. Time lag. No coffee. I had to explore. It was hard to walk because of the bi-femoral replacements in my legs. It was hard, but I was here for David and that was the focus.

I started meeting people little by little. All the fans were the friendliest, mind and considerate people I have ever met. I have never signed so many autographs in my life. But everyone I signed was for the love I felt for David. They all took care of me and I never felt so safe in 3 years. I was scared to death to speak. Me. a radio guy afraid to talk.

Yes, it's easy on the radio for 47 years but in front of a few hundred people? I did tell the story about David's black leather jacket, but what I didn't announce openly was that the white jacket I wore was once David's.

 In 1991 when I took David's leather one off when he asked me, "Are you cold, I got a jacket you can wear." and he handed me the exact one he wore in "Man Undercover". At the end of the night he said, "Just keep it." That's the way he was. The kindest man I have ever met.

 

So, I did my speech and wanted to hear everyone else's, but we got started late and I was 2 hours from my plane leaving. So, after The Cowsills I announced that I had to catch a plane and ran out to catch a Lyft back to the airport.

I was running out of time and almost missed my plane if it wasn't for me giving the driver 20 bucks more and saying like in the movies "Here's a 20 if you can get me there without killing us. He made it.

I was late when I hear across the airport speakers, "Timm McCoy your flight is about to leave!" So, running, and not well at it, through the airport, I got to the wrong gate. "Timm we are waiting only 10 mins." So, running, again with COPD, I ran to the gate where a group of Sun Country attendants were screaming "Timm, Over here!" I barely made it with no time to spare. And, as any nerd does, "hitting the puffer and sweating my ass off". Coming back, we flew into a thunderstorm before Minneapolis and we were detoured to Duluth, 200 miles away. Sat for an hour then flew into Minneapolis while it was pouring rain. A 3 hour plane ride that lasted 8 hours.

If I had to do it all over again, I would in an instant. It was the most fun I had in 30 years!

Thank you to all who became my new "Cassidian Family"!

Timm McCoy