Wow...

It doesn't seem like it has been 10 years since I met Jozef the very first time! I met him in Binghamton, New York. We were staying at the same hotel and I met him when he came back after the show. It was a night I will NEVER forget! It was a very magical evening.

I had an accident on March 30, 1995 which resulted in a head injury which left me with post traumatic stress, short term memory problems, headaches and a seizure disorder. I was unable to drive and unable to work. So, I found myself becoming depressed. The previous fall, fortunately, when I could begin watching TV again, it was figure skating season, which I had always loved and never had much time to devote to watching it. But, Lo and Behold, the fall of 1996,  there was Jumpin' Joe Sabovcik on my TV screen in various professional competitions and shows. My husband said, "If he ever comes close to where we live, I will make sure you get to see him skate in person."

Jozef had become such an inspiration to me. I watched him win his Olympic Bronze Medal in 1984 and I knew he had seriously hurt his knee and it was like he fell off the face of the earth. Sooo, imagine my surprise, when I saw him and his beautiful long hair and his gorgeous jumps, fantastic choice of music to skate to and the all around thrill to watch him skate, back on TV!  I was soo excited to see him back and I watched and recorded everything he was in! I was like if he can come back from such horrible knee problems to a sport like figure skating and do the powerful jumps that he is well known for, I can work harder in my rehab program and try to be a better person myself.

On April 26, 1997, "The Skate The Nation Tour" came to Binghamton, New York, which is about 3 1/2 hours from where I live. My husband arranged for tickets, hotel, folks to take me, including my mother-in-law, who loves skating as much as I do, and he even got me my very first "Jumpin' Joe" T-shirt and a Jumpin' Joe sweatshirt! ( I have such a wonderful, supportive husband!! ) I was sooo excited.

Imagine my surprise as we were checking into the hotel, when I saw Jozef coming off the elevator.  I didn't talk to him then; he was on his way over to the arena. We got settled in, got some dinner and then went over for the show.

 AWESOME! Jozef skated to "Secret Garden" by Bruce Springsteen, for the first time on the "Skate The Nation Tour" and I was blown away! During the show, he noticed, my "Jumpin' Joe" shirt and he waved to me and everyone around me thought that was awesome; so do did I!! 

 

 

 

 

 

After the show, we walked back over to the hotel and Jozef walked in behind us with a couple of other skaters, which I can't remember who they are now, I only remember Jozef! He spent time with my group and signed some autographs and we got some pictures and then he went upstairs. Later in the evening, my group was going out to eat and I was going upstairs for the evening. As I was going to get in the elevator, Jozef was coming off. I said, "Jozef, I would just like to tell you one thing."  He said,  'What?"  I said, "Do you remember what you said about the night you met Bruce Springsteen, it being the best night of your life?" and he said, "yes."  I said "Well, that's how I felt meeting you tonight. It was THAT special and THAT magical. Thank you soo much!!!!!"  He hugged me and thanked ME and we both went on our way. The 26th of April will always be special to me and I owe Jozef sooo much. My family said he was just the medicine I needed! I was on a very special cloud for what seemed like a very long time!! That night made a big impact on my life and I treasure everything that came out of it:  Jozef's fan club, the new friends I have made through Jozef, all of the fans I have met, all of the shows I have been to, the traveling, etc. I felt like I had been given a new lease on life. I will always be grateful to Jozef and his wonderful family, whom I have gotten to be close to over the years--his wife Jennifer, and sons Blade and Jozef Jaden--as well as my Jozef family--Cindy, Elaine, Kim, Donna, Gina, Rose and Sharon.  They have all been here from the beginning. And I'm grateful to my own family, as without their love and support, the past 10 years would never have been possible.  I love you!

We will be celebrating 10 years by getting together for a Fan Club Reunion, and whether you are a fan club member or not, I hope you come and meet Jozef, an extraordinary person who gives soo much back to his fans. He always makes time for a picture, an autograph or just to say hello. It will be a very special time. As soon as we know what location and weekend it will be, we will post it here on our site but it looks like it will be later in the season. Some fans have asked for more time to save as it's a big trip for most of us and we all understand that!

Thank you for 10 wonderful years, Jozef!

Take care, everyone and I will write again soon,

deb

 8/5/07