I remember flying out to San Francisco with one of those symbolic checks made out for a little over $81,000 that covered the first two quarters of The Bridge: A Tribute To Neil Young's release. When I got to the Bridge School I met with Neil and Pegi. We took some press pictures with the now slightly bent oversized check. (Well, Caroline Records wouldn't pay for an extra seat for the check soooo, I mean it was a long flight, you know? I did the best I could! I gave the check more of my seat than I got). After the press stuff they took me on a tour of the School. These were early days there. It was just one building with a very small staff for about 35 kids, ages 5 to 16.
They were all in one big open classroom.
There were some Bridge posters that had obviously recently been put up on the walls and there was a homemade ”Welcome Terry Tolkin/No.6/Caroline! Thank You!" banner strung across the classroom. Pegi, Neil, a teacher and Mericore, the 12 year old self appointed Student Leader, introduced me to each and every kid. They knew all about the record and were fully aware of what I had done. They were just so appreciative of someone noticing them and wanting to help.
I had no idea what the School was gonna do with the money. Pay rent? Salaries? Supplies? Well, I found out, right there and then.
Mericore, who had firmly attached herself to my left arm the moment I met her, was anxious to show me a custom modification to her wheelchair which allowed the interaction of laser pointers and computer elements. These devices facilitated the kid using it to verbally communicate, many for the very first time in their lives, with the outside world. At $4500 a piece the School only had four for all 35 students to share. They told me that this is where the Bridge album money is going. To buy many more of these devices. One for each child. So that they can verbalize their feelings, thoughts, make jokes.....I was floored.
Instant Karma come and got me.
I was so overwhelmed by the bravery of these kids.
In an almost surreal haze I was struck with the realization that this was the most important thing I had ever done in my life.
Mericore excitedly proceeded to “speak" to me by manipulating a tiny laser onto a computer screen. She very graciously told me that they all loved the Bridge album. Then she asked "So you work in the music business, right?"
I told her "Yeah, kinda"
She asked "Do you know New Kids On The Block?"
I asked her why and she told me that they are her favorite band and could I get her a poster of them?
I told her that I'd try real hard to get one but they're very popular and it might take awhile.
She almost bounced out of her wheelchair with glee! Seriously, she looked like a female Beatle fan from the 60's! I thought she was gonna pass out!
My visit was short because, heck, it was a school day. At least everybody got cake.
I said my goodbyes as I had to catch the red eye back to NYC cause Caroline was too cheap to want to pay for a hotel for the night.
I ambled across the School's parking lot, rather stunned by my experience, to my rental car.
I was emotionally exhausted.
I had nothing left.
I had just peaked in my Arc of Life.
How could I ever do anything more important then this?
I started seeing the silent faces of all those kids handing me their Thank You notes but now knowing that next week they'll all be able to communicate.
Because I had an idea?
I had NO idea that me realizing this concept would ripple into all these lives
I sat there in the car crying my eyes out for so long that Pegi noticed and came out.
I didn't know she was there until she opened the passenger side door and slipped in next to me and gathered me up in the biggest, most soul enveloping MOMMA hug. After a couple of minutes she whispered: "They're all so brave, aren't they? Now you be too. OK?"
When I got back to New York I called an A&R guy at Columbia Records, NKOTB's label. His name escapes me now but he had actually taken the time to write me a personal letter saying that he realized how much work goes into a project like The Bridge. I asked if I could take him to lunch the next day. We met up and I told him all about my trip to the Bridge School and about Mericore. I brought along a Polaroid I had taken of her and gave it to him. Somebody's God blessed that man and a week later a box arrived at Caroline filled with posters, album covers and 8x10's festooned with NKOTB signature's and personal dedications and words of encouragement for Mericore. She got backstage passes for every time they played in the Bay Area.
After I sent Meri the package she sent me photos of her in her bedroom engulfed in NKOTB swag!
Meri and I stayed in touch until complications from her CP took her when she was 17.
