AuntieMistletoeDear
MMC Hostess of Christmas Online
MMC Lifer
Christmas.com Alum
Christmas Crew
Christmas Talk Alum
I'm baaaaaaack! 
Get ready for a lengthy post...
I don't know where to begin … "like a mouse approaching a tall piece of cheddar, better start from the top."
Remember when I mentioned I initially bought two tickets to the Farewell Elton show and they were really great seats, but then a friend mentioned the VIP experience so I bought two. I had four tickets two in section 110 at Scotiabank Arena in the blue section only 7 rows up. Perfect few of Elton at the piano and he continuously turned to acknowledge those fans before the rest of us. Those seats went to my dad's neighbour and her friend who I've known for years. They were overjoyed with their seats and the thrill of it all; it was on one of their bucket lists. I only charged them the price of 1 ticket and gifted the second just to get them there.
From the beginning I knew who was going to share in the V.I.P. experience with me; my friend and co-worker who is always willing to dress up like me to make things more fun. I was driving so I told her she was the DJ. She went through my case of 20 CDs pre-chosen for the road trip. She is only turning 50 this July so her music of choice is more 80's than mine. I'm drawn to 60's & 70's with a touch of this and that on the side. We never got to hear any Christmas tunes, but the music we played provided back up vocals by two unknowns in the music world. Sherry and myself.
Elton John's Diamonds CD disc 1 started us off
Lady Gaga - that was for my husband who was a big fan
Bohemian Rhapsody
Took a break the Easy Listening compilation wasn't quite doing it and tune into 70's on 7 with Sirius - and hey there was Tiny Dancer playing.
The road trip home was similar, but contained … the Rocketman Soundtrack, David Bowie, Billy Joel and then the BLEND and 60's.
Got to the hotel, changed quickly into our outfits to honour Elton; grabbed an Uber and headed down to the arena. I was starting to freak out a bit because it was a 12 minute drive and we were nearing the deadline for checking in because the vehicles were only moving 4 cars at a time through the traffic lights. I suggested we get out and walk, but the driver kept saying, "You'll get there in time, it's only 5 minutes away, it's only 3 minutes away, it's one block away; there you are on the right." GEESH - the pressure. We made it.
Headed to the secret Premier entrance. Gave my name and ID and the PR assistants were delighted by our outfits.
Sherry was dressed in black and white with gloves, a great hat and diamonds all around the outside frame of her sunglasses.
I had gold pants and yellow-gold furry leggings with a navy top until I bought my Farewell Yellow Brick Road top to wear under my blue and silver BLING BLAZER and I had a white felt fedora style hat and blue sunglasses - including the lenses)and a sparkly E pin.
We got inside for the champagne and prelude to the back stage tour with Lindsay our tour guide. We studied the people around us a bit as we're both people watchers (in a good way, not a judgment way). There were only 7 of us dressed up, the rest were wearing semi-casual clothes and the odd Elton shirt from concerts past.
Having our photos taken at his piano (real bench, real piano) was one of the highlights. I ratted my friend out to our host and said, "My friend will have a hard time not touching the keys because she's a pianist." He posed her in such a fashion that she couldn't possibly touch the keys by accident. He gave posing suggestions to everyone except me. HAHA - I didn't need any coaching. I knew I wanted to look like I was tossing a lyric into the mic; my heart was pounding like a drum. Sherry managed to get through her photo without any wrongdoing. We watched and encouraged others. Met a big fan from Barrie who was attending his 5th Elton concert; he had on a great red and white tux with piano keys all over it. Very cool. A couple was very sparkly, but they didn't have hats or sunglasses.
As we listened to the sound and visual technician telling us all the ins and outs of things, we kept reacting to different things that excited us. The back drop surrounding the stage was dedicated to different periods of Elton's time. I turned to the couple beside me and apologized if we were being too loud for them to hear. The lady turned to me and said, "I was at the last concert, this isn't new to me. Keep at it; I'm having fun watching your reactions as first time concert goers." Nobody could believe it was our first Elton John concert and that we pulled off these awesome outfits to pay tribute to him.
Fast forward to our floor seats when I spotted my two friends in the stands where we would have been sitting if I had not bought the additional tickets. Sherry said she would have been fine with those seats, but now that we were part of the VIP experience she was glad to be closer. The VIPs were supposed to sit along the stage and sing and groove along to the music, but when SAD SONG started, more than the 28 of us advanced to the floor in front of the stage so we could only perform with him from the floor - still closer than others.
