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FROM:  ML

SENT:  31 July 2002

What a day/night July 30th was for me.  Many, many good things happened.

Since I had the day off…I decided to get to the venue quite early to hang out and see what I could see.  I was on my own for this part as my partner wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure she'd even make the show.  I left the house thinking she wouldn't be there at all. :(

Got there 'round 3:30 pm ( a little early?) :D  Found a little table to sit at and watch the trucks get unloaded.  Met up with another fan and we chatted about lots of stuff.  She knows Kenny and was waiting to meet up with him.  Cool…thought I'd get to meet Kenny this time around.  Sound check wasn't till 5:00 pm so we decided to go in and walk around inside the venue.  I stopped at the ticket window to see if I could get my tix.  I expected to be told to come back, but I was able to get them.  I found that I was center, row 2.  With the pit section, this put me technically in row 5.  Great seats, just to the right of the mic.  This is a college auditorium and has great hallways!  We ended up in the basement area, turned the corner and saw this sign for Catering! :)  Checked out the sign…they were scheduled to eat dinner at 6:00 pm.  Turned around and saw the sign at the stairwell for the Stage…very cool.

Once we got back outside, we headed for the stage door.  This is where I remember Melissa and the band departing from her last time here.  A short time later, Kenny came out the door and spotted his friend.  He heads over to us and they chatted a bit.  Another one in the small group that had gathered (there were only 8 of us at this time), hollered out that she'd love a drumstick.  Kenny said he'd come back out after sound check.  True to his word…Kenny came back, gave my new friend a drumstick and the other woman from the crowd.  I then had to ask if I could get one.  He said he'd try. :)  Had to go back in.  Said Melissa was on her way..would be there in 20 minutes. :D  I was getting a little wobbly here.  

I couldn't sit still at this point, I was pacing (just a little!).  Once I saw Stephanie come out of the stage door and down the drive and walked past us to the end of the driveway, I knew Melissa was going to be there any minute.  <pacing increases>  Just then, Stephanie put her arm up and pointed for the bus to go down the drive.  Here comes Melissa' bus!

The bus pulled up and parked so close to the stage door, I expected them to just hop off the bus and head inside.  Steve got off the bus and was looking over at us.  Looked inside the bus, and then looked over at us again.  THEN SHE APPEARED! <sigh>  Oh my goodness…my knees were knocking at this point.   They were walking over to us!  Steve saying…"one item per person, only one item".  Whoa…she was really going to do this.  Okay, I'm kinda at the end of the line, just watching it all happen.  I had three items…all being her books.  2 hardcover (one English, one German) and the paperback…which one to get signed?  I decided on the first one I bought…the hardcover.  When it was my turn…I mumbled something about where in the book should she sign?  She said the spot I had open would be just fine.  I told her to have a great show.  Didn't really make eye contact.  She seemed a little distant with our group.  Could be some 'end of vacation' blues.  Who knows…

I called out to Tammy just as they were headed back inside…she made a motion to head over our way, but saw the group heading in and followed.

I decided to see if I could get my guitar signed.  I have one of the signature series guitars.  So…I took off to the parking garage to get it.  I got back to the bus area and just waited.

Not too much long after this, Kenny came back out.  He had a drum stick for me!  The other members in the group had left and it was just me and this new friend I met.  He signed the sticks, took pics with us and then they walked off to talk.

I kept waiting to see if Steve would come back out to talk with me.  I must have looked so damn pathetic out there all by myself with my water bottle and guitar. :D  About 20 minutes of standing around…pacing, making phone calls to answering machines…Steve popped his head out the stage door and hollered over, 'are you the one with the guitar?'  I said 'YES!"  He walked over to get it and said he'd take it to her.  WHOA…my day just keeps getting better. He asked for my name, but when I got the guitar back, she hadn't signed it 'to me'.  That's okay…she signed it!  Before Steve came back with my guitar, I had the opportunity to meet up with some others.

Mark was walking about putting stuff on the bus.  I hollered over to him to come over by us.  I asked if he would sign something for me.  He is the sweetest…asked my name, shook my hand.  Took 2 pics just in case one didn't turn out.  What a great guy!

Tammy had been in and out of the stage door hanging outside talking with her friends.  I was finally able to get her attention and she came walking over.  There were four of us now.  A boardie from the MEIN board, her co-worker joined us.  I must have been mumbling thank you over and over.  She just looked at me and said, 'for what?'   She was just so sweet.  I asked if she'd sign my book too.  Told her I heard she signs the end of the book since that's where she and Melissa started.  She sat down and looked for the right spot to sign.  

She's cut her hair again.  Looks fabulous…short and spiky!  Said it was hard to keep long with a 3 and 5 year old.  They had a great time in Hawaii, it was her first time there.  They were all tired and had gotten too much sun.  I asked if she'd take a picture with me and she said sure!  

She signed Gemini8's shirt (the MEIN boardie)…put something like  "I'm on top" with a big heart and signed her name, "Isn't my wife hot?" and then… "Missy, Rocky, Sexy" 

Whew…I was getting worn out from all this excitement.  Compound that with 103 heat index and me in black jeans and cowboy boots! :O

During this time, I got a call from my partner saying she'd be there…my night was getting even better!  I had dreaded the thought of a Melissa concert on my own.  

I took my guitar back to the car and got the rest of my stuff together.  Went to the lobby, Kris was waiting for me there.  Got t-shirts, a book and another water.  Security told us Melissa would go on at 8:30…thought we had time.  Seems we missed her opening number and 1/2 the 2nd. :(

Did the little Minnesoooohta talk.  Asked if she went to the Mall of America… no.  Said she is a secret Vikings supporter, but would deny it if confronted. LOL

Talked about Joan Armatrading.  Had dinner with her and had some adult beverages…got up the nerve to ask her to sing with her…answer is no.

She said the kids really like the 4th album, and they play it all the time. She thought her neighbors might think it a little odd that Melissa plays her own music all the time! :D

There is the new tattoo.  I got to see Tammy's up close, wouldn't allow a pic… Nice scripted font.  'Lucky' on Tammy's left arm, 'Angel' on Melissa's left arm.

I did get some pics, but without the flash…they didn't turn out. :(  Finally was told to put my camera away… I did just that!  Didn't want my camera taken…

Okay…think that's it.  If I think of anything more, I'll send another note. 

Sorry for the length of this, had to get the entire experience down.

ml <still on a Melissa high…>

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