2003-09-09
5:42 p.m.

BEVR: Nancy in the Peg/Oklahoma City

Broad's Eye View Report - Nancy in the Peg

Oklahoma City - August 21

I actually wrote this a few days after returning from OKC. After reading all the recent BEVRS I felt quite intimidated by all the talented writers, so I hummed and hawed and decided not to submit it. Then the other day I was looking through some stuff from my OKC trip, brochures, maps, hotel bills etc. and the piece I had written came to mind. I thought - just submit it already. Big deal, you can't write, not everybody can write. No one was going to hate me for it - especially the Broads - they're not mean - they are all Clay fans - and I think there is something special about Clay fans -something we all have in common - probably a lot of Clay's qualities. So anyway, here goes.

When hubby agreed to drive the 1200 miles from Winnipeg, MB , Canada to OKC I was thrilled. Ok, I did promise him we could stop at all the casinos he wanted to along the way. That was his bribe; he would have done it anyway, but maybe not quite so enthusiastically. But, not only would he be doing all the driving, (I have a visual impairment) but he bought a red shirt and agreed to take pictures so I was free to enjoy the concert. Besides that, he listened to my Clay CD's there and back. But the good thing is I think I Clayverted him. He is a musician and when he actually listened to his VOICE he was amazed at how perfect it was. He said he could tune his guitar to Clay's voice. I dedicate this BEVR to my RL love - how sweet is he.

The Trip

We decided to leave early and enjoy our way down. Here are a few highlights and Clay moments of our trip:

* Border crossing went smoothly. U.S. Customs officer asked us where we were going. We told him OKC. He said, "Oh really, why?" We told him we were going to the American Idol concert. He said, "What's that". Hubby said, "Oh, it was a TV show and there were some stars." Customs officer, giving us a funny look, said "OK go ahead, have fun. That was it. Didn't even ask us if we had any beef.

* The first night we stayed at Shooting Star Casino in MN. It was karaoke night and the crowd was wild. Everyone was doing the Chicken dance, Locomotion and other dances around the multi-leveled horseshow bar. What a blast! We also got to stay in a Jacuzzi suite at the hotel.

* On the highway on the way to Fargo, ND hubby suddenly made a very scary u-turn and then stopped and said "Get out". I looked at him stunned and shaken. Then he said, "Go stand by that sign and I'll take a picture". I went over to the sign and looked up. It said, "Welcome to Clay County".

* When we walked into the Fargo West Acres Mall, the loud speaker was playing TITN. I bought Cinnamon Toast Crunch bars here. It was weird. I almost crashed into the display.

* At Dakota Magic Casino they were playing TITN in the buffet restaurant. Clay's spirit must have been in ND/MN that day. It kind of freaked me out.

* Stayed at AmeriStar Riverboat Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs, IA. Neat place. Got lost in Omaha, NB. I am not going to say I don't like Nebraska.

* Won enough money along the way to pay for about four days expenses - including hotels. Whoopee!

* 24 dollars to Tulsa. We have changed the song title. What's with all the tolls along this highway? What would happen if someone didn't have any money? Great place though. We had our first southern meal here and experienced southern hospitality at its finest. I have to say here that the best part of the trip down was all the wonderful people we met. Everyone was so friendly and genuine and took the time to talk to us.

* Holy freeways. My motto became "Prepare to Die" every time we entered off a ramp.

* All the way down excitement was building, building, building and my heart palpitations were getting stronger and stronger. I knew in a few days I would see HIM.

The Hotel

We booked into the Westin two days early and did some touristy things. We hung around Bricktown, took a city bus tour, and visited the Myriad Biological Gardens and the Bombing Memorial.

