This photo was taken in November, 1971, at a book signing for Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories, held in the book department of Stern's department store, Garden State Plaza, Paramus NJ. I was fifteen, and it would be the only time I ever saw Shep in the flesh. Immediately and correctly identifying me as the painfully shy kid I was back then, Shep scrawled "Be Brave!" in my book, in bold, black script. I'd like to believe that, ever since then, I have been.