Meet & Greet at Darien Lake
This week we heard sagmoon’s explanation for all the wacky problems people were having on this board. About how Mercury Retrograde has struck again and will be with us till August 16. This was not good news. Especially when I heard that transportation is very susceptible to its effect.
Ok forewarned, I would act accordingly. Knowing a Saturday border crossing on a Canadian L-O-N-G weekend was in store, I left early. But I still got bit in the but big time. Stop & go traffic put me behind 2 hours and at the border I was the lucky winner of a random car search. After the border guard stated that he hated Clay Aiken, I didn’t know if he was joking re the search but apparently border guards don’t joke. Luckily had brought along my mp3 player and at this point I was seriously starting to panic and needed Clay as he always has a calming effect on me. I wasn’t panicing re the search but I had no idea how long a car search, in the garage bay would take. But second border guard was a nice guy and I was soon on my way. Pheww.
Finally arrived with some time to spare. While waiting for the meet & greet passes, chatted with people from CV, CH, CB, etc, became fast friends with caperkeeper & claym8 and up graded to 7th row. Things were looking up. However, when we left for a quick supper, we did take an unscheduled scenic tour of the surround farmland but were back in time.
In total there were 18 people with passes, 10 OFC, 4 Stub Hub and 4 radio winners. Local security ran this part and Mary came and gave the final OK. We walked through the amphitheater, past the stage, past the parking lot where the buses and transports were, to a lawn area. There were various tents set up, and they used a small tent with one side completely opened for the M&G. There was a high small table on one side and we were lined along the other 2 sides.
From my place I could see the buses and saw Clay emerge from his. EEEE. He wore his usual M&G attire of grey t-shirt, blue silky pj bottoms and sandals (new this year), no bucket hat, no glasses. Sorry xxx4clay I really did plan to use your list but when Clay is around, everything else just fades from conscious thought. LOL One thing really noticeable right away was his walk. He has a confidant, strong, purposeful, I’m in command stride now. It’s difficult to describe but the energy he emanates is so powerful and controlled. You can feel he is focused. The strength of his personality and body language lets everyone know he is “The Man”. Nothing remains of his earlier persona but his warm smile and green sparkling eyes.
His hair looked quite a bit lighter, medium brownish-red with blond highlights. Surprising, as I was expecting the dark brown, so the lighter hair was unexpected and others commented on this too. You could tell he had just finished eating something, opps, guess we interrupted his meal.
The M&G was organized and timely but at no time did it feel rushed. He entered and greeted us and started autographing and taking time with each person as they came to the table. He really is so beautiful, personable and he made every one of us feel special, connected. Don’t ask me what he said to me because I really can’t remember exactly. The picture taking was divided up into 4 groups, with the OFC M&G winners being the largest. Everyone placed their cameras on the ground and Nick & Mary took the pictures. I was so praying my camera wouldn’t act up, as Nick was fiddling with it for a while but fortunately he figured it out. Caperkeeper wasn’t so lucky. And then Clay was off, shaking everyone’s hand, making eye contact with each and thanking us for coming. After retrieving my camera I just stood there, I didn’t even take any other pictures as he was returning to the bus.
Local security then tried escorted us back to the entrance gate, where the policy was we had to exit and reenter through the front gate. But the concord was full of milling people as the doors had already opened, so some of us developed the sudden urge for the washroom and lost the guard. From all these concert experiences, one thing has really become evident, if there’s a stupid way to do things – they will find it.
I really did go into a haze afterwards and only remember the outfit details because of my picture. LOL. I was in a calm state up till the standing and waiting in the tent. Then the nerves set in and I started to shake. I froze when I actually was in front of him but he kept up his side of the conversation, so all was good. And you really can get lost in his eyes. Everything else fades and it is like they are communicating to you just not using words. In fact, it wasn’t till we were in our seats and I was getting my camera out did I remember to look at my picture with Clay. For over an hour it had sat in the camera, undiscovered, unappreciated. I did make up for the error as everyone around me honored with the view, zoomed in of course.
I won’t go into a concert review, as there have been so many amazing ones but will add the retrograde influence did return for an encore appearance. After saying farewell to my new friends, it took over an hour to get out of the parking lot and I still had a 3-hour trip with border crossing ahead of me. Luckily this time, the female border guard was a fan and I was quickly on my way with my program, a signed picture and a huge smile that still lingers as I type this.
I also went to the August 25th concert in TO. I took my freind of 20 years who isn't into Clay at all. After the concert we talked and she asked questions about Clay. By the time we got home, she had asked for my copy of LTS to read. She's not Clayverted but I now have someone who is open to Clay and who will be getting MCWL this year. It's a small step but baby steps are good!
ClayIzzaQT
demeter
ldyjocelyn
renybc