Sunday Night at Dodger Stadium, August 10, 2014 Part I

[yes_2day]

I have promised a journal entry on the wonderful McCartney concert I attended with my older son, Alex, on Sunday last.  My mood is a bit dampened by the horrible news about Robin Williams.  Dear, sweet man.  About 20 years ago I sat in the next table to him at the Comedy Club on the Sunset Strip while Billy Crystal was doing an impromptu routine.  I had come to watch an old friend of mine from high school, and was rewarded by getting to see Billy and also speak briefly to Robin.  BTW, he laughed the hardest and cheered the loudest in the whole audience for all of the comedians.  He was such a generous soul.  I shyly  told him how much I loved his work.  I didn't ask for autographs.  You don't do that in LA if you're a native in "the know".  I don't know why.  We think it is beneath us or something.  Anyway, that night he was only drinking water.  When he was speaking to me he was listening with his whole face - his eyes, his eyebrows, his mouth - everything.  It was maybe a 30 second exchange, but I've never forgotten how kind and generous he was to me and to those other comedians.  He was equally pleasant with all the other audience members who approached him that night.  What a prince among men.  So very very tragic.  RIP Robin Williams.

Now that I have succeeded in reducing us all to tears, here's my way of cheering you all up.  My journal is....

This is a panoramic view of the whole of Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, from one of the concourses. Our seats were directly in front of this behemoth of a stage, 6 rows from the front.  We got here early, as you can see, and the weather was gorgeous.

This was the view from our seats.  You will see straight ahead of you a microphone. That is where Paul stood.

As the evening progressed, the stadium began to fill.  I was sitting next to a girl - she couldn't have been more than 25 years old.  She lives in Chicago and had already been to the Chicago and Pittsburg shows, and was headed to Candlestick Park after the LA show.  She sits in the first few rows in every show, and even has a Paul McCartney signature tattoo on one of her shoulders.  She showed me the pictures when she got them.  Behind me was another young woman - she might have been 27 or 28.  She had a dress she'd made herself - white, with blank print pictures of Paul McCartney at all ages all over it.  She, too, had met Paul, and showed me the pictures.  Soon, the girl sitting next to me rushed away to greet another woman who apparently was another super fan.  Then the two of them disappeared to go visit with yet another super fan.  There were at least two dozen Superfans who follow Paul all over the country when he tours.  I don't know "where they find the money" because getting two tickets in that row almost sent me into debt.  It is a whole other world these people live in, let me tell you.

I WILL HAVE TO DO THIS IN SEVERAL PARTS.  SORRY

Comments

[sapphire1919.livejournal.com]

Hahaha - you are very good at building up the suspense! I can't wait to hear more!

And those pictures are fantastic! I can't believe how close you were! The one time I saw him in concert, there was only one row further back behind me, and I needed binoculars to see him. But it was worth it!

I can't wait to experience the concert vicariously through you :)