We're twins!!!
kellyahern said:
It will be 2 years for me on Dec. 1st
That is the date when I went from being a casual U2 fan (i.e. I owned the greatest hits 1980-1990 & ATYCLB) to being what you see before you today (i.e. owning all the albums, several bootlegs, vcds, videos, etc. - you know the drill )
Ok...this is just down right scary!
That's exactly me!
I have been a casual U2 fan since the mid 80's, but I had always wanted to see them in concert. I too only owned the greatest hits of the 80's and ATYCLB cd's. After my first live show, I went hog wild over them and bought every cd too with t-shirts, books, posters, etc.
I saw U2 live for the first time on November 25, 2001.
And now here's my story and my struggle getting to that night...
It was like a miracle. It all started back when I was a teenager in the 80's. When I discovered that U2 was one of the best bands in the world, I wished that I could see them in concert. With me being a girl under 18, there was no way that I was going to go to any concert, especially The Joshua Tree Tour at Tarrant County Convention Center all the way on the other side of the metroplex in Fort Worth. That was strike number one. Well, as I got older, finished college, and got a job, I was able to see some concerts, but big groups like U2 were just too expensive, which meant that I had to skip the ZOO TV Tour. I decided, why bother trying this time to see U2 since it's a pain in the ass? [Note: If I was trying to see them live, there is a possible strike against me, but if I wasn't trying at all, then there are no possible strikes against me.] Until one day, a radio station (93.3) was giving away tickets to U2's Pop Mart Tour at the Cotton Bowl. They said that they were giving away 15 tickets to the first people who showed up under Reunion Tower. Luckily, I was in the area and got there in less than five minutes. I was one of the first five people who were there, but there was nobody there from the radio station! We started to get worried, and so we were running around all over the place to find this person in order to get these tickets. After more time had passed, more people were showing up, and I was wondering how this person would pass out the tickets fairly. It got worse, and I just left disgusted. That was strike number two. Now the year is 2001, and I love U2's latest album. I have a little more money now, and I have decided to try to buy tickets. This was for their show in the spring which was their 1st leg of the tour. I still did not have a computer at the time, so I tried to phone in for the tickets with no success. After finally getting through an hour later, the show was sold out. But the lady said that the only thing she had left were Handicapped seats. I thought I was going to become mentally handicapped. That was strike number three. I'M OUT! I started to ask myself why God was keeping me away from seeing these guys live. After that I decided to hang it up. I really did put my ATYCLB CD back on the shelf, never to be listened to again. I have decided that the only way that I could see U2 was that it would have to be a miracle.
Now in September of 2001 I finally got a computer. I had never used the Internet before, so I was scared of it. I never signed up until a month later. I never thought of as to look up U2 because I had no idea they were still on tour. Keep in mind that I don't have cable. When I heard on the radio, on a Friday afternoon in early November 2001, that tickets would go on sale for a U2 show, I didn't believe it. I actually raced home to call Ticketmaster to see if it was real. The next day I logged onto Ticketmaster.com and started the race at 12 noon. If you have ever done this, you know you have 5 minutes to purchase your order. After getting kicked out twice with upper balcony seats because I supposedly took too long (no thanks to slow ass modem AOL!), I told myself one more time and THAT'S IT! Well, the third time was the charm, and I finally got my ticket! It was located on the lower balcony on the 7th row on Adam's side of the stage! My heart started beating fast for U2 again and still has not stopped to this day. For a moment in time I forgot about 9/11, Anthrax, and the other American Airline's crash that happened in New York. But later in the show I was quickly reminded of those victims, but at the same time Bono taught us to "Walk On." That was the best concert that I had ever seen! I wished it would have never had ended. All of my dreams to see them finally came true! It was like a religious experience. You could have said that I was truly "Elevated."
*Sniff*
Thank you GOD for U2 and for giving me that ticket! My life hasn't been the same since! I am now an official obsessed U2 fan!
I believe there was a reason for me to go to that show. Only seven months later my mother passed away with liver cancer. U2 and all of the U2 fans that have become my friends helped me get through that rough time. I cannot even imagine what my life would have been like if I never became that obsessive fan, spending hours on the net and meeting new friends. After knowing Bono went through the same experience and other fans as well, it gave me great comfort knowing that I wasn't alone. This next tour will be bitter sweet because after telling my mom how U2 blew me away, she said she wanted to go with me when they came back to town. She will be there in spirit.