Close Encounters of the MLE Kind

Before my girlfriend and I technically hooked up, we went to see Melissa in Mansfield, MA last year. My girlfriend had front row seats and I had seats with another friend in the 9th row. Melissa came out, walking down the isle to the left of us. She started singing "I Want To Be In Love" and I started balling like a big freak! I was thinking, GOD I'M SUCH A DORK! ONLY NSYNC FANS DO THIS!!!! lol I'd always wanted to see Melissa and this was my first show. Actually, I didn't get to see the first three songs because my eyes were so welled up with tears. ((Lowers head in shame)) As some of you may have read, Melissa means the world to me, so this concert was HUGE for me. Anyway ... About half way through the concert (or so it felt) and just after Melissa sang The Weakness In Me by Joan Armatrading ... My friend and I made our way down to the front, with little resistance from security. Rachel, who is now my girlfriend, and had the front row seats, was now pressed right up against the stage. I spotted her and Melissa was rocking out big time, playing right to the crowd. I remember being so close, that I was behind a woman who had almost got hit with a guitar string that had broke right in front of her. It was great. So, Rachel spots me and makes her way over. She was giving up her KILLER spot near the stage to come see me. The music was so loud, but she leaned in and in my ear, said, "I have something for you." So, I just looked at her as she made her way to the left of the stage. She talked with a security guard and it looked as if she was saying, "Look behind you! Look behind you!" and I'm truly perplexed as to what the hell was going on. The security guard turns around, finally, and with a little hesitation ... lol ... and sees a woman standing there behind him. She bent down a little and handed Rachel something. At first, I had no idea who this woman was, but after a second it hit me. It was Tammy! WOW! I thought ... then I thought ... wait ... what the hell is Rachel doing, talking with Tammy and taking something from her? Rachel thanked her and then came over to me with something behind her back. She walked up to me and held out about 5 or 6 guitar strings. At first I was like, "What the ...??" and then I got it. "HOLY S*#&! Are these Melissa's?" I asked. Rachel smiled and nodded her head. I was dumbfounded. I looked back up at the stage and Tammy was off stage, smiling and I waved. She waved back. I mouthed THANK YOU SO MUCH! And she seemed to laugh a bit and said, "NO PROBLEM" and I said, "NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ... THHAAANNNK YOU!" she smiled again and laughed. So, I thought this is GREAT! And then I had to know how the hell Rachel pulled that one off.

Rachel told me after the concert that, after the concert started, she got up and went right up to the stage. There, she was not only looking at Melissa but looking around at the people running around backstage, and all that stuff. She spotted Tammy at one point, and Tammy looked back. They exchanged waves. lol. Then, a little later on after some guitar string breaks, Rachel spotted Tammy playing with the broken strings backstage. Rachel got her attention and mouthed, "Can I have those?" and Tammy said, "I'm not staying for the whole show." and Rachel said, "Hold on." and that's when me and my friend came down to the front.

Not long after the concert, Rachel and I got together. We've been together for over a year now, and have never been happier. I wanted to post this, to thank Rachel for being such a COOL FREAKIN GIRLFRIEND, and getting those strings for me. She could have kept them for herself, but she didn't. She knew what Melissa meant to me and knew I would love that gift. Also, thanks to Tammy for being the other SUPER COOL GIRLFRIEND who gave up the strings.

Those strings are now in a framed collage of Melissa's SKIN CD and tour book, along with our tickets. It's a great addition to my very small, and humble Melissa collection but I love them so much!

They're great!

Just thought I would finally share this story, with other Melissa fans! Just goes to show how great Melissa and Tammy are, and how they are an inspiration to little ol' Jessi and Rachel in Maine. Rachel, Tammy, and Melissa made my first Melissa concert a very memorable one. Thank you all so much. It meant the world to me.

~Jessi Mallory