I’m insane. I really am. I thought it was bad when I decided a week before Ann Arbor to fly out there to see Barry one last time, but nothing can top this. Literally less than 24 hours before the Pella show I decided to go. I think it was around 11:30 that I read Sue’s diary and found out she had an extra ticket to the Pops. And what makes it even more insane is that earlier in the day I had said to both Laura and Jade that I would not go up there even if could get a ticket cuz I didn’t have the energy or feel the need to see them again so soon. But when the ticket became a reality that all changed. I figured out how to get there but didn’t officially decide on it. I wanted to sleep on it, which of course, didn’t really happen since I just laid in bed debating if I should go. I figured if I woke up in time to go and had the energy to go, I would. Well I did, so I went. When I came downstairs to talk to my dad he asked if I was going and I said, “I guess so, I don’t feel strongly either way.” Cuz that makes sense. So I bought my Chinese bus tickets and ran around for an hour getting things ready and hopped on the train. Found the Chinese bus without a problem (of course it helped that a bus was sitting outside the building lol). Oh and the walk there I passed men jack hammering and a piece of sidewalk flew up and hit my neck. It didn’t hurt, but you’d think they’d protect the area better cuz of the potential for bigger flying pieces that could actually hurt. The bus ride up was very slow. For the first 2 hours we couldn’t go an exit without hitting imaginary construction or some broken down vehicle. After the 2 hours we stopped at a rest stop and a stray cat must have jumped on the bus cuz the rest of the trip the bus smelled like cat pee. I was SOOOO ready to get off that bus by the time Boston appeared. Especially since as I got into the city Laura called and told me there was a M&G. I totally did not think they would have one, but I was SO happy that I would be able to see them after spending 4.5 hours on a bus smelling cat pee.

Conveniently as I was waiting to get off the bus Laura called to say they were done with the M&G and would train to get me so I didn’t have to worry about being lost in Boston (I’ve been there a bunch of times but except for the last time for Elliott, I was always in a car with my parents, so I don’t really know the city). After a little bit of confusion, we found each other and went to eat. I changed into concert clothes and we went to the Hard Rock Café so Laura could see her Steven stuff. Stupid Hard Rock being closed for a private party the ONE time Laura goes. GRRR. We headed back to the venue and I got my ticket which turned out to be IMO the best seat in the house. I was 1st balcony, right side, front row, right above the stage and where the guys walked in and out.

First came 4 songs by the Pops and I enjoyed the first 2 song cuz I recognized them, but after that I was just impatient and waiting for the Pella so I didn’t really care anymore. I did like the conductor though, he was funny, and I didn’t expect that at all. I always bought into the stereotype that the Pops and orchestras in general are all uptight, so it was nice to see he had a good sense of humor. After the intermission, during which Laura moved to sit with me, the Pops did 2 more songs and then intruded the Pella. The show was amazing, probably my favorite cuz it was so different. They were SO happy and would watch the Pops playing any chance they got. They just glowed. I thought the orchestra backed them nicely, except for People Change cuz it sounded like Pella was at one tempo and the orchestra was at another, plus it shoulda just been the strings. There was too much brass. I think Shambala was my favorite surprisingly. I thought the instrumental fit that song the best. The beat goes on was bizarre but good. I think they smiled most during that one cuz it was so new to them still. I couldn’t understand most of the words cuz the orchestra was so much louder than the Pella. Kevin was the only one consistently loud enough to be heard over the Pops, so I could only really hear his part of the song and he was singing all Broadway, more than usual, which sounded really weird. Pretty, but weird. Rock the Boat was my other favorite cuz it was the highest energy I’ve seen and cuz George competing with the tuba player was the coolest thing ever. I was leaning forward in my seat, resting my chin on the balcony banister and grinning from ear to ear. Scott, Kevin, and John were standing off their side of the stage facing Jeff and George and also us since we were right above them, so I’m pretty sure they saw Laura and I just beaming and glowing at George, Jeff, and the tuba player. I didn’t wanna miss anything George et al were doing so I didn’t want to take my eyes off them to see if Scott et al were looking at us, but I sneaked a look out of the corner of my eye twice and I think they did see us. They also knew where we were since during the same song when the break came in the middle of the song for do the hussle, Laura and I yelled it and hardly anyone else did and Scott just lit up and got SO excited that someone knew to yell it and he actually said something like hey! they did it! and pointed up towards the balconies. After Rock the Boat they bowed and we stood for them. As they walked off stage Kevin looked up at us, smiled, and waved. Then they came back out and did off mic. It was amazing. The loudest and clearest I’ve ever heard it. John’s voice was beyond beautiful. Between the music and me thinking that this might be the last time I see them ever, I started crying. I’m pretty sure I will see them again, it may be a year or more, but I won’t not see them again because I want to…but a lot can happen in a year that’s out of my control. So although I don’t want it to be my last show, who knows. But if it is, it was a great way of ending it. And if it’s not my last, I have wonderful memories to keep me going til the next time.

