A nice story.Real nice.

So, on Friday, I went to see 'The Swell Season' in concert at The Pageant.  It was the first time I got to see Glen Hansard live (it is officially crossed off of the list), and it was really amazing.  The crowd was great (not too rowdy, yet, totally, ready to hear some great music), the energy was so charged with anticipation, yet calm and serene, and the band...well, the band was unbelievablly incredible.  It was like a dream.  I know that sounds over the top, but I cannot express in words what seeing them 'for reals' was like.  Music has such a hypnotic power over me.  I have great amounts of respect for musicians and songwriters.  It is such an amazing art form.  Words with music.  To me, it seems like such a sacrafice to put a settled kind of life on hold, so that you may bring your 'art' to people the world over.  But, I suppose to them they are just doing what they were born to do.  What makes them who they are. 

Okay, enough Glen love.  Onto to the meat of this story...

So, I go to the show with Big Jake and my cousin, Michelle.  It was fantastic. 

Afterwards, we meet up with my sister, my bestie, my cousins, and their other halves at Pin-Up Bowl (a retro-ish bar and bowling alley where you can order Pop-Tarts, how cool is that?!).  We had a great time talking and laughing.  Throughout the night there were lots of jokes about Glen popping into the bar (it was next door to the venue) and sweeping me off of my feet and onto the tour bus.  Ha, ha!  Jake even said he'd let me go.  It was all very comical.  Then, we decided our tummies were hungry for some late night greasy spoon food, so, we packed it up to head to Courtesy Diner for some slingers. 

We all parked behind The Pageant, but on different ends.  So, our motley crew split up in two different directions; my sister, Christy, Tony, and Emily one way, and Jake, Michelle, and I the other way.  On the way around the building, I was thinking to myself how ironic it would be if the band was getting on the bus to head out just as we were walking to the car.  Apparantly, the other group was thinking the same thing.  We must have both reached the back around the same time, and when we did...well, HOLY CRAPTASTIC! 

There standing in a group of 15-20 people in the balmy 20 degree St.Louis temps, was Glen and Marketa!  They were talking with the group of fans, signing autographs, being so gracious, and, basically, just oozing coolness. 

Here's the Glen/Beth convo breakdown:

me: Hi, would you mind getting a picture with me?

Glen (in his wicked Irish accent): Yeah, yeah!  Sure!  Just after this picture, cool?

me (swoon, trying to hold my cool factor together, and failing miserably): Awesome.  Thanks!

Yes, I think I said awesome.  Lame.  I know. 

Let me just say, that I am not one to be mesmerized by fame, celebrity, or the like.  I'm not even sure Brad Pitt or Jude Law would make me a crazed, fanatical mess.  It's just never been my thing.  I think I had a Grateful Dead and a Phish poster on my wall in high school, not a poster of Corey Haim, if you're pickin' up what I'm puttin' down.  But, to have someone I respect and admire so much from afar standing right next to me.  Someone who's creative genius speaks to me in such an enigmatic way...well, it was surreal to say the least.  I was one smitten kitten. 

After that, Marketa Irglova (who is as cute as a little pixie that I wanted to stick in my pocket) posed with me for a money shot.  They, also, both signed my ticket stub. 

I sound like a big weirdo, I know. To put it into perspective for you, pick one famous person you would want to meet, that you not only have a super secret crush on, but greatly esteem.  Now, imagine how you would feel.  That's how it was for me times 5,734,398,380.  Seriously. 

I'm still a mess over it.  I've just been randomly smiling, or watching some of the video I shot of the set, and getting giddy.  Aside from my wedding day, and the birth of my 4 children (duh), it was quite possibly one of the best nights ever.  I think what made it so great, was that it was so unexpected, so impromptu,  AND I got to share it with some of my all time favorite people who were so happy for me (some of my posse even had tears).  The stars were aligned, JC was sharing a smile with me right at that very moment.

And, just because even I thought it was funny...
My cousin, Tony, (God love him) nicely stated, "I don't see what the big deal is...he looks like Yukon Cornelius." 

Touche!
Alright, alright, I'll give him a pass on this one, because in this particular case, it's utterly true.  Yukon, or not, Glen is still scrumptious.  Thanks for the laugh, anyway, Tony.