FINALLY!

I wish I could make this brief, but I don't think that's going to happen.

So, I went to MIXFest today, which was a free concert in Boston starring the mesmerizing Sara Bareilles. This was my third time seeing Sara live. And guess what? Third time's the charm, my friends.

Before Sara went on, my friend and I wormed our way through massive crowds of people to a spot where we could see relatively well. I had my camera and my poster in hand. The poster actually got some attention from the people around me and it was shown on the JumboTron thing. Several people asked to take a picture of it, and it was actually a shout out to this community! Yay! I met/talked to 3 hardcore SB fans next to me, and one was really tall, so she held my sign at points. Sara totally saw it and smiled. Her set was amazing as always,  but she did not like the fact that the crowd was so far away...so she literally jumped off stage and ran by the front row, giving them high-fives. I was not in the front row. Too bad.

After her set, we left and went around to the back of the venue, the only real way Sara could exit. Other people started to accumulate there as well. I stood behind the fence for a while and started talking to some catering guy who worked at the venue. He was so nice, and could see how badly I want to meet her,so he went back stage to see if he could get her to come out. He came back with an autographed photo (cool!), but said that security was not going to let her come out to meet us (uncool!). I decided to stay a little longer, just to see.

Then, we saw Dan, Javier, Philip, and Josh emerge from backstage and go around the side to watch the rest of the concert. The Catering Guy went over to them (he was rad) and they started talking and looking over at me and my guitar. But then they all walked back behind a bus, out of sight. I was about to throw in the towel, when I looked up from the ground to see Javier Dunn. Walking straight toward me. On a mission. My heart stopped, and I stupidly shouted "JAVIER!?". His eyes locked on mine as he responded, "HALEY." He knew my name! How!? I'm guessing from this community, or just from writing to him on FaceBook. But he KNEW ME! The other fans around me were starting to hate me pretty quickly.

I said, "ummm..what's up?" And Javier asked in the sweetest way, "Do you want Sara to sign your guitar?"

....No. Actually I don't.......HELL YES I DO! So I answered, "That would be amazing! Do you want to sign it too?"

Javier: "Totally, I'll be right back." So he took it and went behind the bus. Then, Catering Guy came over to me and whispered, "Come with me." Everyone else exploded, but he firmly stated, "I am only taking one." TAKING ONE! I WAS THAT ONE! He opened the gate and told me to stick with him. We went around the bus and security got pretty feisty and said that the band really had to get going. But Javier appeared, pushed them aside, and said, "No, this is her guitar. Here, Haley. I had the whole band sign it." I was ecstatic. I thanked Javi a hundred times and grabbed my guitar.

But then, from a mob of security and band-mates emerged the beautiful Sara Bareilles. I literally almost fell down, because her presence was so overwhelming. She said Hi, and gave me a hug. Yes, she smelled amazing. I stammered like an idiot, trying to thank her. I blabbered on about how I wrote her a really long letter, but then left it at home (I know. I'm an idiot. Don't want to talk about it). She responded, "Well, that sucks." But I told her that I was part of the FAN COMMUNITY, and that we had a way of getting it to her (scrapbook), but it was a surprise. She looked intrigued, and said, "Ooooooo, exciting!" She hugged me again (that's twice), and said "Oh, you're so sweet." In our embrace, I said "you have no idea how much this means to me," which was the only valid thing I was able to say to her.

Security rushed her off before I could get a picture, and as the bus drove away, I saw her in the window and waved goodbye. I thanked Catering Guy, and cried tears of joy all the way home. 

My pictures are only on FaceBook right now http://tinyurl.com/3z24c3h , but I may upload them here too. I am overcome with happiness and gratitude, and I am even deeper in love. Thanks for reading.

-Haley