by hannah

This evening I felt that I had nothing to lose. So I dragged out some of my earliest U2 album sleeve's, Boy, War and a little EP called Wide awake in America. With my two eldest Daughters in tow my husband and I drag them to their first U2 concert. The oldest is excited but at a very mature eleven years of age she has done this before. She witnessed her first concert, Coldplay two years ago.
My girls know the stories. Twenty-one years of concerts...Mummy travelled to many different cities...Don't forget about the time that Larry waved...I hope that my contributions were considered when you chose your children's schooling.
I now feel very old. Not that old...Not as old as the boys at least. Dang, doesn't Larry look fine? Sorry. [That was supposed to remain inside my head].
So, Early this afternoon I run to Staples and retrieve their finest kick-ass marker. Known to Garage salers everywhere as "The Sharpie Magnum" It indeed is the mother of all markers. No Crayola's for this Mother. Oh-no. Only the Magnum will do. At 35, I feel a little silly preparing my "Sing wif Me"
sign. Again, everytime I doubt my decision, I remind myself that I have nothing to lose. By the time they tour again, I will be at least forty and probably unable to buy the tickets. As it was we had to sell souls to the other side for this tour. Next time around we may have to sell our only son.

When the lights go Down, the energy level rises up and my girls are psyched.
They can't believe their luck. I can only imagine how I might Take them out if Bono touches them instead of me. Gnaw a daugter's leg off if I have to. I am gonna get up there somehow. I use every oppourtunity to take advantage of their positioning. Placing War in the eldest's hand and Boy in the youngest's. We Make eye-contact with Adam first. He nod's to us and laughs. You have to understand, there is nothing but a few unfit security types and six feet of air between us and the stage. I could take 'em if I had to. Really, I could. Next Bono walks by. He sees my sign. Eye contact. Crap, I am totally nervous. What do I do now? Nothing, the moment has passed, he has other fish to fry. He, my man, has a sermon to preach. Edge walks by. He doesn't even look down, Whatever. Edge who, is all I can say. Edge? Who's the Edge? Can't you see my darling children? Holding up your LP's?
I want you all to notice that I am mentioning LP's and not CD's.
Now, a long, long, long time ago. I went to my first U2 show at Massey Hall in TO. The scalpers then were asking $200.00 a ticket but somehow, My friend Jeahny Shim and I got ourselves two tickets. The girls we bought from had no idea who this young band was and sold their tix to fix their drinks. Fifty bucks they told us. I think I paid $47. 'cause I had to purchase my cigarettes first. Another amazing band called The Waterboys opened up. the energy was intense. 1984. think the remnants of punk and Joy division and all the stuff. The night was electric. The crowd was loud.
So loud in fact that Bono told us all to shut up. "We're not the Beatle's or the Bay city Rollers," he said. "Shut up." Amazingly, we did. After we all had a good snicker about the Bay City Rollers comment. Now, some know my ability to talk, this may seem to good to be true. Hannah? Quiet? I think not!!! That's right kiddie's, Hannah and Jeahny hollered at the top of
their lungs. 1-2-3- LARRY!!!!! The poor lad wiping the gorgeous sweat
from his brow, smiled and waved. I think that it was at that point that I was positively smitten.
So this evening, when Larry, after his trip to the front for his little performance walked by. He saw my sign. He saw our daughters holding the Lp's and he smiled and waved. It just about undid my husband. It was the most generous smile that his (Damo's) girls received. That my girls received. OK. I TOTALLY received some of that smile too. Totally, totally, totally. Received the love there!!! HA!
Moments later, The roadies hand something to my girls. Larry's drumsticks.
Holy S@#$. Is it alright if I kiss them first? No. I'm sure that there is something wrong with kissing the sticks.
I had passed the torch to my girls. May they always love the drummer.
Keeper of the Beat. Keeper of the tribe. Next you can love the Bass player... But you must always love the drummer first. OK God first, then the drummer. Best to marry a drummer. No, Best to marry a successful drummer. Otherwise, you'll end up married to a waiter that says he's a drummer.
I must move on from the drummer...Macphisto is the man. So when I finally made full on eye contact with Bono, He's reading my sign. I'm freaking.
Sure, come over here on this song... Isn't it from Zooropa? Achtung Baby?
Cd's that I haven't listened to in years. In fact , I think that I was stoned for that entire period of my life. I couldn't sing this song if I tried. Baby, If I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna sing wif you. Sing like you never heard a church girl sing. The other thing is this,my husband is away and all I can think is...I can't react. If I react, he'll call me up.
He'll call me out. Who's gonna watch my freakin' kids. I coyly smile and tilt my head to one side. He points, smiles and slowly walks on by.
I have one last encounter with Bono, Just before a girl gropes him during Yahweh. Rather humorous. She was hungry for something, that's for sure.
Thank-you my man for practicing restraint. Bono comes up to me again and
sings, to me. You must understand, this is no iluusion. He was singing to
me. As though there was no one else in the audience, he sings to me. We sing together and he wiggles his fingers and waves, points to me and gives me the "peace out" sign. I in return, point, wave, smile and return the peace. Loving every minute of it. Processing it now. Alone. Cildren asleep. It is overwhelming. It may not have happened tonight but I will sing with him. Hopefully before we are all commited and need geriatric care though eh?
Cheers to all my friends. Old and new who listened to my U2 rant and rave.
Love you boys. Preach it brother!
Peace out!
H

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