Date: 2003-09-13
From: Great Barrington

To: ---
Miles today: 0.0

So...In the last 24 hours, I have had two great things happen, and I am so happy!!! You remember that the last time I wrote, I was going to try and talk my way into a sold-out Eddie From Ohio show? Well..... I did!!You would not have believed the evening I had! I went to the concert and talked to the doorman. First he said that the show was completely sold-out and that there was no way I could get in. I explained that I was hiking, and asked if he would mind if I checked with him one more time, when the show started, just in case there was room for one person to stand in the back. He said he would see what he could do, which was all I could ask, really. So, I sat outside on the steps going up to the roof, writing in my pocketmail and waiting patiently. It wasn't long before Michael Klemm, (did I spell that right?), the bass player for the band, came by. As I got up to let him by, I made a comment about my guarding the stairs and protecting him from his rabid fans. He asked if I was working the door, and I said "No..I am one of your rabid fans!". I told him that I was waiting to see if I could get into the show. He seemed really into the whole idea of my AT hike and we had a nice little chat for a few minutes.Then, the rest of the band came by and he introduced me, telling them about my hike. Then...and this was the coolest thing that happened all evening...they went up the stairs and stood right above me and warmed up by singing in four-part harmony. Oh my.....it was so beautiful! I looked at the door guy, who was standing next to me, and said, "How cool is that?!"The next thing I know, the show is starting, and I am standing in this litle corner in the back, wiggling with joy as they start to play! From the very beginning of the concert, I was so glad that I had gone to the trouble to make this show! EFO was, as always, simply wonderful! Their songs touch me in a hundred different ways, and their four-part harmony is guaranteed to raise goose-bumps on a statue! Each member of the four-person band is incredibly gifted at what they do, so when they all come together as a group, their total is so much greater than the sum of their parts!Several songs into the first set, Michael starts talking about this sweet person he met outside before the show. He went on to say that she came to the show from the AT, and just about the time I realized that he was talking about ME, he asked if "AT Anna" had managed to get in. I jumped up and down and said, "I did!! I did!!". The whole audience laughed and started to applaud. Then Michael quipped that they had just played down south in Birmingham, and that they could have given me a ride...save me all that walking! It was hysterical! :) After a simply amazing show, I went up to my old friend Brendan, the door guy, and thanked him for getting me in. He told me that next time I am in town, any show, any time, was on him. How great is that?! I could go on and on about the kindness of strangers, but that small story right there kind of gets the point across, doesn't it? So, a great evening was had by all. And did I mention that I got into the show for free?! :) This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!The next afternoon, the second great thing happened to me.....my brother came to see me!! You remember him...he hiked for a week with us in Virginia? Well, he had to come up north for a crew thing, (he's a big-time crew coach!), so he rented a car, and came to take me to dinner. We had the best time! We went to the outfitters, where I met Prozac and Portugee, two other AT hikers. We walked around downtown sticking our heads in shops, and buying CD's. The evening found us in a gourmet pizza restaurant, feasting on goat cheese pizza and antipasto. We got to really talk, with the emphasis on "really", and it was wonderful. My brother is my favorite person in the whole wide world, so seeing him made my day!Unfortunately, I could not convince him to quit his job and come hike with me, so like all great things, his visit had to come to an end. I really hated to see him go, but I was left with such a warm feeling inside. Tomorrow, I will be able to hike for miles, in the glow of the last couple of days. I tell you what....everone should be as lucky as I am! Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com