Then came the magic moment. Raise your hand if you remember me saying I wanted him to feel my vibes of appreciation! Well, when we were rocking out to Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting; Elton was walking and singing and pointing to fans in the crowd. He spotted Sherry and I; he pointed in our direction, Sherry was throwing one hand in the air and snapping a photo with the other. I tipped my hat and did a heart punch. He felt the THANK YOU we were going for with our outfits.
The concert was fantastic - nothing was disappointing. The fans made him tear up at one point (before or after) Your Song and then when he was singing Good Bye Yellow Brick Road, I could hardly sing along; I kept getting the words out and then a lump would get stuck and I couldn't sing and then, I'd join in again. It was all so bittersweet; totally amazing and yet sad that he's hanging up his tour schedule calendar, but so awesome that he's entertain folks for so long and his music (among others) have helped me coast through all the trying time in my life - the struggles, the losses and the triumphs.
We could hardly sleep, but we did. Didn't get up until 7:30; went to bed shortly after 1:00.
We went to the Senator Diner for brunch before heading out of Toronto. I knew that Elton sometimes frequented that establishment when he was in the city. Well, we missed him; he and the family were there on Monday and we were there on Thursday. Turns out that the waiter is good friends with David (Elton's Canadian husband).
We had a great chat, I told him about losing my husband in the spring an how music helped me navigate those delicate waters and that Elton's music in particular has kept me standing and strong. I used to call myself Super Auntie - now I'm Auntie Hercules Mistletoe Dear Merry One (but I won't change my user name).
I asked our waiter to thank David for sharing Elton with his fans for as long as he has and to enjoy their life together as a family. They have earned it.
After dropping Sherry off, I Swung by my favourite lunch spot BETWEEN THE BUN and was pleased there were no customers. This is one of the spots that catered the food for my husband's celebration of life. I have a spirited friendship with the owner. I walked in and turned around displaying my Yellow brick road zippered sweat shirt and of course was wearing the t-shirt as well. I told her about the concert and then as I was telling her about my message for David, I started to well up a bit and that got her all teary eyed. Soup was on the house.
Shortly, I'll be heading up to the Sub Place to chat with a fan and presenting him with a huge poster (I received two) of the Farewell concert on lithograph. He has done so much for mental health awareness in our community (because his dad committed suicide and nobody knew he was depressed) so I wanted to reward him with something special. He talked me into joining the committee to Defeat Depression; I've lost 5 people to suicide so I didn't hesitate to join.
I wonder if there's a word count on MMC forum pages - we'll find out when I hit "post reply".
Thanks for Listening/Reading
Get ready for a lengthy post...I don't know where to begin … "like a mouse approaching a tall piece of cheddar, better start from the top."
Remember when I mentioned I initially bought two tickets to the Farewell Elton show and they were really great seats, but then a friend mentioned the VIP experience so I bought two. I had four tickets two in section 110 at Scotiabank Arena in the blue section only 7 rows up. Perfect few of Elton at the piano and he continuously turned to acknowledge those fans before the rest of us. Those seats went to my dad's neighbour and her friend who I've known for years. They were overjoyed with their seats and the thrill of it all; it was on one of their bucket lists. I only charged them the price of 1 ticket and gifted the second just to get them there.
From the beginning I knew who was going to share in the V.I.P. experience with me; my friend and co-worker who is always willing to dress up like me to make things more fun. I was driving so I told her she was the DJ. She went through my case of 20 CDs pre-chosen for the road trip. She is only turning 50 this July so her music of choice is more 80's than mine. I'm drawn to 60's & 70's with a touch of this and that on the side. We never got to hear any Christmas tunes, but the music we played provided back up vocals by two unknowns in the music world. Sherry and myself.
Elton John's Diamonds CD disc 1 started us off
Lady Gaga - that was for my husband who was a big fan
Bohemian Rhapsody
Took a break the Easy Listening compilation wasn't quite doing it and tune into 70's on 7 with Sirius - and hey there was Tiny Dancer playing.
The road trip home was similar, but contained … the Rocketman Soundtrack, David Bowie, Billy Joel and then the BLEND and 60's.
Got to the hotel, changed quickly into our outfits to honour Elton; grabbed an Uber and headed down to the arena. I was starting to freak out a bit because it was a 12 minute drive and we were nearing the deadline for checking in because the vehicles were only moving 4 cars at a time through the traffic lights. I suggested we get out and walk, but the driver kept saying, "You'll get there in time, it's only 5 minutes away, it's only 3 minutes away, it's one block away; there you are on the right." GEESH - the pressure. We made it.
Headed to the secret Premier entrance. Gave my name and ID and the PR assistants were delighted by our outfits.
Sherry was dressed in black and white with gloves, a great hat and diamonds all around the outside frame of her sunglasses.
