I’m a little late on the 2011 celebrations because of a writing project I just finished up last night. I’ve been a deep, deep cave, where concerns such as showers and making lunches and mopping are, well, minor. I was bound and determined to finish this latest manuscript by today, and I wrapped it up last night. So happy! Yes, it needs a great deal of work–what rough draft doesn’t?–but the bones of it are there. And better yet, characters I adore.
Moments of transcendent happiness are best admired and appreciated while they’re here. My husband has a habit of saying “touch wood,” which is the British equivalent of “knock on wood.” He does it whenever I stop to appreciate the awesome quality of our lives, as if mentioning it out loud will somehow bring fire and doom down upon us. It reminds me of the characters in Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth, who would proclaim that their child was an ugly girl baby so that evil spirits wouldn’t harm their handsome, healthy son.
But I’m much more of the type who needs to stop and smile at life’s good fortunes. I offer thanks. Because believe me, I’m the first one to complain when things go wrong. It’s only fair that I balance out that reflexive negativity with some positive vibes and appreciation for the universe.
A few weeks ago, when Michelle blogged about U2, I mentioned that I’d danced on stage with Bono. Talk about a moment of transcendent happiness! (Are we digging the segue, by the way? Let’s go with it!) My husband and I had gone to see U2 on their Elevation Tour in Lexington, Kentucky in early May 2001. We had expensive seats. But…our seats were so far away! I suppose they would’ve been fine for people who wanted to sit, but I wanted to get sweated on. Sorry. Too much of a fan moment?
We also had tickets for the next show, which was to be held in Indianapolis. I had planned to attend that one with my younger brother. I called him after the Lexington show to say how disappointing the primo tickets had been. And I proposed a radical plan. We would sell those seats and buy, instead, tickets to the general admission section right in front of the stage. We would spend all day in line! Like teenagers!
And wouldn’t you know it? As what generally happens, my optimistic, blundering, naive plan worked out.
We waited in line from about 8am until the doors opened at six. All day, we were surrounded by other insane fans, talking about our favorite songs and generally having a bit of a camp-out party. So much fun! When we finally filed in, we were given special wristbands for getting “inside the heart,” as there was a heart-shaped platform right in front of the stage. Some people were inside, some outside. We were in, and we stood directly in front of where the guitarist, The Edge, would perform.
I could’ve died happily right then.
The show was amazing. After an hour of brain-numbing awesomeness, they started in on “Mysterious Ways,” which is bar-none one of my favorites. (I’m a bellydancer because of that song!) Bono pulled one woman up on stage. She was a heavy-set Latina, and his dancing started out…shall we say…a bit sarcastic. She wasn’t having any of that. She had some serious sexy moves, and soon enough Bono was taking her seriously too.
But see, the show took place on May 10th. Bono’s birthday. He shouted to the crowd, “It’s my birthday, and I need more girls!”
Soon he’d pulled up another two dozen ladies from inside the heart. The Edge looked down and we locked eyes. He nodded for me to come up too. I just about bounded over the guardrail. My arms were shaking so badly that I couldn’t hoist myself up to the stage. Two security guards planted big man hands on my tushie and gave me a shove. I righted myself…and almost knocked over The Edge. I will forever have this image in my mind of him twirling away with the neck of his guitar, grinning, as he launched into the song’s big guitar solo.
I looked back toward the crowd. Just about 25,000 people. Normally I’m a very good dancer–that bellydancing thing–but my rhythm was gone. All I could do was jump and scream. (My admiration for that sexy Latina is great!)
I never did quite make it all the way to Bono. There were too many girls between us. And in hindsight, I should’ve stayed and danced with The Edge. But this is a story I’ll be telling my grandkids one day, when they’ll roll their eyes as if I’m relating stories about Vaudeville shows and music on a Victrola. For me, however, it will remains one of the best, happiest times of my life.
Tell me about one of your transcendently happy moments, one you’ll be telling your grandkids about no matter how hard they roll their eyes. I’ll give away a $15 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble to one random commenter. Now I’m going to enjoy a well-deserved day off!
Hi Carrie. Congrats on finishing that draft!
The first time I saw Springsteen walk on stage, I had that fangril happy rush. I’ll never forget it.
Another time was when my alma mater invited me back for a book reading/signing and honored me with a plaque for my first novel. What a moment, to walk up on that stage and receive that plaque. It hangs in my office, reminding me of what I can accomplish.
Wow, that’s so cool about your alma mater. I think I’d have to get on Oprah before mine noticed me!
Mine was an Elvis moment. My sister had got us tickets to see him in Ames Iowa, she lived in Des Moines at the time. She waited in line all day to get us good seats, and we did get pretty good seats. He put on a great show, as always. That was my tell the kids and grandkids moment, when I saw Elvis live.
That is really cool, Linda. Amazing how moments in time become even bigger than the experiences of an individual. Now to have seen Elvis in person is almost like being part of history!
Carrie, first of all, HUGE congrats on finishing you new manuscript draft! I know you zipped through this project — writing thousands more words a day than I’d find imaginable, let alone possible
— so I’m very excited for you. LOVED reading your Dancing with U2 story! Thank you for sharing that. I’ve been a fan of theirs since the beginning… And I also really loved how you and your brother made a day of it, standing in line, talking to people, turning it into a full experience not just an evening’s event.
