U2

goodness, U2.

where do i even start?

well, i guess i should tell you it's 4 in the morning. i had just finished packing and taking a shower for our 745 flight to North Carolina. we are scheduled to leave for the airport at 530. i should be taking a powernap now but i can't sleep. the high the awesome, awesome yesternight allowed me is still trying to wear itself dead.

after all, U2.

second, the crowd. oh goodness. where do i even start? when i tweeted right after the concert, i thanked "the four men, the 96,000 people and the music." seriously, it wouldn't have been as much fun w/o that massive collective high and excitement and euphoria for the music of U2. the band fed itself off that and in exchange, they rocked hard. since my ticket was purchased late, i was not able to get seats close to Pancho and Maica. instead, i found myself in the company of

Tony, Pancho's officemate who memorized almost completely all the songs in tonight's repertoire. he was such a hyper kid, a Hispanic energy machine. i told him before we parted, "wow, you are at par w/ Bono in entertainment value". he was real funny. somebody you'd like to be in your company in any concert or event you go to. probably even in a Celine Dion or in a luncheon w/ the Orchid Club.

Tony, Pancho, Caroline and me after the concert

his girlfriend, all-American American Sweet Caroline, who offered herself up as buffer and filterer between Tony and me. i told her, "ok, i'm not supposed to believe everything he says, right? filter then everything that comes out of his mouth and let me know what i should believe in, what i shouldn't."

Caroline, me and Ryan waiting to go down from our place high up at the bleachers

the handsome Ryan, Nicaraguan-Hawaiian-Japanese. judging from our pre-concert conversation, he is fascinating but during the rest of the night, well, Tony and I had to take turns keeping him "awake, alert, alive, enthusiastic." maybe he should have stayed at home and watched Bono rock it out thru Youtube. or maybe not. but to his defense, unlike Tony and Caroline who are taking their Monday off, Ryan is working today (Monday). ok, handsome.

before the concert, I was introduced to the concept of tailgating. it was SO cool. it was like a scene straight out of a music festival (Woodstock, is that you?).

tailgating w/ cousins Txabi, Aton and Ryan and siblings Maica, Pancho and Bro (Aton and Bro never got tickets; they heard Bono from the outside w/ beer, Bro's relentless gab and wild imagination of sexy girls selling marijuana to them)

since 96000 people were expected to be at the concert, the organizers encouraged everyone to carpool and be at the site before 4. many listened. to while away the time, the many set up picnics at the parking area, w/ coolers filled w/ beer, foldable sunchairs, chips, grill, the works! Pancho organized our own tailgating experience but forgot the sunchairs and the grill. but it still worked. finished 2 bottles of American beer which was bad like San Mig Light and even badder at only 3%. i miss GPS.

while lining up to use to bathroom, i met an elderly school teacher who's seen U2 10x. but apparently, that's not the best part of her life of concert-hopping. in fact, she's seen the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel and Elton John (Piano Man and Rocket Man), Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, among others. she told me giddily that the first concert she's ever been to was a Music Festival, at 14, that she had to sneak out for. eventually, her father found out and reprimanded her for it. she said, "dad, what can you do? it's over and i'm alive!"

Maica and I also met two girls who were probably at their 9s, 10s and wearing U2 shirts. they told us their whole families are big fans of the band and they were all there to watch together. awww...

there are many other stories. but allow me to end here for now. there's a flight to catch.

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i want to thank my bro in law for finding me a ticket and my sister Maica for helping me pay for it :)