Journey in Borgata, Atlantic City

Prelude

I packed my bags and made sure I had everything I needed for my three day weekend at Atlantic City area. All in all I had packed two duffel bags, a back pack, a large paper bag and my pocketbook; I still have to stop by the store to buy last minute stuff.

I kissed my husband goodbye and headed out. It was almost noon. I set my XM radio to 202 and was listening to the best of Ron and Fez. I love this duo and I only get to hear them on weekends when I share a ride with my husband to go to my in-laws for Sunday dinner. This time he lets me borrow his XM radio so I get to hear them. That's me digressing.

I got to Absecon ( I pronounce it Ahb -seh - cohn, others say Ab-seeh-con) in 2 hours 45 minutes. Super 8 motel was anything but super. The first room they gave me stank like an ashtray. I barely got in and I had to go back to the front desk to ask for another room. The person behind the front desk saw me lugging the five items I had packed plus the stuff I had accumulated on my way but did not offer me any help. I shall remember that once I write my review in Orbitz.

Once in my room I settled my accoutrements on the table. The smell of the room was not as bad as the first one, but it was not good either. The towels looked like they need to be washed again. I regret forgetting to pack my own towels. I also regret not packing my own pillow and bedsheets. I was highly suspicious of those sheets.

I got to Borgata by 5pm. I could have gone earlier but as I was going to see this concert alone, I figured 15 minutes early was enough time for me to find my way around the casino. The instructions said that I should be there by 5:15pm.

The hotel was opulent and reminded me of the grandeur of the hotels in Las Vegas. The pale marble floor circled the carpeted casino area. Huge columns invited eyes to spy the high rib vaults that span the roof. The hotel was abuzz with activities with mostly adults roaming the floor. I was glad of my decision to put on a pair of pants and blouse. The sneakers, yoga pants and t-shirt I was eying for comfort would not look appropriate for this venue. No wonder they charged 350 per night here.

I brought some odd items for Arnel if by off chance I get to meet him today. I knew it was a far fetched hope. I did not check my email at a fan site and missed the deadline to be part of a fan meet where Arnel and his family showed up. Oh well. "You snooze, you lose."

In front of the box office, where I met Jeff from ILAA, a group of loyal Journey fans were already gathered. Victoria and Joe, a couple from Wayne, and I gravitated together. We found out we were members of APR. Jeff ushered us to the ballroom lobby and soon found ourselves in a room adjacent to the event arena.

I was hungry and tired. The cookies and corn chips with three condiments were a sorry excuse for the food they had promised in the ILAA package. I drank a glass of diet coke. That was my daily limit of caffeinated beverage. Jeff tried hard to build the excitement in the group. Soon Jonathan Cain came out and I was on my feet at once. Three journey CD's in my hand, I was ready to pose for a picture and have my CD's autographed. He was tall and good looking and had a very sexy speaking voice. I told him I was a new Journey fan and he thanked me.

This is me with Jonathan Cain.

No other band members showed up. I was happy to see Jon, disappointed I did not see Deen. I told Jon "I felt sorry for you at CBS. You got wet with rain." He smiled and said something like "Oh, don't worry about it. I look sexy wet." Such a flirt!

I looked at my ticket and was hoping to be seated near front row. Jeff explained that casino high rollers usually get the first two rows. It was later confirmed to me by a long time Journey concert goer, Lou, whom I had the pleasure of sitting with at the concert. Fourth row center was good enough for me.

We had a tour of the back stage where a crew of stage hands waited for the concert to start. I saw the food station. They had better food than us. I felt hunger pangs and fleetingly thought of snatching a danish, but I snapped this picture instead.

Hmmm. "Don't do it." I wanted to grab a danish and sneak away from the group and go to the dressing room. I should have worn black instead of my loud pink shirt that screams "ARNEL PAKISS" then maybe I can pull it off. This premeditated act did not materialize because our group was ushered to another room. Next up was the stage. I saw how close the fourth row was to the stage and my heart started to palpitate. I felt for the people who would be behind me and in front of me. I knew I would be standing and screaming tonight. I just hope I don't get kicked out.

It was a small venue and it really did not look like it would seat 3,700 people. However, unless i counted it, I will just have to take their word for it. Journey could easily sell this venue out tonight.