I was next in line and both Scott and Kevin saw me and smiled at me, but then the guy in front of me kept talking to them so I waited patiently. The second he moved onto John Scott turned to me, pointes at me, and yells Ariana! He was SO proud of himself for remembering. I’m sure he was just waiting for the guy in front of me to move so he could announce that he remembered me. He’s so cute. Kevin thanked me for coming (#1) and I told both of them how much I loved the show and I said I haven’t smiled that much in a long time and Scott said, “Me neither” and I added that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Then I moved to John and talked to him about Disney and told him I decided to do it. I explained that originally I told them no, but about a month ago they called me and asked me to reconsider and since I had no job, I said yes. He asked me if I got the position I wanted. It was so nice that not only did he remember the conversation in general, but he remembered that I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it cuz I didn’t know if I could get the job I wanted. Anyway, I told him I didn’t know yet cuz they didn’t assign roles til about a week before you start the program, so I’d have to call Tuesday and hopefully find out. He asked me if it was just for the summer and I said til January and he was all wow, that’s cool its longer. I said something about moving back down there with all of them and although I didn’t hear it, Laura said he said something about maybe running into me sometime or something like that.

Then I moved down to Jeff and Laura and I talked to him at the same time and he asked how the sound was and where we were seated and Laura told him. I told him I loved off mic and how pretty it was and how it’s the best I’ve ever heard John. He musta heard me say his name cuz he looked at me, so I repeated what I had just said and added that it made me cry and he thanked me. I smiled at George, but as usual, had nothing to say to him, so I left the line. Laura and I talked while the Pella finished up and suddenly Sue appeared. She was sitting on the steps so I had to bend over oddly to hug her and in the process blocked Jeff’s mom from being able to go down the stairs (I didn’t know she was behind me) and she said “excuse me hun” For some reason I think its cool that a Pella’s mom has called me hun. We watched Jeff’s and Scott’s parents go through the line and get their programs signed, which I thought was pretty funny and semi-ridiculous. Cuz they need their sons autograph? Jeff got up to hug his parents and called them Mommy and Daddy, which I thought was adorable. Then I went over with Sue and she talked to Scott and Kevin quickly. They were so happy to see her. She was like I thought I’d stop by cuz I live down the street and Kevin looked at her like yea right, and she was like no, I literally liver down the street. She told them she was graduating in a week and they asked her major and she said math and they were both like WOAH. Kevin was like that’s uh…hard. No shit Kevin. That’s when they got up from the table, but the door for them to leave through was behind them and the table, and I thought they were all gonna run out the door so I kinda hovered on the opposite side of the table. I hated doing it cuz I don’t like when other people hover and I don’t want to do it myself, but I didn’t get a Kevin hug in Canton and I really wanted one cuz I know it will be a really long time til I can get another one. Fearing he was just gonna run out the door, while he was still on the other side of the table I asked him for a hug and he said of course. He came around and hugged me (two arms yay!) and when I hugged him a little tighter, he hugged me tighter back. It was wonderful. He thanked me for coming (#2) and I told him I didn’t decide to come til 8:30 that morning. I said I found out I could get a ticket last night and got up this morning and was like, “I have nothing to do today…I’ll go to Boston.” He just smiled a lot. I told him I was very glad I came and then he drifted away to talk to someone else. I heard Laura and Scott talking about Laura and school so I went to join them.

We talked a good long time about lots of different things so I don’t remember everything and the order of things so this just whatever pops into my head. We talked about the Christmas shows and Scott says they’re easier. I was like really? And he said yea, we just do this *smiles and sways back and forth* It was really funny. I told him he has like 4 days off in December. I said I saw all the dates going up for December and was like please don’t kill the Pella. Laura: “Y’all are gonna die.” Scott laughs. We said die and kill to Scott and he didn’t panic. Yay Scott! I told Scott I decided to do Disney and he seemed happy and said something about he has such fond memories of Disney. I told him anyone I’ve spoken to or heard of who has done the Disney program has loved it, so hopefully I will too. We talked about the lack of shows in Florida. I said 4 of the 5 of you live in Florida and you never have shows there. You need shows in the Orlando area so I can see you guys. Why don’t you have gigs in Florida? You need gigs in Florida. “Yea, what’s up with that?” We should do shows in Orlando. I brought up Niceville and that it’s a Mullet festival and how they would have fun with that. He laughed at that, but then Laura added that it was about the fish and I was like I was SO disappointed when I found out that it was for a fish and not the hairstyle and he laughed even more and I think again he said, “what’s up with that?” again. It must be his favorite new phrase cuz he thinks it makes him sound cool. It’s so cute when he says it cuz he squints his eyes and you can totally tell he thinks he’s being cool. Then he said something like i thought they got a hold of a picture of me from 15 years ago and that's why they booked us. So funny. I said I wanted to go to that show, but I didn’t know what my schedule at Disney would be like and even if I could get off, I didn’t know how to get up there. I told him I had never been to Disney and he was all shocked of course. I told him spent a few days in Orlando after graduation and we were trying to find things to do and I wanted to do all the Disney stuff but my dad wouldn’t let me cuz he said I could do it all for free in a month. I remembered about my dad seeing Holyland on the map and I told Scott that story. My dad saw it and sarcastically said, “ooo, Holyland we should go there.” Scott interrupted me and was like that’s where John worked and I told him I knew and I had yelled at my dad (and waved my finger at him which I did at Scott too) and was like Hey! That’s where John worked! Don’t make fun of it! and Scott cracked up. He said he made fun of it too before he went there, but when he did it was really cool and like a museum.

