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October 28, 2003

“We were swingin' oh so nice”

Did I ever tell you guys the story of how I met Nina Persson from The Cardigans? Not sure I have—maybe in a past incarnation of this site. In any case, I'm gonna tell you anyway.

What year was it...? I think it was either late '96 or early '97. Live 105 in San Francisco had some sort of concert/event and I somehow landed a ticket through a friend.

"You wanna go?"

"Sure. Who's playing?"

"Blah, blah, They Might Be Giants, blah, blah, blah, The Cardigans..."

"Definitely!"

A nice group of us went. I think Mary supplied my ticket. I don't think I paid her for it.

Sorry about that, Mary.

They Might Be Giants were fantastic. Aside from that, it's hard to piece most of that night together. It's all pretty much a haze, except for the part when The Cardigans hit the stage. I don't know how we did it, but somehow my friend Claire and I made it from the absolute back of the venue to the absolute front. Smooshed on all sides, there were with only two people ahead of us.

In a few words, they were fucking amazing.

Now, by the time this show had come around, I had an enormous crush on Nina. And why not? She's completely gorgeous, likes to smoke cigars, has an amazing voice... I could go on and on. So, naturally, while enjoying the show as much as is possible while being smooshed on all ends, I tried to raise a hand out and grab her attention. Of course that didn't happen. No, instead I got a fucking steel-toe to the head while someone decided to crowd surf... to The Cardigans... like a fucking moron... leaving me to elbow everyone around me so that I could make room and look desperately for my glasses that got knocked to the floor.

Luckily I found them.

After their set, Claire and I made our way out of the crowd and met up with our friends. As great as the show was, something just wasn't right. Here was this moment, a great show with one of my favorite bands, this opportunity, this woman that I completely adored within, quite possibly, the shortest distance she would ever be from me and it was disappearing.

We were all sitting on the floor, Claire and I sharing our stories of the set from our perspective with the rest of the group, talking about being so close, my glasses falling, the idiot that kicked me in the fucking head... and the whole time I couldn't sit still. I was fidgeting, couldn't get comfortable, and just overall annoyed. It wasn't so much that I ever thought I'd have a chance or anything ridiculous like that at all. Rather, I just kept thinking about a conversation I had with claire a couple months before the show saying that, if the opportunity ever came up, I would introduce myself to Nina. Claire said the same about Bengt.

It was a team effort.

That's what did it—that's what annoyed me. It was the fact that I said I would and I just wasn't... and I was fed up with myself.

So, I stood up.

"I'll be right back."

almost immediately i bumped (quite literally) into the on-air personality for live 105 that announced the cardigans.

"i need to meet them."

he laughed. "well, see that guy heading towards back stage? that's their manager. you can try talking to him."

"thanks."

somehow i refrained from running.

i made my way to the back stage entrance. their manager had already made his way in, just out of sight.

"i'm trying to get a hold of the cardigans."

"sorry. i can't let you back here."

"oh, i know that. i'm just wondering if there's a way you can get a hold of their manager for me. he just walked in."

"sorry. can't help you there."

"mind if i sit here and wait for him?"

she chuckled. "sure."

i planted myself to the floor and sat.

at this point, things got very surreal and dream-like. after what seemed like a combination of a couple minutes and an eternity, i happened to shift my gaze from the floor a bit to the right. that's when i saw the bottom of a pair of capri's and heels followed by a small group of men's shoes making their way toward me.

i stood up.

the very second i finished getting up and dusting my hands off, nina stepped right in front of me. the sudden appearance shocked the both of us and we both jumped back a bit.

*insert speechless david*

"uh... hi."

"uh... hi."

*insert pause that seemed to take forever... and probably did*

"my name's david. i'm a big fan."

"oh! hi david. i'm nina."

we shook hands and then she proceeded to introduce me to the rest of the band. there was a short exchange of small talk. i told them how i loved their music and they seemed genuinely appreciative and thanked me.

"i'm sorry. i wish we could chat more but we have a plane to catch."

"oh. no worries. it was very nice meeting you."

"yes, it was nice meeting you too."

that's about when they started to walk toward the side door just a few feet away.

"wait!"

i had no reason to tell them to wait. i'm not even sure why i did at that moment. all i remember is that i needed them to remember me. i needed her to remember me.

i needed to say something quick before i looked like more of a moron.

"i want you to have this."

people always talk about that split second—you know the one—that split second where your mind races just before you get in an accident and you somehow manage to maneuver out of it. i had that split second. in that split second i was able to decide that she needed to remember me and that my first and last name were engraved on the inside of my high school ring.

i looked down at my hand, took the ring off, and placed it in hers.

i stared at it, in her hand, completely in disbelief of what i had just done.

i looked up at her and saw that she had the same expression on her face.

i looked around and saw that the rest of the band had the same expression on their faces.

"wow.... thank you."

somehow i managed to squeeze out, "you're welcome."

"i'm sorry... we really have to get going."

"i know. have a safe trip."

they thanked me as they waved goodbye on their way out.

it's about that moment where time started to move a bit more regularly. as the door closed behind them, more people that had just recognized them clamored for the door just missing them.

i looked over to my left. the security guard at the entrance to the back stage area was still standing there.

she had that same expression of disbelief on her face.

"wow," she said.

"yeah."

"that was amazing."

"i know."

slowly, i made my way back to my friends with an enormous grin on my face. i sat down.

"what?"

i sat there.

"what are you smiling at?

i sat there.

"no... no! you didn't!"

"i did."

it wasn't so much the fact that it was nina. granted, that played a huge role. what really put me over the edge about that was the fact that, just a couple months before, i told claire that i would meet her. i told her that i needed a mission, so i picked one that i figured was near impossible. a short time later, it happened.

mission: accomplished.

after that first mission, i set my sights on others... others that i thought were near impossible, like meeting bis. i accomplished that one as well, but that's another story for another time.

it's time to bring that back; i think i need a new mission.

Posted by zulaica at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2003

RTFM

It's really simple, yet, while some do get it, an overwhelming number of people simply don't. I'm here to spell it out.

Regarding conversational differences between females and males, generally speaking:

Understand this and life will be much simpler easier.

* = Solutions not guaranteed.

Posted by zulaica at 01:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack