So many of the outcomes of things that happen in life, depend on your own expectations. The Clay Aiken fan world is no different.
The Appleton, WI concert for the 2004 Solo Tour was the first time I had ever gone to the busses. I hadn’t planned on it, I just kind of decided to on the spur of the moment. I barely expected to see him let alone have him shake my hand. I had made my way through the crowd and got to about the 3rd person back from the barriers. When Clay came out I put my hand out and he gave my finger a little tug. That put me on an even bigger high than the concert did. I will never forget how that tiny little tug felt. I had never really thought that I would get a touch from him!
The only other concert that I went to that summer that the buses were accessible was Milwaukee, WI. That night I was really looking forward to going out to the buses. I left after invisible and missed Solitaire (which I now regret doing). We were there right away and I got in the front row. When he was coming towards me, all I could see was Jerome’s back. Then all of a sudden Clay was right there. I am only 5’2” so he seemed really tall and I think I was below his line of vision. I must have reached out to him because all I can really remember is his arm pulling away from my hand as he moved along the line. I don’t remember the feel of his arm, only the sight of it slipping out of my grip.
Recently I was at the Clio Jukebox show and hadn’t really thought much about going to the buses. It turned out that I did go down there later. We went a little ways in front of the buses on the passenger side and when the bus pulled out he was there in the window and looked down at us, had a big smile on his face and did the sign language “Thank You!” I will always remember that!
Out of all of these close encounters with Clay, it is the one that I touched him the most that means the least to me. I felt horrible that I was the one reaching out to him and expecting that he would happen to look directly at me and shake my hand out of all the other people that were there wanting the same thing. I now know that I would personally rather leave my expectations at the door and just take what comes. I enjoyed the whole Clay experience better when I just let things happen rather than try to make things happen. Clay hasn't disappointed me yet!
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