Oddly enough, I was calm when I woke up the morning of the Platinum meet and greet. The entire week before had been spent worrying about what Barry would say, what I would say, should I have something to ask him... But when the day arrived, I just knew that all I needed to do was to let him handle everything.

Before the show, Barry-friends from around the country were visiting with me, introducing themselves and asking if I felt nervous. Everyone seemed surprised when I said I wasn't nervous at all. We all agreed that the anxiety would probably hit during the intermission. But it didn't.

After the concert, they led us backstage to a holding room. Again, people were asking if I was nervous. And, again, I said I wasn't. At the most, I felt a little tickling of anticipation. I suppose that by deciding to let Barry control it all, I had removed a lot of the pressure. All I had to do was savor this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My name was close to the top of the list, so it wasn't long before Kenny called for me. There were actually two waiting areas you had to go through before you got to Barry. The first one was at the door of the holding room where everyone sat. While I stood there waiting to be taken to the next area, I was very conscious of the fact that I wasn't nervous. I remember being very surprised at that.

Finally Kenny returned to take me to the next area. As he led me out of the holding room, Chris (from starz.bz) was there to offer champagne, which I declined. I don't drink; and, even if I did, I wouldn't have wanted the glass in my way. And I certainly wouldn't have wanted to risk spilling it on Barry.

Kenny led me into the room where Barry was. There was a heavy black curtain dividing the room. Kenny and I were on one side and Barry was on the other. I was conscious of voices on the other side of the curtain, but really didn't pay that much attention to them. Kenny asked me if I was alright; I said I was. He asked if I was nervous and I said I wasn't at all. He then introduced me to David Benson, and told David that he (Kenny) was more nervous than I was. Then Kenny asked if I was at least feeling a little excitement or anticipation; I admitted to feeling a little excited. He asked if I had what I was going to say all planned out, and I shook my head - he said, "So you're just going to wing it?" and I nodded. Kenny then mentioned something about there being a lot of people in the room. I recall him making those statements now, but at the time it really didn't register with me.

Suddenly I realized I was hearing Barry say goodbye to the people who were in there with him. About that time Garry Kief walked around the curtain, probably leading the other people out - but I honestly have no memory of the other people walking past me. And then Kenny said, "This is it." And for a brief moment, it hit me - that butterfly feeling in the pit of your stomach. And I froze for just a second - I was finally nervous! Kenny looked back at me, grinned (easy to see in the photos), and reached out to lead me in. I took a big breath, and then slowly walked around the curtain, waiting for my first glimpse of Barry.

Barry was standing at the bar with his back to me. I immediately became aware of Kirsten Kief standing to my left with a camera, taking a photo as I rounded the curtain. She said, "Got it!" It took me by surprise, and I paused for just a second. Then I turned my attention back to Barry who was turning around to face me. I can't remember if Barry said, "Hi, Dana" or "Hello, Dana" or maybe even "Nice to meet you, Dana". I just remember him saying my name.

By that time Barry was reaching out for my hand. He wrapped both of his hands around mine. And then the strangest thing happened - any nervousness that I still felt just went away. I've never felt so comfortable with another human being in my entire life. Not only did all the nervousness disappear, I was also no longer aware of the other people around us. I was oblivious to everyone and everything else in the room from that point on. Barry's staff ended up snapping 18 photos of our meeting - I had no idea any photos were taken at all beyond the first. And now that I look back, there were a lot of people in the room - but I didn't notice them at the time.

I was definitely aware of Barry's presence, though. And interesting comparison occurred to me later that evening on the way home. I've had the opportunity to meet Chuck Norris several times. Chuck has a presence about him - when he enters the room, it's as if the world revolves around him. Barry has the same presence about him - I suppose some people might call it an aura - and, for lack of a better word, I'll use that term as well. But there's definitely a difference between Chuck and Barry. Chuck's "aura" commands respect and you feel a sense of power and control coming from him. While Barry's "aura" also commands respect, it's a sense of gentleness, kindness, and even beauty that I felt from him.

Barry continued to hold my hand while asking questions. He asked where I was from; I replied "Here." He said, "Here. Dallas here?" And I nodded my head. And he said again, "You live right here in Dallas?" I replied, "Well, Corsicana..." And he nodded and said, "Close enough." I remember thinking that it was interesting how he wanted to get that straight.

Then he asked if I had seen him in concert before; and, of course, I said I had. Then he asked, "You've seen me here in Dallas before?" I nodded my head, then added "And elsewhere..." And he nodded and repeated, "And elsewhere," while looking at someone in the room as if he were thinking "I've seen her before."

