WOW!!
It started like anyother day , but this day was beyond special! I was going to meet The Boss..my idol my hero...well music hero anyways...kami and I drove down in the morning.from our place it only takes about 3 hours , so not to horrible.the book store (Powell's Books) was very easy to find.Parking....not so much!! LOL After about ten minutes we were able to find a spot about 4 blocks away!far...but not to bad (I say that because last Thursday I decided to hurt my back) for having to use a cane to walk.so I hobble the 4 blocks to the store.I only had 1 ticket so Kami stayed in the car .when I get to the building with the fast growing line on the side walk I ask someone how it worked.He said go to the store entrance and show your ticket , they will get you the book and then go to end of the line.easy enough...and the end of the line was right at the book doors anyway so it was easy.I showed my ticket and id she handed me the book and put a wrist band on me and said ok shooo....noooo funniest thing...she said...ok shooo...LOL
I take my treasure and head back outside to the meet line.there , I open the book and glance at the signature (mainly because I have a feeling it's a stamp)...seeing how it's pre signed , there's a good chance it is a stamp and not real . let's face it....he isn't doing it at a table infront of us..so it does cross your mind.well , that was soon put to rest...as myself and the guy behind me compared ours...and they were slightly different....not a lot....just enough to put the stamp idea to bed for good.As we stand there the great north wet decided to show it's face and rain on us.being smart i had asked for a bag when shoo lady gave me my copy ,unfortunately it was a paper bag.but not to worry...well,to much anyway, a lady had approached the line handing out plastic bags and also little mini candy's for us!! Awesome move Powell's...very cool. So now we're moving....and I mean moving....we moved about 30 feet in a matter of a minute....niceeeee!!! I rounded the corner where I first walked up to the building...moving , moving , moving.....wooohooo...we are on the wood deck stoop.just feet away from being in the store.mind you it's been 1/2 hour or so of walking and stopping to get here.As I stand there looking around at the street and cars and people going past this huge line of people , I can see by the looks on the faces they are wondering what's going on!!! As I look around , (taking it all in and enjoying the fact I'm about to meet Bruce) something made me look at the street pole...still not sure what it was or even why , but I did!!! I had to do a double take because I couldn't believe what I was seeing....could it be????nooooo.... wait....what!!!! The street i walked up from the parked car....the street the meet line doors were on is 10th Ave!!! NOOO WAY!!!! couldn't be more appropriate....I pointed it out to the the guy infront of me , as we had been talking all morning.he smiled and agreed it was pretty cool!!!
We're in....and slowly making our way...down isles of book racks as high as 12 feet...some anyway....in and out ,around and back to in and out and around we went..floor after floor...it was like mice in a maze and our cheese was Bruce!!!! After two hours of this we came to a woman with a pair of scissors. Wrist please....snip....it was gone!! But just a few more racks left , we could see the curtain that hides our hero....I pass a row of stacks...closer now...as I approach another walk way a woman says...hands free....only book allowed!!!! I hand over my coat (that I had long taken off) and point to my cane!!she says no sir...that's allowed!!! Phew....I take 20 more steps the curtain pulls open..... OMG!!!! THERE HE IS!!!! As I stand there his handler steps towards me and says...do you need him to step down or can you step up?? I look down and see he is on a raised platform.I say no...I can get up..a bookstore employee says phone please....I hand it over.I turn to the handler and hand him a rock my wife hand painted for Patty , mind you....this whole time the line is moving...but I'm not even paying attention....I hear sir....I look....I turn back to the handler...then I hear hey!!!!in a deep jersey accent....my head turns to that voice....I freeze....and then he says...Do I need to come down???? Ummmm nooo I'm ok.I step up and shake his hand...He points to my shirt and says I like that...I like that...I say Matawan....he says..oh yea..thats my neck of the woods...I say...thats where I'm from...and thank you for all the music that's done so much for me...he said thank you....and it was over!!! Off I go...it was over!!!!
BUT OH SO WORTH IT!!!!!