The Art of telling someone who is busy HELLO in the morning...lesson 101 by John Roden..........

I met John in the early Spring of 2002. I was the production assistant to a new group of folk on a McCartney tour. I will tell you I was a PA that was prepped to treat certain McCartney crew with white gloves. Jump, don't ask etc...nothing harsh..just be perfect. Okay...worried now but okay. John Roden was one of the names I was given to be extra perfect with.

So, to be honest, I was a bit beyond scared to meet any of that McCartney crew mob. Keith, John, Pablo....I was scared.

The day finally comes in March of 2002 and they show up. So far so good. Hello's and all. Nice people. Whew!

Then John comes back after all the niceties and said to me, '...so..Di...I need to have a word with you...."

I cringe. Okay. Here it comes. What happened. Flight go wrong? Airport pickup not right? Rental car not right? Hotel room not good...All things going through my head..

And John says..."...right then...hi di........i just came in to say hello really...that's all.'

Since that first meeting, John has walked into the production office and said those exact same words to me every single morning/afternoon we've ever worked together. "hi di.....i just came in to say hello really..that's all."

It's been one of the highlights of my days working him since March 12 of 2002.

One side note cause it's John. Recently, on this past fall GM tour, his daily hi to me was interrupted by Springo (my boss/prod mgr) and he said to Springo without hesitation......"..hang on mate....(english bollocks from john to springo) and then....right then..so di......i just came in to say hello really..that's all."......and then...."okay springo, you may continue now where you left off with di...i'm going now."

Springo actually forgot what he was asking me for because the way John said it was so funny it stopped everything in that office but the laughter.

Hey John, just sending you a HELLO really and that's all!

Lots of love to you and your family,
Di-