Scott started to move like he wanted to leave so Laura and I told him to go and I apologized for keeping him so long. As he turned to leave a woman came up and asked him if she could buy a CD. He was like ummm…I…don’t…have…one… He sounded so guilty for not having one. I turned to Laura and quietly said, what? Is he supposed to carry one in his back pocket. The lady asked where to buy one and Scott told her where they had been selling them, but they weren’t anymore. She started rummaging in her purse for something he could sign. I had my program so I just gave that to her and Scott signed that for her. When he was done he started talking to Sue again and she gave him the Yankee score and he asked if she was still a fan while in Boston. If he only knew lol. I said when I came up on the bus I saw a sign that said World Series winners and I was all that’s not right. Amy said, “I’m a Met fan.” to which I replied “You don’t count.”

Scott finally left and it was only then that I realized Kevin was still out there. I thought he had escaped soon after I talked to him. He was talking to some people, but we really need to go so Amy hugged him and then Pat. He just looked at me as if I was gonna hug him too. I didn’t intend to, but he was right there so I couldn’t resist…again thinking it would be a long time til I would be able to again. So I said, “I’ll take another hug, I’m being greedy tonight.” He just smiled, hugged me, and thanked me for coming (#3..I think I got it Kevin lol). I’m glad he didn’t seem offended or annoyed by asking for another and I made sure to thank him for both hugs. Laura told him to have a safe trip to Japan and he looked at her like she had 12 heads. I told him to be safe and we went outside. We being Amy, Laura, Pat, Sue, and I.

We were waiting with Pat for her husband to come and Amy’s knee was killing her so Laura and I went to her car and got Aleve. The Pella watched us attempted to cross and large confusing intersection at night, with me yelling at Laura to slow down cuz I couldn’t move that fast in shoes. Glad we can entertain them. We got the meds and returned, talked a little more til Pat’s husband came and then we all parted ways. R at least started to when I realized I didn’t hug Amy goodbye so I ran back to hug her, at which point a SUV full of college boys noticed me and started screaming shit out the windows at me. I couldn’t understand most of what they said, and whatever I did understand then I don’t remember now, except that they kept calling me Mary. After I hugged Amy I went to cross the street to where Laura and Pat were and of course the SUV had to be turning down the street I was crossing. The driver waved me across the street and I seriously thought he was gonna make the car jump forward to freak me out, thinking he was gonna run me down. He didn’t, but his buddies continued to call me Mary. Whatever.

Laura and I returned to her car and had some issues with her car and trying to get out of the garage. We said screw the directions back to the Mass Pike and just followed Laura’s Pocahontas instinct and found the Pike almost immediately. We stopped somewhere for McDonalds and made it back to my house a little after 3:30am. We were in our pajamas and respective beds in record time.

I got up around 11:30 and let Laura keep sleeping. My Omi came over and after a little while I woke Laura up cuz I knew she’d be upset if she slept through my Omi’s visit and woke up to find out she missed her. We looked at my pictures from last night, got dressed, and went in search of food near the Mall and Target. My Bennigan’s closed and I was sad. Apparently I was more traumatized by it that I thought cuz my mind went blank and I couldn’t think of what other food there was around the mall (non fast food since we were both sick of fast food) After like 20 minutes of random driving in random directions I remember about Ruby Tuesdays so we headed there. We ended up at California Pizza Kitchen instead. Slowest service EVER. But excellent food. After food we went to Target to get a car phone charger and a hands free ear piece for Laura’s phone but they didn’t have the ear piece so she just got batteries and we left. We got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the way back (and we had traffic on the way to the mall, apparently it was making up for the lack of traffic that morning coming home) so it took forever to get back to my house. By then it was 5 and that’s when Laura had wanted to leave, so she jst grabbed her stuff and left. Sad L And not fair. She’s not supposed to leave me. I probably won’t see her til I see the Pella again. Whenever that is.