Ready to Hit the Road

Summer Tour 2010 Ready to Hit the Road
July 2, 2010

I sit here, on a worn couch, watching an old analog TV with digital conversion, and surround sound, with a carpeted floor, hot and cold running water, heat and air conditioning. Why this description? I am here in Old Orchard Beach, a place I first visited on July 2, 1994, a Saturday. I was in a tent, with an air mattress, a propane grill, and a battery operated TV, a luxury I treated myself to at the time. I booked the tent site over the phone, asking for directions, and was told to get off at the exit, and turn at the water slide. The water slide is no longer here, but the directions haven’t changed, we still get off at the exit, and turn at the first swimming pool. The campground was hopping, I have yet to see it that crowded since.

I fell in love with the place, not the best, fanciest or nicest campground, but I knew that I was home. I stumbled across this place while going to concerts, I was NOT following the Band, I got there first. In particular, I was going to hear two particular songs, that with the added orchestra, melted me.

Yes, back in 1994, I still liked the orchestra. It grew tired after 1996, with the staid and stagnant set list, but 1994 was spectacular. At least it was in Boston, Great Woods, in Mansfield, MA, actually, with members of the Boston Pops playing, I was in for a bit of a let down, with the Portland Philharmonic this particular night.

I arrived at the campground, staked out my site, and erected our two tents. I was traveling with my 10 year old daughter. She was a good camper and traveler, and I hoped a good concert attendee. We then found the concert venue, The Ballpark, and bought tickets at the box office for the evening show.

I had been at the concert a week ago, and had met someone who told me he was With the Band, and that they wanted to meet me, yeh, right. I was escorted to the backstage door, and when me and my companion were to be let in, said important band person refused my companions entry, stating that is was only me that they wanted to see. HUH?, so I walked away, not wanting to leave my friend behind. Said person, then told me to come back to any other concert that Tour, find him, and go backstage. WOW, if this was real, a few times, it seemed like the Band was looking at me, but they look out at the entire audience, I shouldn’t get a squiggly belly thinking I am special, I am not. Some bespectacled lady was also at the door, begging to be let in; she followed me away from the door and asked me” What Is it that you do to get J to look at you with such love when he sings?” I had no idea, and I backed away slowly, as a nurse I have seen that look in eyes before, and if I was working, I would be getting a nice syringe full of anti psychotic medication ready. I just had my first brush with the crazy side of fandom.

As it turns out, no every one was like me, just happy to be there, to hear the people who made the music that I loved. I could command their disembodied voices to sing any song, any time, by placing the needle in the grooves, but to have them present their music, live, breathing the same air, was treat that I still can not describe properly, and a feeling that I still get, all these years later.

But back to July the second, in 1994. I had two concert T shirts, and I was still of the ilk that by wearing them, people would know that I loved them best, spending money I shouldn’t on tshirts, concert tickets, and tour books. Such love. We went to the show, I was amazed that there were a few other familiar faces there, I had thought that 140 miles between venues would bring me a new sea of faces. I suppose there were a few faces dismayed to see me again, too. We , along with our concert Tshirts, also brought glow sticks. I admit this, freely.

We found our seats, amd I mad friends with the people next to me. They has seen the Red Rocks concert on PBS, and came just to see it in person, and they were amazed that I had seen the shoe already, not just this week, but for several years, with personnel changes, etc, and that I never planned to stop.

How do you explain to people that you have found something that makes you happy? Ther are a lot of miserable people out there, who might think they are happy, but they never know true joy.

The concert started, buggy, and open air. Roadies were spraying bug spray onto the musicians, and I saw my “friend” from the show a few days ago. After the concert, he told me that they were driving fast to get out of here, and back to their hotel, there were no real dressing rooms. I also saw a Band member wipe the bug spray off of his lovely red Gibson, not pleasantly. The orchestra was not as good as in the Boston area, and I came to the profound conclusion that just because you are good at something, someone is better, and some are worse. But the Band shone, and soared above the mosquitoes and subpar orchestra, and I heard “Eternity Road” and “Gypsy” again, and felt transformed, again. My daughter and I scooted up to the front, and waved our mislabeled glowsticks during the correct song, and dit it correctly. Our sticks were purple, in blue labeled packages, and we waved them proudly, and were waved back at, by the Band. WOW. We went to the stage, and 4 Band members came over to see us, and wave. I really think they saw us.

We spent the rest of the week exploring the beach, the amusement parks, the surrounding area, and came back weekend after weekend. Two years later, I became a seasonal, with a trailer, and with one upgrade, have been here ever since. So, today, I pack up my stuff, and my cats, yes, I camp with cats, and I go home, to prepare for a week on the road with a Band. Well, not WITH them, but with them.


July 2.