Jenny's Story

Here's my story... Since introduced to the Beatles at the age of ten, I have always liked Paul McCartney the most. I have collected almost all the Beatles albums and I have almost all of Paul songs on CDs. Well, I am from Jackson, Tennessee and was friends with the late great Carl Perkins. He used to talk about Paul and the rest of the Beatles all the time. He had Christmas cards from the all of them. It was amazing! So fast forward a few years... at Carl's funeral I met George Harrison. The funeral was a small tribute concert for Carl. Everyone was there... Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Ricky Skaggs, and many more loyal fans and friends. My mother and I were invited by Carl's son Stan so I was up close to George while he was singing and picking his guitar. Don't misunderstand it was a funeral, but a happy one. I think everyone would be so lucky to have such a celebration of life. Well, it was rumored that Paul was going to be there, but in the final hour word came in the form of a video sent to the family, which they played at the funeral for everyone. He simply said he loved Carl and admired him for many years; however, in the best interest of the family that he would not appear at the funeral so unwanted attention would not follow. I always daydreamed that Paul would come and visit Carl someday in Jackson and just maybe I would catch a glimpse of the musical genius. My dreams died with Carl.   Fast forward to the February 2002, on my 21st birthday I was given 2 plane tickets to Las Vegas for the week of April 3rd thru the 7th. Two days later, on the radio I heard the wonderful news that Paul had sets his concert dates for the US. I never prayed so hard that I might be as lucky to attend one of these concerts. So imagine to my surprise when one of his concert dates ended up being while I was in Las Vegas. How great! Sin City and Paul McCartney. Quickly I booked two seats in the nosebleed section ($125 each). Now keep in mind, I didn't intend to stay there for the entire concert. Being in the same room as him, I had to get as close as I could to him. So naturally after the intro with all the balloons and actors, I talked my friend Abby (who went to Vegas with me) into following me down to the Lower section of the MGM Grand Concert Hall. While we were getting up, a young couple behind me wanted to come with us. I said okay, but if there are only two seats available that we would get them. So we made our way down to the lower section and ran into our first roadblock. The woman asked to see our tickets. I told her (sorry this is the beginning of my scheming to get close to Paul)...so I told her, "Steve sent us to fill in the empty seats {barely any empty seats in the house -- sold out} because when they pan the cameras into the audience they didn't want to see empty seats on the screens." She shrugged and said, "Okay, hurry and enjoy the show!" We were so close to him, but of course being an avid fan I had to get closer. So during the first encore, I left my friend and our new concertgoers to try to get to front row. My luck had almost ran out when I ran into the usher from h*ll. He wasn't letting me get anywhere. I told him so many sob stories just so I could get near the front. I ended up on the floor about twenty rows from the stage, not too bad for starting out at twenty rows from the top of the stadium.   After Paul started "The End," I rushed towards the front. I got as far as the fourth row, until he exited the stage for the final time. Feeling that the concert was bittersweet. I came so close to him, yet I have gotten to meet him. (Interjection: Before all Paul fans over the age 40 begin to curse at me because I am only 21 and I got that close and still wasn't satisfied. I apologize but heck I was always taught "aim for the sky and land among the stars." I guess I was aiming for Pluto and landed on Venus.) So there I was on the floor, quickly scheming what could I do to get backstage to meet Paul. So I befriended a polite usher (I believe her name was Betty) and told her that I would pay her for the chance to meet Paul backstage. She informed me that Paul was immediately rushed out of the concert hall and does not allow backstage passes after his concerts. Naturally bummed, she did say she could help me to meet a few other stars. I quickly agreed. I met Alice Cooper (sorry no picture) as he quickly exited the back section of the floor with his beautiful wife. He looked quite normal, no makeup just a nice shirt and blue jeans (agh!). Then, I met Tony Orlando (see picture and autograph. Nice Christian man. He told me about his encounter backstage with Paul before the concert. He said, "I was backstage with Paul before the concert. Nice man. Of course, I knew him and the rest of the Beatles before they were called "The Beatles". I knew them when they were called the Silver Beatles. I guess that tells you my age somewhat. Well, I was backstage and Paul and I were chatting about George's death. I asked him (Paul) how he was doing since George's death and he said, "George was a lovely lad. I was with him shortly before his death in his bedroom. We had our final good-byes, but before I left his room George shook my hand and rubbed the inside and whispered in my ear "Enjoy life!"" I was almost in tears that Paul had shared that bit of a historical moment with me. Paul really rocked the house tonight didn't he?" I replied, "Yeah, he's the MAN!" Then, I asked for his autograph and if I could take a picture with him. He said it was fine. (See Tony Orlando picture and autograph -- the autograph says, "To Jenny God Bless You! What a show Paul! Tony Orlando") Of course, before I left him I sang the chorus (with two other ladies) of his famous hit "Knock Three Times" to him and he joined in. It was amazing! I was on Cloud 5, not 9. Cloud 9 came in the form of the Atlanta concert on May 13th.   