Somehow I became aware that they were ready to take the "official photo". I guess Barry must have indicated it to me, because he had my full attention; I certainly wasn't aware of other people around me. It's obvious in the photos that my gaze is glued on Barry the entire time. But then I saw the other Chris, looking at me, asking if he could take the photo.

Barry put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in very close, holding me very tightly, then rested his head on mine. I was pleasantly surprised, and still feeling very relaxed in his presence. When they snapped the photo, I recall hearing a man say, "That's great!" - I at least had the presence of mind to hear that and realize that it must have been a good shot.

After the photo had been taken, Barry turned back to me and said, "So how long have we been together?" I replied, "30 years." He said, "30 years? Really? Since Mandy?" I nodded or maybe I said, "Yeah" - I really can't remember. I just remember those blue eyes intently looking at me. Then he said, "Really? Since I was just a baby and you were just a baby?" I remember grinning and nodding (and the photo shows it). And he said, "You saw me in the jumpsuit, the blue jumpsuit?" Again, I nodded.

At that point Barry was speaking in the manner we've all become so accustomed to - that cute little stammer where he repeats himself. He said, "And the Copa outfit? That frilly Copa outfit?" Again I nodded. And he made one of his little Manilow-ism faces (see photo!) and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry," in that self-deprecating tone he has. We both started laughing at that point.

He turned to autograph the program for me. I can't remember what he said to me when he turned back around; but then he reached out to give me a hug, and I hugged him back. As he was hugging me he said, "Thanks for coming" and I said "Thank you." That's the only photo that the photographer missed. The hug surprised me - I didn't expect it and I hadn't asked for it - but I was definitely happy with it! It doesn't matter that I don't have a photo of it; it was still something else special that I will never forget.

I turned to leave, but glanced back over my shoulder. Barry was watching me leave. As I walked out of the room, Garry handed me the camera. When I sat back down at my table, I just wanted to savor the moment. I really didn't feel like talking to anyone. I just wanted to remember it all. I remember feeling very happy. There was also a teensy twinge of sadness that it was over, and it would probably never happen again. But I was already aware of what a beautiful memory it was.

A couple of minutes later they brought my photo in to me. I couldn't have been happier. He was so close with his head resting on mine. The look in his eyes seemed genuinely happy. And I was obviously ecstatic!

Looking back, I said less than a dozen words to him, but I got so much more out of it. I'm glad I decided to let him control this event rather than trying to ask questions myself. Even though I was only with him for a minute or two, the quality of those minutes made the actual time seem much longer. I believe a lot would have been lost if I had worried about what I was going to ask next, or if I had been conscious that the time was about to end and tried to think of something to say to extend it.

Before the day came, several people told me that I needed to think about how he made me feel. It was excellent advice, because that's what I got out of this - intense feelings - not necessarily emotions, but feelings. (well, okay - I got a few emotions out of it, too!) As I said before, I've never felt more comfortable with anyone. It was as if I'd known him all my life. In a sense, I guess I have - I was 16 when Mandy came out. But there was something different about this feeling - it was like standing next to a friend.

I have met many celebrities that I've admired, some of them multiple times. But I've always been nervous, always concerned about doing something to embarrass myself. When Barry took my hand, it was a total calm and peace that came over me.

I don't feel that I was encountering Barry Manilow the superstar. I never got the impression that he was acting or performing during the meet and greet. It never seemed that he felt forced or that this was just part of his job. He seemed genuinely interested, genuinely pleased to meet me. The sensible voice in my head (the one Barry calls his "editor," I suspect) tells me that he had forgotten me as soon as I walked around the curtain. But while it was happening, it felt as if he would remember me forever.

The things I remember most from my meeting with Barry are his hands holding mine, and how tightly he held me when the photo was being taken. I have almost no memory of his face other than his blue eyes; but those eyes and his gaze are etched into my memory permanently. And I remember his voice being so much gentler than what you hear in his interviews. During the time that I was with him, it occurred to me that this was someone that I easily sit down and have a conversation with. I don't think there's any subject that I wouldn't feel at ease discussing with him.

I've been having a very difficult time trying to describe what I felt in his presence. I've always said that no one touches me musically the way that he does. I'll have to say the same of this personal encounter - no one else has ever made me feel this way before. He's a very special human being - his uniqueness goes far beyond his musical gifts. He has a beautiful soul; and I was fortunate enough to experience it for a few moments.