I had gold pants and yellow-gold furry leggings with a navy top until I bought my Farewell Yellow Brick Road top to wear under my blue and silver BLING BLAZER and I had a white felt fedora style hat and blue sunglasses - including the lenses)and a sparkly E pin.
We got inside for the champagne and prelude to the back stage tour with Lindsay our tour guide. We studied the people around us a bit as we're both people watchers (in a good way, not a judgment way). There were only 7 of us dressed up, the rest were wearing semi-casual clothes and the odd Elton shirt from concerts past.
Having our photos taken at his piano (real bench, real piano) was one of the highlights. I ratted my friend out to our host and said, "My friend will have a hard time not touching the keys because she's a pianist." He posed her in such a fashion that she couldn't possibly touch the keys by accident. He gave posing suggestions to everyone except me. HAHA - I didn't need any coaching. I knew I wanted to look like I was tossing a lyric into the mic; my heart was pounding like a drum. Sherry managed to get through her photo without any wrongdoing. We watched and encouraged others. Met a big fan from Barrie who was attending his 5th Elton concert; he had on a great red and white tux with piano keys all over it. Very cool. A couple was very sparkly, but they didn't have hats or sunglasses.
As we listened to the sound and visual technician telling us all the ins and outs of things, we kept reacting to different things that excited us. The back drop surrounding the stage was dedicated to different periods of Elton's time. I turned to the couple beside me and apologized if we were being too loud for them to hear. The lady turned to me and said, "I was at the last concert, this isn't new to me. Keep at it; I'm having fun watching your reactions as first time concert goers." Nobody could believe it was our first Elton John concert and that we pulled off these awesome outfits to pay tribute to him.
Fast forward to our floor seats when I spotted my two friends in the stands where we would have been sitting if I had not bought the additional tickets. Sherry said she would have been fine with those seats, but now that we were part of the VIP experience she was glad to be closer. The VIPs were supposed to sit along the stage and sing and groove along to the music, but when SAD SONG started, more than the 28 of us advanced to the floor in front of the stage so we could only perform with him from the floor - still closer than others.
Then came the magic moment. Raise your hand if you remember me saying I wanted him to feel my vibes of appreciation! Well, when we were rocking out to Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting; Elton was walking and singing and pointing to fans in the crowd. He spotted Sherry and I; he pointed in our direction, Sherry was throwing one hand in the air and snapping a photo with the other. I tipped my hat and did a heart punch. He felt the THANK YOU we were going for with our outfits.
The concert was fantastic - nothing was disappointing. The fans made him tear up at one point (before or after) Your Song and then when he was singing Good Bye Yellow Brick Road, I could hardly sing along; I kept getting the words out and then a lump would get stuck and I couldn't sing and then, I'd join in again. It was all so bittersweet; totally amazing and yet sad that he's hanging up his tour schedule calendar, but so awesome that he's entertain folks for so long and his music (among others) have helped me coast through all the trying time in my life - the struggles, the losses and the triumphs.
We could hardly sleep, but we did. Didn't get up until 7:30; went to bed shortly after 1:00.
We went to the Senator Diner for brunch before heading out of Toronto. I knew that Elton sometimes frequented that establishment when he was in the city. Well, we missed him; he and the family were there on Monday and we were there on Thursday. Turns out that the waiter is good friends with David (Elton's Canadian husband).
We had a great chat, I told him about losing my husband in the spring an how music helped me navigate those delicate waters and that Elton's music in particular has kept me standing and strong. I used to call myself Super Auntie - now I'm Auntie Hercules Mistletoe Dear Merry One (but I won't change my user name).
I asked our waiter to thank David for sharing Elton with his fans for as long as he has and to enjoy their life together as a family. They have earned it.
After dropping Sherry off, I Swung by my favourite lunch spot BETWEEN THE BUN and was pleased there were no customers. This is one of the spots that catered the food for my husband's celebration of life. I have a spirited friendship with the owner. I walked in and turned around displaying my Yellow brick road zippered sweat shirt and of course was wearing the t-shirt as well. I told her about the concert and then as I was telling her about my message for David, I started to well up a bit and that got her all teary eyed. Soup was on the house.
Shortly, I'll be heading up to the Sub Place to chat with a fan and presenting him with a huge poster (I received two) of the Farewell concert on lithograph. He has done so much for mental health awareness in our community (because his dad committed suicide and nobody knew he was depressed) so I wanted to reward him with something special. He talked me into joining the committee to Defeat Depression; I've lost 5 people to suicide so I didn't hesitate to join.
I wonder if there's a word count on MMC forum pages - we'll find out when I hit "post reply".
Thanks for Listening/Reading