One of my most transcendently happy memories was a musical experience of a different kind — LOL. My husband and I were in London, and we’d gone to see “Grease.” It was a truly fabulous show but, at one point, it felt far less like theatrical performance than a huge dance party. The energy in the theater was amazing!! And it’s a show we’d seen elsewhere a couple of times, so I knew it was less about the musical itself than about the specific actors involved and the synergy they inspired with the audience. We all seemed to flow out of the theater and into the streets and then into the tube on this shared high… It was wonderful.
Marilyn, that sounds like so much fun. I think we get a slightly jaded opinion of show business sometimes, that people are forcing themselves to put on eight shows a week or whatever. But they’re doing it because they love it. Most of them probably feel blessed to have made it to such a point in their careers. Sure, the grind of it can suck–much like with writing!–but opening our eyes to the pure enjoyment of it is so important.
This might be \”dating\” me a bit. A good friend worked for Capital Records in New York and we got house seats for Funny Girl. Barbara in person, Omar as her lover Mr. Ornstein might have put us in a trance.
We came out the side door and across the street another play had also just ended (Baby Wanna Kiss) with Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. A limo was parked on the side street so we took a chance that we might get to see those famous \”blues\” and a few minutes later, they came out together. It was night and not only did his blues light up the street, but believe me, her greens are to die for.
We decided to stand in front of the limo so the driver could move. My girlfried scrambled through her purse. We wanted an authograph. The man himself came over to us and said so politely, \”Young ladies, thanks so much for your enthusiam. I am so sorry, but I don\’t give autographs. My wife and I are tired and if you would please step aside.\”
Like sleep walking, we backed away. He actually winked, got into the limo and a few seconds later the limo drove off.
Living in New York I\’ve gotten to see up close and personal several people. In the city they walk around like the rest of us and New Yorkers know enough to let them walk in peace. Nothing I have ever experiences, including being stuck in an elevator at CBS with Neil Diamond, compares to those \”blues\” baby.
It was indeed my transcendently happy moment
Florence, that’s an incredible story. Paul Newman gave every impression of being the quintessential gentleman. His love for his wife is the stuff of romantic legend. Thanks so much for sharing!
Carrie!!!! You danced on stage with Bono!!!!!!! Okay, not right next to him but on stage is close enough. How awesome!
Florence, love your story of Paul Newman and his baby blues. Swoon.
My husband and I had great seats for a Springsteen show. It was a lottery-type, and amazingly my number was called first! When he’s on stage, the boss is pure energy. I have quieter transcendent moments all the time. I had a few today, in fact. But Springsteen was one of the few that are louder and more exciting.
I would’ve loved to see Springsteen in his 80s heyday, but I was too young to appreciate what a master he is–part singer, part gospel leader! So cool that you got close enough to see that and grab onto a great memory.
I. Am. So. Jealous.
It was secretly revenge against my husband. He stood withing about 20 feet of the stage at a concert at Wembley Stadium in 1993 for Zoo TV. He teased me about it for years. Ha! I win!
Gosh, I don’t think I have anything like the stories at concerts and such. Years ago, while I was showing a couple of visiting friends around Manhattan, we walked by Yoko Ono and her bodyguards. We stared at her and she looked at us. That was it, but it was the highlight of my friends’ visit.
I also attended a talk by Jim Henson years ago. It was amazing but somehow Kermit drew everyone’s attention from Jim, even though Jim was right there manipulating Kermit and speaking for him, too.
My personal best moment was when I received the acceptance letter to the college I ended up attending. My parents practically glowed.
Aw, such a sweet, awesome triumph about your college acceptance. I remember my mom running down the street to greet me home from school when I’d received the “fat envelope” from my college first choice. Same sort of glowing rush!
First, congrats on finishing the draft.
Wow, on stage with U2– that IS awesome. Let’s see– I’m 50, so you’d think I’d have one of those type of moments, but really the one I tell family about is when my daughter was born– she’s 10 now, and was our 3rd kid– I was 39 and we had two boys– it was stressful because I had two miscarriages before getting pregnant with her. So, you can imagine all the worry etc. My husband was in nursing school when she was born. I’m in delivery, and the pushing is lasting FOREVER. Our family doc is there with an intern, and my husband of course, plus an RN, then they tell another nursing student to come on in. They are all in there laughing and telling medical stories and jokes while I’m in fricking labor. I seriously thought I would kill someone. FIVE people in my room when I’m in labor, and in between jokes they are like “Come on, you can do it… hey, did you hear about…” Then she was born, and she and I were healthy so I forgave everyone. It was still my best moment:)
Brenda, that made me seriously laugh. I felt the same way when I was in labor, like there were all these people standing around while I was doing all the work! But what a huge success and a massive relief that she was born healthy and sound. SO cool!
That is really cool, Carrie. What an opportunity.
I was trying to think of something that could compare … and believe me, that’s a toughie. I guess my greatest moment was when we traveled to China and my ten month old daughter was handed to me. I was crying and laughing at the same time. Hubby was hovering, friends were taking video and pictures … and my little darlin’ promptly peed on me. Believe me … I’m never going to let her forget that.
Liz, that is adorable. The pee was a mommy baptism of sorts
Feeling insanely jealous right now! I LOVE Bono! Lucky YOU
It was, yeah, pretty frickin’ amazing!! I don’t think I slept that night. Was WAY too buzzed!
Carrie, so glad you shared the story.
)))
And yes, hats off to that lady who got down and boogied. My only brush with the rich and famous was I was once nearly run down by the lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals near Holland Park in London. He was on his bike. He called sorry, and I just got my balance back and stared after him.
Apparently I was almost run over in my pram by Bob Dylan. That was my mom and dad’s favorite story for years
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