It promises to be the biggest rock 'n roll show this city has ever hosted.
I have been a fan of U2 for more than 20yrs, and anyone who knows me can attest to this.
In fact, the mutual love of their music was one of the reasons Dono and I hooked up in the first place (see: http://yaciuk.blogspot.com/2011/05/bono-kissed-my-wife.html).
So when I heard they were going to be in town a couple of days BEFORE their concert, shooting a documentary, and I knew WHERE this doc would be shot, I made sure I was there, in the wind and sleet (yep, crappy weather at the end of May - welcome to Winnipeg!) to meet them.
Surreal.
That was last night.
Tonight - well, tonight was about sharing the experience with my family.
Late in the afternoon, after receiving a tip from a fan friend we had met in line the day before (oddly enough we were both at the Bomber Store purchasing U2 merch with Madelyn in tow!), we decided to swing by the house and pick up the camera and do a drive-by. Y'know, just in case.
Well, the drive-by turned into a full-on waiting game, with rumours it would be "any time now" that we would see them, and Donovan and I weren't gonna pass up a chance to have Madelyn meet "the man"!
We were equipped with a lawn chair, snacks for Roo, water, food, an umbrella, the camera - it was quite the haul. Madelyn did SO WELL, keeping busy by throwing rocks into puddles through the mini barricade that was set up between the fans and the Burton Cummings theatre (the site of the documentary filming where the band was inside, doing their thing).
My friend from work Christina showed up (she's as big a fan of the band as I am), and begged to take over and keep Madelyn entertained (she's surrounded by boys - only has sons and LOVES Madelyn!) while Daddy took a much needed break during our 4hr stint waitin' for the band!
They had so much fun playing Ring Around the Rosie, and high 5's on repeat!, that Madelyn really developed a love for Auntie Christina!
At around 9 or so, the cars started to move into position on the other side of the barricade. We got ready to take our pics and have our merch autographed! Roo was up on Daddy's shoulders, and had prime line of sight when the band finally came out and started greeting their fans!
By the time Bono was about 2 people away from us, signing autographs and taking pics, Madelyn said in her normal speaking voice (after a quick prompt from Mommy!), "I love you Bono," and after I told her he didn't hear, she yelled as he posed for a picture with a fan, "I LOVE YOU, BONO!" He smiled and looked up at her in a moment of distraction!
And then came our turn!
As he approached me and smiled and said hello, and gave me ANOTHER hug (he embraced AND kissed me the day before!), and as I passed him the tour book to sign, I said, "Bono, if I could just take a minute here to introduce you - this is my daughter Madelyn..." Donovan had at this point took her off his shoulders and was holding her in his arms, right beside me.
Bono said, "Well hello, Madelyn!"
I continued: "...and Madelyn was conceived to the Achtung Baby album!" Bono started laughing, as did the fans around us.
"I was wondering if she could get her picture taken with you!"
Bono: "Haha, she truly is an Achtung Baby!" Cue picture.
Donovan: "Madelyn, can you give Bono a kiss?"
Bono and Madelyn leaned in towards each other (right in front of my face!), and she kissed his cheek - not sure if he kissed her back, as his face was on the other side of hers. "Well thank you Madelyn, you made my day!"
Bono continued, as he was being ushered along the line, "Which song was it?"
I started laughing - I wasn't prepared for him to ask ME a question - although I think I ended up saying something like, "Who knows!"
Donovan told me after he was dying to blurt out "Even Better Than the Real Thing", but thought that would be awkward, since that's only the 2nd track on the album!
At any rate, even though SHE has no clue what just happened, we will definitely be printing out the pic and framing it, along with the autographs we snagged.
I'm sure she'll learn to appreciate it as she grows older!
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