From Tigger:

So I want to tell you a story....but I have to warn you first this is a heart wrencher, or at least it was for me.....

tonight at the concert in Boca the stage rush came at the very beginning,.... I saw a man who was helping an very old looking, extremely frail lady to the edge of the stage, very center.....I stepped in and told him I would block her right side so she would have room and wouldn't get bumped by any overzealous and/or drunk people.

This lady captured my heart....her son (the gentleman with her) was quite moved by seeing MLE, and was very excited and happy for his mom. He was taking pictures of his mom with his cell phone and was telling me that she had really wanted to see the concert herself. She was about 4 foot nothing tall, weighed maybe 100 lbs soaking wet, if that, had very little/no hair as you could tell she had lost it but it was starting to grow back in stubbles. She had on her brand new MLE shirt that her son had bought her....and she had the eyes of an angel.

I watched her as she watched Melissa play....she sang along and clapped and stood there at the stage in the heat and humidity and in the crowd....her son went on to tell me that 2 months ago she had been in a wheelchair and now she was out taking the bus and walking where she needed to go....he told me about her spirit and her strength.....he told me she was 70 years old and had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to her brain.....I know what this means, and its not good.....he saw the look in my eyes and knew that I knew....he told me that radiation was buying her time but would not cure her and she was out living her life and being at this concert was what she wanted to do....he was such a nice and caring and giving man.....

I watched him take pictures of his mom, and kiss her on her mostly bald head and I watched him cry and sing and smile, and be in this moment and enjoy every second as it was given to him and take it as the gift that it was....I didn't see most of the 1st half of the concert....I was watching these 2 incredible people embrace the experience....

I had took a piece of paper and wrote pick and drew an arrow to point to the lady...I wanted that for her....her son wanted her to have that experience and was grateful for even the attempt.....his mom grew tired at one point and had to go sit down.....I told everyone around us that when she came back they were to step aside and let her back to the stage....she should not have to fight for stage position or have to lose her spot....I was adamant about that I guess because when they did come back the people opened up a path and let her through....her son did not want to have anyone move for him and several of us grabbed his hand and pulled him up to be with his mom, he needed to be there, he deserved to be there....

having stood at the stage for many concerts this summer I know how hard it can be....and I am healthy and younger....this lady hung in there and made it all the way to This is Not Goodbye, but had grown tired and her son took her to go....he had given me his card/email address so that I would send him my email address...he wanted to to send me a picture he took of me, he wanted to share the moments her preserved with me....

just minutes after they left Melissa started into the talk about the cancer survivors, and she asked where the lady beside me had went and I told her she had to go....Then she started to sing I Run For Life....(this is where I am gonna totally blow my tough dyke don't mess with me persona).....it got to me....the lady, knowing what she is going through, seeing her and her son embrace and celebrate life, seeing her eyes and her incredible smile, she was a beautiful spirit.....I laid my head down on the stage and I cried.....I cried like a baby....I had tears running down my face that I couldn't keep wiped away.....I couldn't stop....I didn't even know this woman existed an hour and a half earlier...those around me were asking if I was ok and all I could do is keep my head down, and listen to Melissa sing I Run or Life as I cried so hard it hurt....I cant explain it....this woman that I was lucky enough to spend a short time with sharing this experience with her changed my world tonight and I cant even to begin to explain how.....as the song ended I had managed to pick my head up and looked at Melissa through my tear streaked face (I must have been a sight) it was then that Melissa walked over to me and put her pick in my hand, I know this is not a regular time that she does this, it was special....I was not given this pick because I deserved it or because I had been a survivor.....I was given this pick for a different reason.....

I have this pick in my wallet but only until Monday morning when I can get to the post office and mail the pick to her son, along with a note about when it was given to me and that I am only the messenger...this is not my pick, it never was, I had looked Melissa in the eye and swore to her that I would get this to that incredible lady....and I will make good on that promise.....

so Edith....your pick is on its way....and thank you for the gift you gave me tonight......