I will never forget the first time I ever heard you sing. You were a bright spot in a very sad holiday season. After 9/11, listening to the news every day was beginning to GENTLY BREAK MY HEART. One night that December, I decided to take part in the American pasttime of channel surfing.

A few moments later, you appeared on my television screen, a beautiful woman with a voice of GOLD, and I knew my life would never be the same. As I listened to you sing, I felt my sadness begin to slowly DRIFT AWAY. A friend of mine was visiting with me and your music touched HER GYPSY HEART. Watching you perform made EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG with the world go away for a few hours.

A neighbor, who is a SON OF A PREACHER MAN, wondered HOW IN THE WORLD we could make life safer for our children. We talked about the importance of faith, family and friends. I told him, whenever I feel that WE'RE ALL ALONE , I hear your voice reminding me HERE COMES THE SON.

Since I play your CD's every day, people think I listen to you too much, UNTIL I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE. Of course that will never happen because, IF I SHOULD LOSE MY WAY, your music is there lifting my spirits and brightening my day.

The past year has made me realize HOW LITTLE WE KNOW about countries ACROSS THE WATER.

IF I HAD MY WAY, everyone in the world would have a chance to hear, and be touch by, the miracles of your voice.

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Honorable Mention- Rachel Bieler
Rachel, watch the mail for your LINDA POSTER to arrive!

October 12, 2002 – the greatest night of my life! I was going with Andrea to see Linda Eder perform in Rahway and meet her afterwards! Following a pre-concert dinner with fellow fans, we eagerly took our seats in anticipation of the fantastic night ahead.

Finally, those words we live for: “Ladies and gentlemen…Linda Eder!” The second Linda appeared onstage I thought, “HERE COMES THE SUN,” because Linda lights up any room she enters. I know IF I SHOULD LOSE MY WAY, her music helps me find my way back.

The concert was amazing – taking the audience through the gamut of emotions. Along with tears came a lot of laughter. At one point, Linda stopped her normal spiel to ask what the audience thought of her gorgeous new dress. Being in the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time (or right place, depending on your point of view), I was placed on “pit patrol” by Linda herself. As Linda pointed in my direction (I was in the first row directly in front of her), I sat stunned to say the least. The audience roared as Linda explained that the fuzzy material on her dress had a habit of rubbing off on her underarms. This prompted a joke about a possible impending Schick sponsorship. Remembering this incident always makes EVERYTHING THAT’S WRONG simply DRIFT AWAY.

On the other end of the emotional spectrum, as I listened to Linda’s introduction to “IF I SHOULD LOSE MY WAY,” I knew that song would GENTLY BREAK MY HEART. I was so overwhelmed by how incredible she was, I could hardly breathe, let alone speak after the concert. I was just shaking. Although many fans at Rahway had already seen Linda perform numerous times, it’s always interesting HOW LITTLE WE KNOW what an incredible effect she’ll have on us.

I continued my Ederly fantastic night by meeting with Linda backstage. To our surprise, backstage was in the theatre. If I’d known this ahead of time, maybe I wouldn’t have exclaimed, “What?!?!” when someone informed me Linda had just walked in behind me and was across the room. Finally, it was almost our turn to speak with Linda. With that, some friends decided it’s time to introduce Linda to Lindazilla, AKA the GOLD “Godzilla poster” (the eye is watching you!). Linda’s back was still turned as we tried to unfold Lindazilla (accidentally hitting some poor guy in the process) without giggling too much. Suddenly, Linda turned around, stood there shocked, and exclaimed, “What the…? HOW IN THE WORLD…? Where did you get that?!?!”

Once we all stopped laughing, Linda offered to sign Lindazilla and proceeded to get down on all fours searching for an appropriate spot to write on. Upon quite literally kneeling on HER GYPSY HEART, Linda blurted out, “Hey look! I’m crawling on myself!” We spoke briefly and took pictures.

As we drove ACROSS THE WATER into NY from NJ, I realized, as her fans, WE’RE ALL ALONE in knowing what incredible talent Linda possesses and what a wonderful person she is. I feel like a SON OF A PREACHER MAN, or in my case a daughter, because I can’t stop raving about Linda to anyone who’ll listen.

After this awe-inspiring experience, I must say, IF I HAD MY WAY I would attend every single Linda Eder concert. Linda – it would be a gross understatement to say it’ll be a long time UNTIL I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE! It’ll be more like forEDER. ? Thank you for giving me something to believe in.

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Honorable Mention- Kristen Floyd
Kristin, watch the mail for your LINDA POSTER to arrive!

I roll over and stretch my arms to the ceiling as I shut off my alarm. Ahhhh, yes, HERE COMES THE SUN on another day. However, this day is unlike any other. I am going to see Linda Eder in concert tonight. I decide to prepare as usual by listening to her CD's in random order as a warm up. My brother, hearing the fabulous voice echo throughout the house, asks me who is singing. I think to myself HOW LITTLE WE KNOW if he doesn't know who she is. I ignore his lack of knowledge of the finer things and continue to sing along at the top of my lungs. My mom then questions me on how much longer I plan on singing along. I reply with, "UNTIL I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE." I leave her to ponder that as I finish getting ready for the concert. Before the concert, I'm meeting my friend at her house so we can ride together. I gather up all my Linda CD's so we can listen to them on the way. As I head to my car, I spot my neighbor, who just happens to be the SON OF A PREACHER MAN. I tell him that I am so excited to see Linda in concert finally, but I'm a little nervous as to how to find the venue, and I don't know what I would do IF I SHOULD LOSE MY WAY. It turns out, he too adores Linda! Oh, please, GENTLY BREAK MY HEART! He's got front row seats! I congratulate him but now must hurry for I am late to meet my friend. I hop in my car and pop in a Linda CD even though it's only a five minute drive. Sometimes just hearing a Linda song can make EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG in my life just DRIFT AWAY to some far off place way ACROSS THE WATER of sorrow and despair. I finally arrive to my friend's house. Bless HER GYPSY HEART, she's on time! She hops in my car and is welcomed by a blast of Linda's vocals. I beg her to sing along with me, but she refuses for she is fearful someone will hear. "HOW IN THE WORLD is anyone going to hear you? WE'RE ALL ALONE!" So after a little persuasion, she gives in. Her voice is GOLD. Who knows why she tries to hide it? We finally arrive at the concert and rush to grab our seats. Linda takes the stage, dressed all in red, and gives us that first glorious note. I lean over to my friend and whisper, "IF I HAD MY WAY, we'd do this everyday."