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Oh Holy Night, Stroudsburg, PA
Sometimes plans work out, sometimes not. More about that later. At Foxwoods I met Dawn, SF, Bubbly, TOfan, refnaf, djxox, river, rapture, ninaf, knotliser and her daughter Nora and so many others I had not met till that day. Lots of hugs and introductions all around. Everyone who came within my reach was handed a CFTH Tour Live CD. Sharing David’s music is a passion of mine.
The VIP was nice. When it was time to go inside for sound check, I was able to get a 2nd row seat! The big screens were on during sound check and David kept glancing at them as he sang. I think the reality of the importance of the Billboard Live stream was finally sinking in. David sang Happy Birthday to a girl named Katie who was in a wheelchair and was near the stage. He leaned down close to sing to her. She was the happiest girl in the world for that moment in time. It was very emotional for all of us.
I found my seat for the concert and it was in the first row! Yes! This was a hope I had cherished for so many concerts and here it was at last! Dawn and I sat on the left end of center section. I looked to my right and the next fifteen seats across the front were filled with all my online friends. We could not have planned such a perfect experience, all of us sitting together on the first row like that. Security told us no video or be removed from the theater. Djxox is a hero! She sat quietly with her camera in her lap and only looked into the lens occasionally as if taking still shots. She captured many videos that were perfection.
The show began and every song was so full of energy pulled from the crowd’s love. At one point David announced the Billboard Live streaming to the world. He thanked all the fans in the theater and those watching online and waved to all the international fans, saying he wished he could see them. The Christmas set was so well done. He hit every note and filled every heart and soul in that theater with his voice. He owned the stage and I could see the respect in the eyes of his fellow musicians. Steve, the guitarist, often gave David a thumbs up or a nod of approval.
After the show, I met with most of the ladies mentioned previously, at a dinner in the casino. We talked nonstop about David. Surprise!
The next morning, Dawn, refnaf, TOfan and I, all headed in Dawn’s car to Stroudsburg. Fun times listening to the live CD and refnaf’s ipod selections of party remixes of David’s songs. We made it safely in about four hours and dropped the Snowangelz off at their hotel, then found a parking spot for the night. The VIP was a LONG wait. I met Burkey and her daughter, KT, archiesfan4life, Zoe and some men from FOD. I love that men come to the shows to see David, rather than simply as drivers. More CD’s given and hugs exchanged all around.
At this show we had seats on the right side 3rd row. It was a small place so the sound was LOUD from the speakers ten feet from our seats. Dawn and I bonded with an usher who told us she had never heard of David before, but liked his rehearsal very much. A fan had given her his CFTH CD, so we told her to be sure and get it signed after the show if she could. By the end of the first pop song she was toast! She had a seat on the aisle in front of us. She turned around and gushed, “He is GOOD!” Fangirl in the making FTW! She cried at Ave Maria. We had warned her this was going to be a concert she would never forget. By the end of “Oh Holy Night” the usher had her CFTH Cd in hand, anxious to bring it backstage for David Archuleta to autograph for posterity.
I am not the religious type, but something happened at the end of Oh Holy Night in Stroudsburg. As we were leaving up the side aisle, folks were talking about how he looked at the end of it. Many hands covered dropped jaws. David sang the high notes and the beams of light surrounded him. He literally disappeared into the light and emerged as an angel. It was stunning. Not at any show have I seen this phenomenon occur. I wasn’t looking for it; it just happened. Something heavenly and spiritual happened. I know it. I witnessed it.
With blizzard conditions predicted for the Northeast, I decided to go back home to Massachusetts the next morning by train, missing Boston and Westbury. I was able to transfer my VIP’s to other fans with help from Kristen, so I’m glad someone got a chance to see David in my place. So sadly, as I said, my best-laid plans did not all come to pass. My concert experience ended here. But as fate would have it, my story does not. To be continued….
The Voice David Archuleta 