While I was in Las Vegas, I had called my friend Mary back home (another avid Beatles fan) to tell her of my experiences. She said we have to go to another Paul concert together so we planned to go to the next one near to us (we live in Tennessee). So the Atlanta concert was the only concert that was even close enough we could drive to. So we got our nosebleed side stage tickets. Keep in mind I was determined not only to meet Paul and get his autograph, but to get to front row this time.   We headed out to Atlanta on May 13th from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Praying the whole way that one of my three schemes work. I would post each every one of them, but for Paul's security I would never do that. I am a loyal fan, not a psychotic person who would harm him. As were listening to my burned two disc complete with songs from the Beatles, Wings, Paul solo, and two Lennon songs ("Imagine" and "Watching the Wheels" - two of Paul's favorite John songs) also included his SNL skit with the late Chris Farley (love it..."Remember when you were with the Beatles?"), I just had the feeling that my biggest dreams were about to come true. We approached Atlanta around 5pm. We were lost and in order for my plan to work we had to be at the Philips Arena two hours prior to the concert. I thought all hope was lost. Then the harsh rain stopped and the sun came out. True to my favorite Beatles song (I'll Follow the Sun - again fans over 40 I like all the regular hits "Yesterday," "In My Life," the entire Sgt. Pepper's album -- but this song is close to my heart) Anyway I followed the sun and ended up on what I thought was a one way street to the parking garage of the CNN building so I turned around. I was about to exit the street when (God was smiling on me that day) two motorcycle policeman, followed by a stretched limo, followed by a Lincoln towncar, followed by two more policeman on motorcycles. I turned to Mary and gasped, "That could be Paul!" So, I made the most illegal U-turn and followed the entourage. About 1/4 mile on, the entourage suddenly stopped. I parked my car in haste, left the keys in the ignition (sorry dad!), grabbed our tickets (which were in a Ziploc bag for protection of course) and started running toward the limo. Picture this (because it seemed like a scene right out of a movie or something).. there were about ten fans and us running towards the limo. THEN... the tinted window lowered and Paul poked out. (All together now... Gasp! We did.) There was Paul McCartney in a beige tailored suit with Heather (I believe I didn't take my eyes off his face for long) and a cameraman (remember this part). Everyone was getting their guitars signed and t-shirts and album covers signed. Then it was our turn... I stepped up to the limo and he said, "How are you?" Uhh...I stumbled out with "You're AMAZING!" Yeah my IQ dropped three hundred points. He replied, "Thanks lass!" I shook his hand and noticed his watch and how soft his hands were. Before I could ask him what lotion he preferred (which was bound to come out of my speechless self), I asked for his autograph on my concert ticket. Mary touched his arm and got his autograph also. Then he yelled out, "See you at the concert!" and the limo whisked him away. I didn't have a camera on me so I didn't even get a picture with him (can't be greedy after that encounter). So Mary and I went back to car, which hadn't been stolen (thank God!) and found our way to the parking garage after we had sat there for 20 minutes and cried (well I did at least!) and called almost everyone we knew to retell the story. Then, while waiting for the concert doors to open I noticed a man with a video camera interviewing a fan waiting in the long line to get in. I grabbed Mary's arm and made our way over to the man. When he finished the interview, I asked him what he was doing. He said that he was filming for Paul's Driving Rain Tour DVD due out this fall. I told him we just met Paul and showed him our autographs. He asked if he could interview us. *If we make it onto the DVD look for the two girls who can't put a correct sentence together. We got worked up again. I noticed the sticker on the camera it was the same as the man's in the limo. I asked the cameraman about the similarity. He told us that was his friend filming in the limo for the same DVD. So I guess our chances are greater, we were filmed twice. What luck! Okay, about the concert. Like I said before we made way to our nosebleed side stage seats, while sitting there I told Mary that I was feeling "lucky" again and by the end of the night we will be by front row. Since the Vegas concert, I learned what worked and what didn't so after the introduction (the balloons and actors) I grabbed Mary and headed to the lower levels. Security was very tight at this concert. I instructed Mary to look down (as if looking for her row and seat) and not to make eye contact with any of the security people. It worked! We ended up third from stage on the side section which is eye level with Paul. It was amazing! The entire concert was spectacular. Some people saw what we did and followed, but unfortunately they got caught and were escorted out. I also took pictures and footage digitally (sorry Paul - I'm not selling them just sharing with fans and reminding me constantly of my "perfect" night). To top of the evening, Mary and I were on the jumbotron twice during "Hey Jude!" It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. My only regrets were that (1) I didn't have a camera on me while I met Paul (2) that I was a stumbling fool while meeting him (3) that I didn't make a sign to hold up (he really liked them.) Just for everyone's understanding I do not idolize Paul McCartney (it's wrong to idolize) and I am not a stalker (by any means), but that simply I am fan of great music, which happens to be composed by the greatest musician in history, Paul McCartney.