Incident in Glasgow

I met up with Rachel and Maaike in Holland and together we flew to Dublin on the 10th... to follow that dream... stopping at the hotel to check in and meet up with Angie before rushing to the RDS Arena to get our "numbers" but soon realized it would be too cold to stay out all night... we jumped in a cab and went back to the hotel planning an early day... waiting in the queue the next day was wet but exciting! Spirits were high with anticipation of a great show! With numbers in the 160ish range we did quite well to end up in second row on Stevie's side. As we sat in the pouring rain waiting for the show to begin... we chatted with those around us... well, Surprise Surprise if it wasn't Anne (fellow Btxer) sitting right next to me! We had been hoping to hook up before the show but without use of my cell phone we hadn't had the chance... and now... just like magic!! How cool was that?! I also got to spend a bit of time with another fellow Btxer, Helen, whom I met in Chicago back in 2007... and again in Amsterdam last year! It was also nice to see Mo and Cicile (again!) :)

There were so many familiar faces... it was good to be back in Europe! For the second show I somehow got in line with "the Crazy Italians" and was I in for real a treat! The line was ran beautifully and we were walked in... I got a great spot between two awesome Italian fans: Riccardo and Tony and right behind two of the sweetest and shortest ladies... sisters: Baukje & Katja, and my friend from Spain, Laia. In Dublin I met Chiara and Angela and finally got to meet Barbara "Springsteen"... I also got to see Corrado again! Corrado ran the line in Milan last year and made it so enjoyable that I just had to come back to Italy... I couldn't wait!!

But I had no idea that Dublin would be so much fun! So much so that Dublin Night 2 has moved up to at least my second favorite of all time fun shows!! Thanks so much Tony and Ricarrdo for the Italian touch!! American Land was sooooo much fun... I'll always love hearing "the Italians" line and think of your flag! It was more than magical!!

The European "Bruce" Experience had won my heart again... and by the end of the second show I was convinced that unless you have experienced a fan run GA line and entrance for a Bruce show at least once in Europe... you are missing out. I advise you start making plans!! (Here are some of my pictures though the last 3 - #4-#6 & #9 are Tony's)

Next stop... Glasgow!!

We get to Glasgow fast... faster than many of the other "Traveling Fans" and get numbers in the low 20's... we were all set. The others gathered... Liz & Claire from England, Angela, Tony, Daniela, Elisa, & Diego from Italy, Oscar & Marcos from Spain and Greasy Lake's Queen of the Supermarket, from America!!

Glasgow's queue was much more mellow... and before the crowds got too big we took the time to get to know those we were "touring" with. In Dublin I had worried about Liz getting ran over... she was so tiny and moved quite slow... but was relieved to see a beautiful security man come and escort her out of the crowd to inside just before the gates opened. In Glasgow I got to learn more of Liz and her daughter Claire... (and her kind future son-in-law). Liz had been in the queue for the SSB Tour in Rome and it was just after roll call when she was hit by an out of control car... she was rushed to an Italian hospital with a broken back and leg as well as other injuries... and here she was... back in the queue... camping out and earning her way to the front... what an inspiration!! I was so glad to see Bruce's team take her to safety before the gates opened!! Liz told me all about Graham... the man with the arms... who was her personal angel.

I almost forgot that I was there for Bruce!! :) Oops... Back to the queue... It felt as if there was more of a competitive spirit lurking... as people made plans as to which way they would run to overtake those in front of them... and when the young lady. Ilaria, who had ran the pit line got held up in the gate just in front of me... she panicked and the worker made her calm down before she would release the gate and open it for her. We lost valuable time and my number 22 now got me only into a second row position. But I was satisfied with it having overcome so many challenges to get there. Did I mention the huge flight of stairs going way up then waaay down? I was exhausted when I arrived at my spot... another guy wanted my spot and it was his only show... so I moved a little to the right to give him more room but I didn't have the strength to go toe to toe with the big bully next to me that wanted the rest of my spot... I stood my ground for an hour but when he turned his back on me and started pressing backwards he won the battle and I had nowhere to stand. Liz came to my rescue and insisted that I stand behind her... which gave me a much better view... but I was so weary from lack of sleep and being bullied that I enjoyed the show with much less zest then the nights in Dublin. What a brutal crowd... I thought as I watched drunken fans being pulled out of the pit... one after another. There were some very sweet people right behind me and to the right... a woman and her sweet son... and Denzil's friend with the big box disguised as a die. I still haven't figured out his request. I think it was Roll of the Die! I Watched the first few songs through the tears in my eyes... fatigue... disappointment in my physical abilities... whatever it was... I wasn't able to shake off the bummer feelings as easily as other times... it seemed as though Bruce knew he needed to work extra hard to help me shake my funk... so following up My Lucky Day with She's The One was a good start when Working On The Highway!!

Just when I thought I'd found relief I was taken back into melancholy with Atlantic City and when Bruce began Incident on 57th Street I cried like a baby!!

The River and Kingdom of Days kept me in tears but finally I was able to shake it off with Twist & Shout... but then realized that the show was over! Bruce gave an absolutely beautiful show in Glasgow. I was happy to get back to Dublin where we enjoyed amazing Fish & Chips at a lovely church courtyard before catching up on some rest before heading off to Roma!!

Thanks for the great times... can't wait to see you in America!