For my eighth Memory Monday, and the first of the new year, I am going to write about a memory that is among my all-time favorite memories of my life. I am going to write about my brief meeting back in July of 2011, with my idol, Sir Paul McCartney, after his concert at Yankee Stadium.
For my graduation from Sacred Heart School into Kellenberg Memorial High School, my Aunt Pam got me and her tickets to go see Sir Paul McCartney at Yankee Stadium on July 17th, 2011. I was so excited to go, and I couldn't wait for the concert. We went on the train from Long Island, to Penn Station, and then took the Subway over to Yankee Stadium. We went down the block to a diner for a quick bite to eat, and then we walked into the stadium. I could see the stage, and then when I was standing and sitting in the seats, I couldn't believe how close I was to the stage. I was sitting on the left field foul line, right near the corner, but it was so close to the right side of the stage.
As the concert was about to begin, I just took in what I was about to witness. There was Sir Paul McCartney songs playing over the speakers, before the concert started. There were people dressed up as him from Sgt. Pepper's, (I didn't have my costume yet. I Probably would have worn it there, who knows!), also as him from A Hard Day's Night, and the other stages of his Beatles and Wings days.
Then he walks out on stage, and there he is, the legend!
He started off with "Magical Mystery Tour", and that's when it hit me that I wasn't seeing some cover band on the beach or something, like I had with my family in the past. I was seeing the actual guy who wrote that song. One fourth of the greatest band to ever live. I was in shock!
As the concert went on, he performed songs from his solo catalogue, his Wings catalogue, and The Beatles catalogue. I'm not going to lie here, I was singing along and going insane. He sang songs like "Band on the Run", "Jet", "Let Em In", "The Night Before", "Yesterday", "Eleanor Rigby", "Helen Wheels", "Paperback Writer", "Day Tripper", and many others. I was young and carefree and seeing my idol live and in person. He performed for three and a half hours straight through, no intermission, no breaks, no water even. True performer!
As the concert neared it's end, he came out for two encores, and then sang "I Saw Her Standing There", with Billy Joel. It was crazy loud in there for that song. He ended with the backend of the Abbey Road Medley, which was "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End". I loved these three songs so much. I was hugging my Aunt Pam during Golden Slumbers, and now that she isn't here anymore, I always think of the lyrics of that small piece of the song.
"Once there was a way, to get back homeward. Once there was a way, to get back home. Sleep pretty darling do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby. Golden Slumbers fill your eyes. Smiles awake you when you rise. Sleep pretty darling do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby. Once there was a way, to get back homeward. Once there was a way, to get back home. Sleep pretty darling do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby."
So once "The End", finished up with my Sacred Heart yearbook quote, "And in the End, the Love you Take, is Equal to the Love you make!", (I also used that on a recent post.), the confetti was shot off, and I thought that it was time to go home, I mean Paul just said to literally go home in the song! And I was partially right. I was time for everyone else to go home, but it wasn't time for us to go home. Aunt Pam said, "That there is someone that I want you to meet", and we started to walk towards the stage. She worked security at Yankee Stadium, so she knew all the people who were working there that night, plus she had set this up in advance before that day.
I walked behind the stage, and saw Paul's Hofner Bass. I made a joke outloud to my Aunt, saying something like I have one of those at home, because I had Beatles Rockband, but then I said that that was the real thing. All of a sudden I hear someone with a British accent go "Hello there!", and I turned around and there he was.
Sir Paul McCartney was now just feet away from me. I froze. I really did. I said, "Oh My God, you're Sir Paul McCartney", and he quickly quipped back "Yeah, I heard a rumor!" I was so shocked that I was talking to him face to face, I literally almost fainted. I said that I was a big fan, and that I knew all of the lyrics to every single one of his songs ever released, (I seriously do!), and that I enjoyed the concert a lot. I got to talk to him for about a half hour or so, and then we left. I didn't think to get an autograph, because I was in so much shock, but I did get one photo, but since my Aunt passed away, I think that photo is pretty much lost forever.
I don't care if I don't have anything physical that says that I met Sir Paul McCartney, and I don't care if some people say I didn't meet him that night. I know that I met him, and that's all that matters. I have the memories of our brief chat that night, in July of 2011. It was one of the best nights of my life, and it will stay like that for a very long time!
Have you ever met your idol? If so, what did you say to them? If you haven't what would you say to them? (I know it sounds easy, but it's not when you actually are in front of the person!)
Peace and Love,
DGS
Quotes of the Day: "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom, Let It Be." - The Beatles
"Everybody's talking' bout some Freedom! I'm talking' bout Freedom! And I will fight, for the right, to live in Freedom!" - Sir Paul McCartney
"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, then everybody would be a vegetarian." - Sir Paul McCartney