This adventure begins on September 24, 2012 when I learned that Rod was going to perform in Vegas on January 27, 2013, my 52 birthday. My husband, Steve, learned of the impending adventure when I flew thru the house saying “We are going to Vegas in January!!!” to which he smiled and calmly replied “Rod must be playing”…….. We decided to go to the show on January 26th also, THAT was not a hard decision.
As you know it was a fun-filled Fall & holiday season with the gathering of fans in Vegas for the October shows, the release of Rod’s Autobiography, the Christmas album, the promotional appearances and television specials and the appearances of Alastair and THE HAT, but I thought January would never get here.
I always have to take something(s) to the show for fun; this one would be no exception except that I wanted to hand it to Rod and have a picture made. I was told by many that if it was going to happen, Vegas was going to be it. So my 2 themes were THE HAT and my birthday………. I had some “draft signs” but nothing that I was really happy with so I just stuffed everything in my bag and I just hoped for a brainstorm before the Saturday show……… (Thanks to those who helped me get my ideas together). I told all my friends and coworkers, if I failed it would not be because I didn’t try…………I have to say this was the most rogue thing I have ever done………… I like to think I am fun, but I do try to behave and be a good person.
In between all this and as recent as the week before we left, we had to make the decision to euthanize 2 of our beloved cats. Emotions have been swinging all over. Finally the time comes to depart and we have a freak ice storm, which delayed our arrival in Vegas by 7 hours. In my mind I saw us getting to the Coliseum for the encore………I was so distraught until we landed in Vegas a good 27 hours before show time.
Saturday morning I worked on my sign. I was still struggling and Steve (our photographer/cinematographer) said “Remember you are running up on stage in the middle of a song, make it simple”. So I decided on “Alastair likes my Tammy” using a pic of Alastair in THE HAT and the pic that Rod signed thanking me for the Tammys that I knitted and was able to have delivered to them last fall (Thank you for your help with that). I knitted a new HAT for Alastair with a note pinned to it that said “New Tammy for Alastair” and I knitted a scarf in Celtic colors too.
We met Melinda Johnson a Rodder who lives in Vegas for dinner before the show; she is a very nice person and also Donna Hamaker and her daughter just before the show started.
Fast forward to the show on Saturday, I knew not to run up right away and the best song would be “You’re in My Heart”. I had a blast singing dancing and watching the show. Steve took most of the pictures, I did go up front a few times and got the wink, nod, and grin from Rod when he saw the Celtic jersey, I do believe I was the only one in Celtic. Rod’s voice was perfect, and he was having a good time, the band was great, and for Vegas the audience was rather energetic. I assumed “You’re in my Heart” would be after “Proud Mary”, so I told Steve this was it and to be ready. Well Rod came out and said I am going to do one off the new album coming out the beginning of May and we’ll try not to f**k it up. It was Beautiful Morning and it was great, lots of applause from the audience. Then he started into “You’re in My Heart” and I got butterflies in my stomach and chest pains. I was kinda frozen and not sure I could do this, but I knew it was then or never…….. so onward I went.
Here is this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVvBv5cSfUI
someone on Facebook pointed out as he is singing the line “you’re a rhapsody, a comedy”………. he bobs his head, kinda rolls his eyes and then turns and chuckles off to the side………… I seem to have that same effect on my husband at times. As you can hear at the end of the video, the security man was not particularly happy with me. I took my admonishment, because in all fairness, he was right. I tried hard to make sure Rod saw the sign so I wouldn’t startle him any more than getting on stage in the first place, I think I accomplished that.
After Rod finished the song, he picked the poster back up and told the audience that the pic was of his son at Celtic Park and that she (me) made the hats for him.
