"Where are you?" Michael was worried. I could tell from his tone.
"I am still here at work. I just want to get my paperwork done so I don't have to come back tomorrow." That was 9:36 pm on Wednesday. Tomorrow will be the first day of my long awaited 2-week vacation and to kick it off I am going to see Arnel and my Journey! 10:45pm and I was still there in my cubicle. Boy, Beth Israel is getting a lot of freebie hours from me. I should get mucho Beth bucks for this. The air was getting stale already and I was hungry. I went home tired and cross-eyed. The sad part was I couldn't finish my work.
"What are you doing here?" Carole asked, "You're supposed to be on vacation."
"I know. I'm not here. You didn't see me." I snucked into my office but word got out that I was there and soon after I heard my name being paged overhead. F**k people, what part of "I am not here" don't you understand. I planned on staying for just an hour, maybe two, but I got out past noon. There goes my plan of having a relaxing day before the concert. I wanted to get my nails done, then I was going to cook Michael his dinner so all he have to do when he gets home was vege out, but it didn't happen. Instead at 3pm, running around like a chicken with no head trying to buy stuff for the tail gate that afternoon. "Shit, why do I always do this."
Fast forward, I was in my car alone (purposely) stuck in traffic on my way to PNC. "Geez, people move! I have to see Arnel!" Sting's concert was not this chaotic. "Nothing can go wrong and nothing will go wrong." That was my mantra on my wedding day and that was my mantra that night. No hail, rain, tornado or hurricane can stop me from seeing Arnel tonight.
My Journey CD playing loudly, I surveyed the people in their cars around me. Baffled to see all of them American...well at least not Filipino. Huh. Where are my peeps? I called my friend, "Mec, where are our peeps? I don't see any of them."
"I know, I don't see any of them here either. Well, Jo said she'll be late." Ah, that explains it. They are late! Filipino time.
But no, when I got to the parking lot I saw vans full of them parked and partying like it's 1999. I saw almost four generations clumped in one group from great grandparents to great grandchildren. It was an appropriate sight. Filipinos after all are about family and a Journey concert is a family event. One group had their grill still smoking, one man was holding a bamboo skewer. He must be eating our version of a pork barbecue. Hmmm yummy. I remembered I have not eaten anything and felt hungry all of a sudden.
I parked my little black Honda and met up with Carole and Renee. They busted open the cooler and was already drinking Chardonnay in a cup. They handed me my Reisling. Oh boy, wine on an empty stomach = disaster for me. I chased it with crackers, Asiago cheese and grapes. This is going to be a good night. I could feel the cool breeze and the warm afternoon sun on my face.
"What's wrong?" Carole asked. I had gone quiet, my eyes closed and was leaning to the truck next to us. *deep sigh. "Nothing." I said with a sheepish smile. My cheeks were warm not from the sun but from the second cup of wine I had in my hand. I was happy, albeit alcohol enhanced, but happy as a clam in high water nonetheless. I was thinking of the plan I hatched earlier this week. I was going to wait for Arnel's bus so he would see me wearing the T-shirt I made for him. It was a pink shirt.(side note: I wanted a yellow shirt but AC Moore ran out of that color. I heard that one of the most vibrant color visible to the human eye is yellow in black background hence the hazard sign colors.) In front were the words"Arnel Pakiss" (I have to thank Vagabond for this idea) and the back was my name "Sting_fan" in bold black letters. I would throw myself in front of his bus hoping to get an autograph from Arnel. (The last part of that plan was alcohol induced). My only problem was I was going to be alone in this. Carole asked me who will be with me tonight for my jaunt to get Arnel's autograph and I gave her a general answer of "My peeps." It's partially true. I am sure another crazy Filipino has thought of this plan somewhere here in New Jersey.
We started to head towards the theatre. We met a lot of happily inebriated people along the way. Even the cops were laid back. I got several compliments for my shirt. I thanked them graciously. One even asked where I bought it. I thought that was funny. We got to the top of the hill and I spied the Journey bus (well at least I thought it was) parked way beyond the guarded gate. My resolve to wait for this bus and get Arnel's autograph got stronger. I don't know how my plan would work but it had to I had no plan B.
