The Monkey and a plywood violin

[ladydi]

Hi Fred,

Hopefully with your Irish passport you won't have to get any special visas to re-enter the US but I'm sure your guardian will look after you properly! Although it's still several months away and you're having a great time "monkeying" around Europe, many of us are looking forward to perhaps catching a glimpse of you at some of the US venues!

Are you still buddies with the little reindeer from Finland??

Love 'n hugs,
Diana xoxoxoxo

[ladydi]

Hi Fred,

Just bringing you up towards the top again. Great photos of you in Norway! Better practice on your Italian for Venice. Don't fall off one of those gondolas! Hope to see you again soon....and of course, back in America!

Hugs,
Diana

[MaryB]

Fred,

If you fell off the gondola, I hope you're dry by now. Although I wouldn't mind another picture of you, even if you're wet. How are you? Where are you? I'll bring you some bananas in Columbus if you show yourself.

Loving regards,
Mother Mary

[Mabeanie1]

I did look for Fred at the Venice concert - and at the soundcheck - but given the weather conditions, he was probably sheltering somewhere safe away from the rain, which was REALLY, REALLY bad in the couple of hours just before the concert started. However, he should have had plenty of time for his gondola ride in the weekend before the show, depending upon when his friend and travelling companion arrived in the city (the equipment arrived in the square late on Sunday night but the band and probably some of the crew were there earlier).

Wendy

[ladydi]

Hi Fred,

Just wanted to let you know that I have a few friends who will be in Colmar this coming weekend to see Leonard! If you get a chance, maybe peek from behind the curtain and wave to them Still miss you and hope to see you in a few months back in the US.

Love 'n hugs,
Diana

[mutti]

Mary - Bananas is a great idea for Fred! Hmmmm!
He will be so happy to see his mother at all the shows you are going to but
especially his hometown of Columbus..You will have to let him know you are in San Jose and Las Vegas...
I hope he gets to come out and smile at you a lot maybe even in Barcelona..

Mutti

[Actually]

31 pages? who expects me to read this?

[Womanfromaroom]

Well, actually, Fred happens to be very popular...

[Actually]

I'm not that fanatic, just in case you haven't noticed

[ladydi]

Hi Nico, Don't worry about reading all the posts. I was there when "Fred" was first presented to Leonard. It was in Phoenix and MaryB sat the little guy on stage (with his plywood violin!) at the beginning chords of "First We Take Manhattan". Leonard, and everyone else was smiling! Fred (he was named a few weeks later) is just a furry little monkey, but somehow he struck a chord, and he was "adopted" by a member of the crew/band. Suddenly there was the thread "The Monkey and the Plywood Violin"...by "the Monkey". Photos followed with the funniest comments from the little guy. He gained a cult following! The latest photos of Fred are from Joey's photostream....in Norway and Dublin.

We all are hoping to see him (Fred) again in America, and hopefully maybe possibly he might find his way home to his "Mom" at the end of the concert tour! Actually, I think many of us would love to have Fred!

It may not be "sophisticated" but who cares....it's fun!

Diana (Fred's "aunt")

[MaryB]

I'm not that fanatic, just in case you haven't noticed

Ooooh, I've met you Nico (Beacon) and I think you keep up with us very well !

[mydoglorca]

[quote]ladydi wrote:
Actually, I think many of us would love to have Fred!
[quote]

Wouldn't it be good if we could have a sort of lottery to 'win' Fred with the money going to charity as someone has suggested doing with one of Leonard's hats or maybe its only fair he is returned to his mother?!

[ladydi]

Hi mydoglorca,

That's a difficult one. Yes, your first idea is excellent...the lottery and the money to charity, and then one of us would have Fred! But then I think it would be cool for his "Mom" to get him back. But then, maybe his "guardian" has become attached to him and would like to keep him. Sort of fun memories of the tour etc etc... And perhaps his guardian may have a little one to give Fred to. Somehow I think we'll be hearing more of Fred in the future

Diana

[MaryB]

Oh no. If there was a lottery, that person would win Fred fair and square and that person should get to keep Fred ! Just think, Fred has travelled with the band since Phoenix - what a provenance. Fred has already found one very good guardian, and then he would have a wonderful new 'parent' !

Mother Mary

[mydoglorca]

Well I know I would absolutely love to have him & would promise to take great care of him! Just imagine owning something that had travelled with the tour - or in Fred's case, someone.