Jun 09 2009
We met Eddie Vedder!!!
Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do with Montessori, but it is the happiest thing that has happened to me in a long time!
My friend and I drove out to Albany yesterday to kick off Eddie Vedder’s solo tour at the Palace Theatre. I have been a huge fan of Pearl Jam for 18 years and always try to go as many shows as I can. Somehow, this trip seemed like it was going to be magical before it even started.
I’ve been having recurring dreams over the last several weeks about meeting Eddie. And then I panic, wondering what on earth I would say to the man who has helped form me and whose words and music help me get through whatever life decides to throw at me. My wise “big sister” told me to simply say “Thank you”. I won’t repeat what my father suggested……especially as I feared it would actually come out of my mouth……
We had the tickets for the second night of the tour, because my friend had gotten them the day they went on sale. She said that the first show was sold out, but I told her to not fear, because I would be able to locate some.
One night I had a very vivid dream that I had gotten two tickets to the Monday night show and then we had met Eddie afterwards. It was on a day off of school, so later that morning I decided to try my luck. I got two tickets on the aisle of Row K, right center orchestra.
We drove out yesterday, checked into our hotel, then found our way to the Palace Theatre in Albany. The show was amazing, even better than the two opening nights in Boston that I was at last year. I took the seat right on the aisle, and had absolutely “Hard Sun”, we all rushed up toward the stage. I think I ended up about 8-10 people back? I have never been quite that close before! But of course my stupid new camera wasn’t working properly and I couldn’t get any clear photos.
After the show, we hung out toward the stage, waiting for Eddie to appear. But the Nazi security guards kicked us out. We went out the side door near where I saw the buses. We stood right at the gate, closer to the “extra tour bus”. Apparently Eddie’s was the one in the back.
Surrounded by drunk, obnoxious loudmouths, and getting wet in the drizzling rain was highly annoying, but I figured it could make for an interesting story at some point. Then all of the guards took off running, because some schmuck decided to steal the license plate off of Eddie’s tour bus. He must have taken something else, as well, because they were searching a nearby grassy area with flashlights. A bunch of cop cars showed up and they had some frat boy in custody. Slowly, but surely, other fans were drifting away, until our number dropped to about thirty on either end of the bus lineup.
We were all joking around that this was actually some kind of clever diversion to help Eddie sneak out from the front entrance. Then suddenly, the one guy comes out, walks up to us quietly, and says, “He is going to come out. No photos, no signing, just hellos and maybe handshakes.”
And then there he was.
A strange quiet settled over the group of us as our musical god approached us. He we,nt from one person to the next, looking them straight in the eye as he grasped their hands, responding with a “Nice to meet you” or “Thank you” as the situation required.
Somehow I managed to stay calm, as I gazed into those gorgeous eyes and told my hero “Thank you,” then had him thank me in return. I can still feel his grasp on my hand, even though it has been 14 hours. I stayed calm as he walked away to greet the fans on the other side. Then as we turned around, the tears came, and perhaps a little hyperventilating?
Somehow we made it, starstruck, back to the car, laughing in complete disbelief. We somehow managed to make it back to the hotel room, and I was totally unable to sleep. Every time I would doze off, I would return to that moment and wake back up.
And so today, we have been sharing our good fortune with everyone. We keep talking about how exciting it was to meet him, how appalling it is that he is actually my height (when he seems so much larger than life), and are bored out of our minds as we anxiously anticipate tonight’s show.
But I don’t care, because I MET EDDIE VEDDER!!!!! 
I was there too! I shook hands with Mr. Vedder, it was fantastic - I am a huge fan. Wish I could have spoken with him, but oh well, it’s all good.
I was there as well, possibly right in the same crowd. I shook hands with Mr. Vedder, who has basically been my idol for about twelve years running. I still can’t get over it, it was surreal. I am very lucky and blessed to have had this experience, which I never thought would have ever happened. I hope that one day I will be lucky enough to talk to him, if only for a minute. I don’t want to push my luck, but you never know..
The music of Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder is the best there is.