We got inside and found the place bustling with activity. Children running, people hugging and chatting, and vendors handing out flyers. We made a beeline to the right side of the theatre. Cheap trick was already playing their set. I bought a cookie to calm my stomach, chocolate chip, my favorite. I excused myself from Carole and Renee and met up with a few friends who had lawn tickets. "Mec, meet me by the flag pole." I shouted on the phone and hoped that she heard me. I meandered my way through the maze of lawn chairs, people, and picnic blankets on my way there. It was packed to the hilt. I could barely see the grass with these many people. I needed a beer to calm my nerves. My friends were brutal teasers and I really don't know how they would react to my home made shirt. "Too elementary." they might say and I would reply, "Let me see you come up with something better you f**kers!" Surpringly they were gentle and generally didn't comment on it. The most that I got from them was "Naks" which was the equivalent of "wow". So I stayed and chatted for a while and took some pictures then I headed back to my seat at section 301 row H. By that time I was finishing up my second bottle of beer and was genuinely happy," alcohol-enhanced" happy. Heart had already started their set and I knew Journey was up next. I was already warming up. I was up on my feet with my friend Carole and we were singing with Anne like we were there up on the stage with her. Anne blew me away. To say that she could sing was an understatement.
The place got quiet. They started changing the equipment on the stage. "Oh Christ I got to pee." I didn't even realize I said it out loud until the guy in front of me said "You have 17 minutes." Carole and I looked at each other and then to the crowd of people going at the restroom area and she said "Go!" For a split second I almost went but said, "No I can hold it. I can't risk missing a single minute of this."
The crowd went wild when they showed the Fab Five behind the scenes walking their way to the stage. The fog machine went on and I was already on my feet, arms waving and shouting, "OH MY GOD ARNEL!"
Arnel came out running and singing Never Walk Away. It was a blur for me after that... I was singing my heart out. Jumping, shouting and taking pictures at the same time. I was the only one standing at my row. It annoyed me initially. I thought,"C'mon people, this is Journey in front of you! Stand up and party!" but realized soon that it was to my advantage if they remained seated. Arnel could see me better in the crowd! Okay people remain seated while I make a fool of myself as I get Arnel's attention. But my feet gave out, and my quads were burning. Damn that alcohol dehydrated me. I had to sit a couple of times.
And then it was over... I was exhausted.
We shuffled our way back up the steps into the concession stands. I remembered that there's a second part to this Journey concert in my plan when Carole asked me "So where are you gonna meet you're peeps?" There was a hint of suspicion in her voice. Damn, she would not let me go. "I don't know yet." I tried to distract her. "I have to go pee. You and Renee can go ahead if you want." She gave me a look that said, yeah right. "No, I'll wait for you." and she did. When I came out of the ladies' room she was there. I tried again. "I have to buy a T-shirt. You really don't have to wait for me." and finally she said, "You're not doing this alone are you?" She did not wait for my answer and went on to say with a tone like a mother to a child, "I sure hope not!" Oh crap. I was done. Without fessing up to the whole truth and I tried to save face by saying that my peeps had left already. We carried ourselves with our tired legs back to the parking lot, luckily that hill was now a downhill slope. We passed the gate where we saw the bus earlier and my heart skipped a beat. I know Arnel is still there somewhere. Maybe I could bribe someone to let me go past the gate. As if she read my mind Carole offered, "Do you want to slip them some dead presidents so we can get in?" I declined. I sounded defeated already. It was along shot.
I found my way back to my car and started to reflect on what had just happened and what didn't happen. Thinking back I thought I did not try hard enough. I regret not having a plan B. I realized that I am still a reluctant fan. *sigh.
