in the Donna Karan section, trying on everything I could put my hands on, while Gene said to sales staff, “She’ll take that. And that. And that.” Coats and hats and thigh-high boots. Sweaters and accessories and outfits. Gene was helping me try on a gigantic Donna Karan rhinestone belt, very fashionable and trendy at the time, when security approached me and asked if everything was all right, because Gene looked like a thug. “It’s all right, he’s with me—not to mention he’s paying!” I told them. (I still have that belt, by the way, up in my closet. I can’t buckle it around my waist anymore, but we won’t talk about that.) So then Gene found a personal shopper to come assist me—as if I needed any help. I’ve never needed help spending money, only making it.
The whole thing was just fabulous. I needed some new clothes, because all I had with me was what I brought in my suitcase from the Toronto shoot, but this was way beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m not sure he was thinking clearly, because Gene was setting quite a standard, one that he would never want to live up to again, ever. Trust me on that one.
We were having so much fun. I loved New York, its pace and rhythms were perfect for me. It was certainly more of a city like Toronto than L.A. was, with busy sidewalks and high-rises and crowds of people walking everywhere. We’d go out to dinner and order two of every dessert and try them all. We went to the Russian Tea Room one evening and ordered the entire dessert cart. The whole pastry thing was new to me; I developed quite a sugar habit in New York. My feelings for Gene grew stronger every day. I had found someone who would finally put me up on my own little pedestal like my dad had. It was incredible to have that feeling of being cherished once more. Any defenses I had crumbled; the feeling really grew into love. When I was ready to give back, Gene was right there waiting.
I met the other members of KISS on that trip. Paul was handsome and charismatic, but I knew he had seen girls come and go. I wanted to make a good impression on him, because I knew Gene loved him and respected his opinion. Eric Carr was with the band then; what a sweet guy he was. I ventured out a couple of times to watch Gene rehearse and see what KISS was all about. He actually got a little shy playing in front of me. He was blushing. They had to practice where each band member would walk during each song so they wouldn’t crash into each other, and I watched them map out their territory. This was just practice; no fire breathing, no costumes, no bombs going off. It looked funny, and I had to giggle, watching him scuttle around the stage.
Gene had made me aware of his feelings about drinking and drug use right from the start. “Drinking is for losers,” is certainly something he said to me on more than one occasion. I said, “Gene, we’re not all losers just because we have a drink. I will agree with you that it’s not especially good for you. I have a lot of vices that I’m probably willing to give up for the right reasons, when I’m ready. And when I’m ready, I’ll let you know.” I was being cocky, but I knew that if I didn’t give these things up, I wouldn’t be able to have a serious relationship with him.
Alcohol and drugs were not going to fly in Gene’s world, but I think I’d been looking for a reason to quit all that. I’d been partying hard for years, and I was tired; I was pretty much done. It was time to grow up and be sober. I felt for the first time I was entering a healthy environment, becoming one-half of a healthy relationship. It was good for me and good for him.
Nothing changed overnight. I continued to drink for a while, but not get drunk. The night I met Gene was the last of its kind. If we were out for dinner and I ordered a drink, he wouldn’t confront me about it. He was still trying to make a good impression on me, of course, and was on his best behavior. He would
The whole thing was just fabulous. I needed some new clothes, because all I had with me was what I brought in my suitcase from the Toronto shoot, but this was way beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m not sure he was thinking clearly, because Gene was setting quite a standard, one that he would never want to live up to again, ever. Trust me on that one.
We were having so much fun. I loved New York, its pace and rhythms were perfect for me. It was certainly more of a city like Toronto than L.A. was, with busy sidewalks and high-rises and crowds of people walking everywhere. We’d go out to dinner and order two of every dessert and try them all. We went to the Russian Tea Room one evening and ordered the entire dessert cart. The whole pastry thing was new to me; I developed quite a sugar habit in New York. My feelings for Gene grew stronger every day. I had found someone who would finally put me up on my own little pedestal like my dad had. It was incredible to have that feeling of being cherished once more. Any defenses I had crumbled; the feeling really grew into love. When I was ready to give back, Gene was right there waiting.
I met the other members of KISS on that trip. Paul was handsome and charismatic, but I knew he had seen girls come and go. I wanted to make a good impression on him, because I knew Gene loved him and respected his opinion. Eric Carr was with the band then; what a sweet guy he was. I ventured out a couple of times to watch Gene rehearse and see what KISS was all about. He actually got a little shy playing in front of me. He was blushing. They had to practice where each band member would walk during each song so they wouldn’t crash into each other, and I watched them map out their territory. This was just practice; no fire breathing, no costumes, no bombs going off. It looked funny, and I had to giggle, watching him scuttle around the stage.
Gene had made me aware of his feelings about drinking and drug use right from the start. “Drinking is for losers,” is certainly something he said to me on more than one occasion. I said, “Gene, we’re not all losers just because we have a drink. I will agree with you that it’s not especially good for you. I have a lot of vices that I’m probably willing to give up for the right reasons, when I’m ready. And when I’m ready, I’ll let you know.” I was being cocky, but I knew that if I didn’t give these things up, I wouldn’t be able to have a serious relationship with him.
Alcohol and drugs were not going to fly in Gene’s world, but I think I’d been looking for a reason to quit all that. I’d been partying hard for years, and I was tired; I was pretty much done. It was time to grow up and be sober. I felt for the first time I was entering a healthy environment, becoming one-half of a healthy relationship. It was good for me and good for him.
Nothing changed overnight. I continued to drink for a while, but not get drunk. The night I met Gene was the last of its kind. If we were out for dinner and I ordered a drink, he wouldn’t confront me about it. He was still trying to make a good impression on me, of course, and was on his best behavior. He would
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