So back to the room we go. I got a glimpse of the people gathering at the ballroom lobby. It's almost time. Victoria and Joe were given meet and greet passes which they had to pick up at the box office. They declined the passes and gave it up for another group. I would be lying if I said that the thought of begging for those passes for myself did not cross my mind. And before I could finish the battle in my head Victoria decided to leave the passes to the hands of two lucky people. "Slow poke" I said, then I answered back: "Don't ask for favors you can't repay. Favors go up in value and almost always have to be overpaid." I was still hungry so I broke away from our trio temporarily and headed to get me a thick oatmeal cookie and juice from Starbucks.

We headed up,got our tickets scanned and our hands stamped. Victoria and Joe was seated second row to the right of the stage. I was escorted to my seat where Lou from Baltimore was sitting next to my seat. I didn't know his name was Lou at that time. He was happily on his way to becoming inebriated.

I sat beside him and introduced myself. He was very talkative. He was not lewd or fractious but he did use the word fuck as a noun, verb and adjective in some of his sentences. He is a pro when it comes to attending concerts, particularly Journey's. He has been following the group since Steve Perry came on board. I was happy to find out that he loves Arnel.

"You cannot find another person in this room who loves him more." He proudly announced.

I wanted to say "Ohhh I seriously doubt that." but kept my mouth shut.

While waiting, I met several people who seem to really enjoy Journey as much as I did. A young couple from Metutuchen, and a pair or military brats who thought I was the sister of Arnel! Ha!

"If i was the sister of Arnel I would be behind this stage right now, not sitting here with you guys."

I feel good to be surrounded by people who are true Journey fans, whom I know will be up on their feet too once the concert starts. Woo hooo!!

The Kiss


Lou hatched a plan to sneak to the front row once the lights turn down. I thought my seat was good enough. I really did not want to risk it, but then I had passed up opportunities left and right today. I thought "Go ahead. Try it." I was backed up by Joe and his wife.

The lights dimmed soon enough and the opening bars of Majestic filtered the arena; soon I was slowly elevated to cloud nine. As planned, my seatmate and I scouted two seats at the second row. We pretended that those were our rightful seats. It worked.

I was up on my feet shouting and singing. I thought, "So this is how it feels to be in the front row. I love it."

I could see every detail of Neal's puckered lips and furrowed brow. Those were classic. His fingers strumming the chords of the guitar was almost hypnotic. Seeing it and hearing it was an experience itself. Several times I knew he saw me. I blew him kisses and he gave me a quick smile.

Ross, looked quiet in his pose but spying closely I realized that he had pretty much used all of his facial muscles to make expressions that were vintage Ross. Like Sting, Ross played the bass guitar with quiet power. Hidden to support the electric guitar tunes of Neal, Ross' ability to play the bass guitar was like it was the sky that was to be the backdrop of what was to be Neal's formidable mountainscapes of a tune.

From where I was standing, I could not see Jon from behind his piano, but he treated the audience with his versatility with the guitar, and harmonica. I was able to get the three of them in a picture clearly.

Deen is the master of his castle behind those drums and cymbals.
When he sang Mother, Father, I fought hard not to scream. I was recording it. I learned my lesson not to shout and ruin the video. But oooh boy did I want to scream.
If Ross and Neal were the sky and mountain, then Jon would be the vibrant and subtle shades of colors that envelopes that backdrop and Deen would be the sharp and powerful lightning that illuminates the scene.


Arnel.. Ohhh what can I say. Arnel. He was the very air that you breathe. I swooned several times when he stood in front of me. I proudly displayed my shirt hoping he'd recognize it. I think he did. I think he pointed at me several times. Wow. I dared to defy gravity and found myself jumping several times. I could not help it. My head was like a fan darting left and right trying to follow him.He was everywhere. I am amazed at the jumps he makes from Deen's drum riser. How can he run and sing at the same time??? .... I am speechless. The same power he began the show with is the same power he ended it.

I felt the pressure. Can I hold it? The end is very near and the surprise is palpable. Lights is playing. Ohhhh Can I hold it? Noooooooooo!!!! I gotta go. I made a mad dash to the restroom. I cursed my shoes. "Damn these heels." I may have ten gangrenous toes by the end of this night but right now I have one singular task: Empty my bladder and be back before the last song. I made it.

Beth said there's a surprise, that I must record it. Arnel announced that the next song was his two favorite song of Journey. I heard the guitar and saw Neal illuminated by a single light. Then Arnel sang Patiently and the audience lulled to a temporary trance. My tears just came. Awwwwww. It was so beautiful. I felt goosebumps. I miss my husband just then. I wanted to hold his hand. Then it was the end of a beautiful night. The band made their final bow and disappeared into the dark. I stood there in a trance still. One word left my mouth: "Wow".