We started to head towards the theatre. We met a lot of happily inebriated people along the way. Even the cops were laid back. I got several compliments for my shirt. I thanked them graciously. One even asked where I bought it. I thought that was funny. We got to the top of the hill and I spied the Journey bus (well at least I thought it was) parked way beyond the guarded gate. My resolve to wait for this bus and get Arnel's autograph got stronger. I don't know how my plan would work but it had to I had no plan B.
We got inside and found the place bustling with activity. Children running, people hugging and chatting, and vendors handing out flyers. We made a beeline to the right side of the theatre. Cheap trick was already playing their set. I bought a cookie to calm my stomach, chocolate chip, my favorite. I excused myself from Carole and Renee and met up with a few friends who had lawn tickets. "Mec, meet me by the flag pole." I shouted on the phone and hoped that she heard me. I meandered my way through the maze of lawn chairs, people, and picnic blankets on my way there. It was packed to the hilt. I could barely see the grass with these many people. I needed a beer to calm my nerves. My friends were brutal teasers and I really don't know how they would react to my home made shirt. "Too elementary." they might say and I would reply, "Let me see you come up with something better you f**kers!" Surpringly they were gentle and generally didn't comment on it. The most that I got from them was "Naks" which was the equivalent of "wow". So I stayed and chatted for a while and took some pictures then I headed back to my seat at section 301 row H. By that time I was finishing up my second bottle of beer and was genuinely happy," alcohol-enhanced" happy. Heart had already started their set and I knew Journey was up next. I was already warming up. I was up on my feet with my friend Carole and we were singing with Anne like we were there up on the stage with her. Anne blew me away. To say that she could sing was an understatement.
The place got quiet. They started changing the equipment on the stage. "Oh Christ I got to pee." I didn't even realize I said it out loud until the guy in front of me said "You have 17 minutes." Carole and I looked at each other and then to the crowd of people going at the restroom area and she said "Go!" For a split second I almost went but said, "No I can hold it. I can't risk missing a single minute of this."
The crowd went wild when they showed the Fab Five behind the scenes walking their way to the stage. The fog machine went on and I was already on my feet, arms waving and shouting, "OH MY GOD ARNEL!"
Arnel came out running and singing Never Walk Away. It was a blur for me after that... I was singing my heart out. Jumping, shouting and taking pictures at the same time. I was the only one standing at my row. It annoyed me initially. I thought,"C'mon people, this is Journey in front of you! Stand up and party!" but realized soon that it was to my advantage if they remained seated. Arnel could see me better in the crowd! Okay people remain seated while I make a fool of myself as I get Arnel's attention. But my feet gave out, and my quads were burning. Damn that alcohol dehydrated me. I had to sit a couple of times.
And then it was over... I was exhausted.
We shuffled our way back up the steps into the concession stands. I remembered that there's a second part to this Journey concert in my plan when Carole asked me "So where are you gonna meet you're peeps?" There was a hint of suspicion in her voice. Damn, she would not let me go. "I don't know yet." I tried to distract her. "I have to go pee. You and Renee can go ahead if you want." She gave me a look that said, yeah right. "No, I'll wait for you." and she did. When I came out of the ladies' room she was there. I tried again. "I have to buy a T-shirt. You really don't have to wait for me." and finally she said, "You're not doing this alone are you?" She did not wait for my answer and went on to say with a tone like a mother to a child, "I sure hope not!" Oh crap. I was done. Without fessing up to the whole truth and I tried to save face by saying that my peeps had left already. We carried ourselves with our tired legs back to the parking lot, luckily that hill was now a downhill slope. We passed the gate where we saw the bus earlier and my heart skipped a beat. I know Arnel is still there somewhere. Maybe I could bribe someone to let me go past the gate. As if she read my mind Carole offered, "Do you want to slip them some dead presidents so we can get in?" I declined. I sounded defeated already. It was along shot.
I found my way back to my car and started to reflect on what had just happened and what didn't happen. Thinking back I thought I did not try hard enough. I regret not having a plan B. I realized that I am still a reluctant fan. *sigh.
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