I was over the moon, and it took us a while to get out of the show and casino because I kept having people coming up to me hugging me, wanting to touch me and get their picture with me. I found this all rather amusing……… Needless to say I didn’t sleep much that night and woke up in a pretty good mood on Sunday morning…………
On Sunday, Steve and I were a bit worried that we might have a problem getting in after my antics on Saturday night, so while I was going for the “Celtic” look both nights, I switched to the “Smiler & Tartan” look with a scarf designed in footballs. (The shirt is red because I ordered the wrong size and my friend cut the front out and appliqued it onto my plain red shirt). We were second in line to get in and when we walked up, the couple in line ahead of us said “Hello, you came back tonight too, we saw you on stage last night”………..So much for my Smiler & Tartan disguise. I told them the story about THE HAT and what I delivered to Rod on stage on Saturday. They were from Essex and told us they attended the Epping book signing and said they would go through their pictures when they got home and email me any of Alastair in THE HAT and of course some of Rod.
After we successfully entered the Coliseum without any problem (whew), we saw that the same security man was there again. After we got to our seats I went up to him and apologized for what I did, and said I understood that he needed to do what he did. I knew what I did was wrong, but it was something I was compelled to do. I told him we were going to “behave” and not cause any trouble on Sunday. We shook hands, but he did not receive my apology graciously……and as you know, later that night, Rod made a liar out of me. We met Gabriel and Ale and some others from Mexico City, didn’t get to meet Ruth Hannuschka because I didn’t know she was there (Thank you for the pictures Ale and Ruth).
Anyway we planned to lay low, take some pics and just enjoy. The third song in, I am up front taking pics (after Rod said come up front and says take as many pictures as you want, I am the Star and I say it is OK); Rod sees me, winks and blows me a kiss, guess he wasn’t mad at me……… He was in rare form, the most playful and silly I think I have ever seen him in a concert, his personality really came out. It was a great show especially with all his quips and comments; he was just in a fabulous mood. We were treated to Can’t Stop Me Now, which he sang from his heart and soul. When he started “You’re in My Heart”, I playfully pouted and said to Steve that guess I better stay in my seat………..well that worked for about a minute………I went up front with my birthday sign and the soccer ball scarf. The next thing I knew to my utter and complete amazement, Rod sat down in front of me, smiles at me and my “Today is My Birthday” sign, I toss him the scarf, he then motions me to come up and I mouth “Are you sure???”, he nodded and patted the stage next to him; he didn’t have to tell me again, I was there!!!! Another LARGE security man came up about 10 seconds later and Rod looked at him and shook his head no and moved his hand as to brush him back. Then Rod invites Gabriel and the other woman (I cannot remember her name) up in their Celtic jerseys and we had an additional visitor in grey.
Here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U61Vfz0dHH0 .
Funny part is Steve tells me when I get back to my seat he was just standing and watching and then when Rod beckoned me on stage, Steve said oh s**t what pocket did I put the camera in, LOL. The sign was made about 30 minutes before we left the hotel.
As we left, I received many Happy Birthday wishes. Gabriel invited us to join them for a drink after the show and on the way, we meet Vic Vega, of course I had to have my picture with him too. At the pub, Steve notices Don, so I went up and said hello and got his autograph. When get back Steve asks me why I didn’t get Katja’s and I said where is she? Steve said standing right there too. Well I always thought she was 6 foot tall, and I was so embarrassed I sent him over; he didn’t seem to mind this assignment. He apologized for me. Then Gabriel took me back and took my picture with Don, Katja, and Matt. I think I only slept another few hours that night.
This will be a birthday I will never ever forget. I tell you I met more generous, nice, fun people on this trip than I have in years. I have asked everyone I can think of that might be able to get word to Rod to please let him know he made this a very special weekend for us
. As I posted on my Facebook page, the outpouring of well wishes and happiness that has been expressed has overwhelmed both my husband and I. I have to give Antonia Espana a big thank you for helping me get the videos transferred off the camera to share with you. Collectively we are a friendly, warm, and giving bunch of Rodders and I would not trade a minute of the past 6 months for anything as I rediscovered this crazy camaraderie. I am looking forward to more of the same for years to come. Bless each and every one of you.