When we first arrived I noticed, OMG, the hotel is attached to the Ford Centre. Could it be? Would it be? OMG. It was all pretty quiet until the morning of the concert. I came downstairs and looked outside. There they were - three American Idol buses. OMG. I went outside and was immediately greeted by a slew of Clay fans. My first Clay fans, how exciting. I loved them all; they were so great, and fun. We stood around and then the bus driver (the one who drives Clay's bus) said we were wasting our time. He said Clay is quiet and goes to his room and stays there. He also said that he is always telling Clay to pick up his stuff. I thought that was funny. Messy Clay. We were standing around chatting with him when around the corner comes Rickey. Apparently this is his home town. He talked to us and took pictures with us. We went in for lunch and Rickey serenaded us at the piano. He is really good. I was so nervous I could hardly eat. CLAY WAS IN THIS HOTEL. Hubby was bored and actually sick, so I sent him up to his room and hung around with Clay fans. We did stuff like watch them move wardrobe and food up the elevator to them. Food to 14 (Rube), wardrobe to 11 (Baby). We were hanging around the tunnel in hopes when we heard someone yell "Kim". It was KLo. We ran back and one by one they came down. They signed autographs and let us take pictures etc. Then we noticed Jerome standing at the elevators. Security started building up. We knew Clay was coming down. Cameras in hand, we waited. Security was quite built up by now. Then the elevator door opened and there He was. I don't think I took one breath the whole time he walked by. I definitely didn't take a picture. He looked tired and a little upset. He didn't smile or wave. But he was still so cute. I was about three feet away from him. So close and yet so far. I felt, as if in a dream - that I was running - running - running towards something, running - running almost there - then whomp - a glass door fell in front of me. I never expected to meet Clay, I really didn't, but coming so far, and getting so close, it was really hard to take. I thought, this is probably the closest I will ever get to him. I ran towards the door and they had the hall roped off. Now I am not usually a rude person but something inside me made me say, "I am a guest of this hotel and I will go where I want." Whoa! That is so not me. Anyway, by time we got outside he was already in the bus. I came back in and some Clay fans wee pointing to the floor and saying, "He stood right there". I teased them and asked if they wanted me to take a picture of them kissing the floor. Oh, well, I still had the concert.

The Concert

All gussied up in red, hubby and I walked over to the concert with some Clay fans. We bought some Clay stuff and then some bubbly. We watched the crowd and it were amazed that they were almost all there for Clay. We went to our seats, (Floor 1, row N). I was surrounded by Clay fans. Yippee! You know, from now on, it is quite a blur. I wasn't as impressed by Klo as some are. I think she has a good voice but it sure doesn't do anything for me. Hubby says her voice grates on him. Oh, well, everyone has their own opinion. We mostly liked Rickey and Trenyce. The excitement was getting too much to bear. When Clay finally came out of the floor I went out-of-body. I am not really a screaming type, but from the depths of my soul came those full body screams. It was surreal. I didn't take my eyes off Clay for one second. I couldn't believe it was actually him. The screams from the crowd were deafening. Everything went so fast. Before I knew it intermission was over and they were back.

Loved CYFTL, when Clay held off the last word so we could scream. So clever and so effective. I thought it was funny when KimberMe said to the crowd, "So, are you achin' for Aiken?" Of course, everybody screamed. Then she said something like, "Oh, I should have known better than to ask that, now I'm going to be deaf for a week." In the little break when Clay went back and changed for Invisible, the crowd was going wild. When he came out and started performing, I thought I was going to die. He was so gorgeous and sexy. He just engulfs you. I was mesmerized, dumbstruck and in heaven. When he walked off the stage I was so sad. No, please don't go. It felt like losing someone you care about. Up until this day I still well up in tears when I think about this concert.

Despite my deep emotional state, we really did enjoy the concert. It was well done and we had a great time. I was jumping, screaming and dancing the whole time. (so hubby says)

The Aftermath

When we got back to the hotel, Jerome had already taken Clay up the elevator. I heard the next day Jerome and the other idols were in the bar all night (not Clay). I didn't care - who wanted to see them.

We were going to go out for a drink but it was so hot and we were exhausted. I fell right to sleep. I woke up two hours later with this breathless feeling in my chest and I felt like I was holding back giant sobs. I lie there realizing Clay was sleeping four floors above me. Some thoughts lecherous, some not. Oh, the temptation to bolt up that elevator.

All the way home I was still very emotional, trying to hold back tears in front of hubby. Poor guy! He just doesn't underhand. Actually, neither do I. Up until this time I had been a normal, rational person. Who would of thought that I would travel 1200 miles to see a 24 year old pop star and then cry all the way home. It was worse when I played his CD so I took it off and put on Elton John. Smart move. The first song was CYFTL. That was it. I lost it. Then I thought, I have got to get this man out of my head. No, I don't want too. I would miss him too much. And even if I wanted to, I couldn't. When is his solo concert?

I still have not gotten over this experience. I will remember it for the rest of my life. The trip, the wonderful, wonderful people I met, especially the fans, and the privilege of witnessing the performance of and sharing air with the most talented beautiful man on earth. God sent? Could anything less make so many people feel so strong about this man?

Thanks for listening. I feel so much better now.

Nancy in the Peg