Skip the part in blue if you only want to read about the show. This is my form letter to my friends about the trip! I'll upload some photos to share this weekend.

Becky

I flew out of the Jackson airport about 7:00 am on Friday morning. Both the flight to Cincinnati and the connecting flight to Boston were turbulent and I learned that "less drowsy" Dramamine really isn't. LOL Sonya met me at the baggage claim in Logan airport, so things started off smoothly.

Sonya had to return to work, so I looked around the Harvard museum of natural history and wildlife for a while. We went to the mall and the Cheesecake Factory that night. The next day, Sonya had to work again so I went through the Harvard museum more thoroughly. I saw the display of glass flowers, the prehistoric and taxidermy exhibits, and the rock, mineral, and gemstone exhibits. There's a skeleton of a prehistoric sloth that is so huge that it sort of freaked me out when I rounded the corner and saw it. I couldn't believe that was a SLOTH. I also went through the Peabody museum with it's exhibits devoted to Mesoamerican peoples. They had section devoted to the Dia de los Muertos which I found interesting, and I'm sure you can imagine why!

Saturday night, we stayed in. Sonya wasn't feeling well. We watched The Royal Tannenbaums, which is a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and Gene Hackman about a really screwed up family. Not the greatest film ever made, but okay.

Sunday, Colleen and her mom came to get me so I could spend some time with her. We went to Newburyport, MA to visit some shops and look at some antiques. I couldn't find anything like the stuff my aunt Val's ex brought down from PA when he moved here, so the antique shop was pretty much a bust. It looked more like a flea market, to tell you the truth. We stopped for dinner at roadside ice cream stand.

Colleen doesn't drive, but she has an Explorer (she's getting a divorce and her sorry ass excuse for a husband can't have the vehicle). So I drove her to work on Monday and Tuesday. I was surprised at myself for not being more nervous about driving in MA, but it seems like driving is driving. You just have more cars (=more idiots) to watch out for in MA. LOL I helped her get her job done, then drove to New Hampshire so we could meet with her cousin Doris who helped me fulfill a lifelong dream to visit Vermont. We went through NH into VT and back down through most of NH. The whole area is beautiful. It reminds me somewhat of northeastern TN. We went by the place where The Old Man in the Mountain used to be before it fell, but it was so cloudy we couldn't even see where it used to be. We stopped for lunch at a quaint little hotel and none of us were impressed with the food. Then it was back to Dori's house and Colleen and I went back to her house for the night. The interesting thing I learned on the trip was that NH does not have sales tax or income tax. I'm considering a move!

Tuesday was the big day-- Bon Jovi at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro! Sonya lured me into visiting her in Boston by dangling a Bon Jovi concert in front of my nose. We lived together for two years—she knows my weaknesses. LOL So, even though she wasn't really a fan, she was willing to go. Colleen and I went back to Sonya's to meet her and her friend Laura to leave for the show. Foxboro is about 35 miles from where Sonya lives in Arlington. Note that—35 miles. It took three and one half hours to get there. The traffic getting through Boston and into the concert was unreal! At least the four of us were entertaining to one another. I asked Sonya how her gas was holding up and Colleen thought I asked how her ass was holding up, so that became the catch phrase of the trip. Laura had been a fan back in the 80's and Colleen and I were impressed that she could still name the band members. Sonya and Laura asked about the set lists because they were concerned that they would play all new stuff. I assured them that they would not, even though it would be perfectly fine with me and Colleen if they did! You really could get the opposite ends of the spectrum in that car! You had Laura, a used-to-be fan; Sonya familiar with the radio/video hits; and Colleen and I, the diehards who have been fans over half our lives. I wondered how we would all react to the show.

By the time we got there, the Goos were almost finished with their set. I had hoped to see them again since I've been told their show in Atlanta was not as good as they usually are. But, if it came down to having to miss the GGD's or Sheryl Crow, I'm glad it was the GGD's we missed. We did hear the end of their set in the parking lot while waiting for the porto-potty. Hey, it was a 3 ½ hour drive! We were desperate at that point. Always the one to be prepared, I did have some disposable toilet seat covers in my purse. My friends love me! LOL

We got to our seats between the Goo's set and Sheryl Crow's set. As we walked in, we were greeted with bolts of lightening and claps of thunder which made the audience cheer. Maybe those Yankees are a bit different than we are in the South, but the idea of being struck by lightening didn't seem like such a happy prospect to me. Ah, but I had been telling Sonya it would rain at the show since I booked the tickets in April. I came, ponchos in hand. It sprinkled off and on during Sheryl's set. It was funny that at one point she merely mentioned Bon Jovi and it started to rain again. She dedicated "Strong Enough" to them and thanked them for inviting her to open for them. She also told the audience that a Bon Jovi show was an appropriate place to be wet and the ladies would know exactly what she meant by that. Her set included mostly hits, of which she has a ton: A Change Would Do You Good, If It Makes You Happy, My Favorite Mistake, All I Want to Do, Soak up the Sun (what sun?), and There Goes the Neighborhood among others including a cover of The First Cut is the Deepest. I thoroughly enjoyed her set and can understand the feeling of wanting to see "the hits" at a show because that's what I wanted to see from her, just as the hits were what Sonya and Laura wanted from Bon Jovi. I think the president of Sheryl's fan club was a few rows in front of me. There was one chick who had this synchronized arm/boobie wiggle hand clap thing going constantly. I simply referred to her as Ms. Happy Clappy and was pleased she worked her way elsewhere during Bon Jovi's set so I didn't constantly see her annoying arms. I imagine Sheryl has the same effect on men that Jon does on women. She's very beautiful and talented. She played for over an hour, which was both good and bad. I enjoyed her, so it wasn't like putting up with an opening act that was bad or boring, but I was also ready for her to go away and Bon Jovi to come out and play.

Colleen and I were on the 12th row, center, at the end closer to Dave's side. It's not as good as I usually get, but it was still a great view. Sonya and Laura were in A1, row 25, but made their way up some as the show went on. Colleen and I constantly had to move in and out of the row so the local lushes could go back and forth for one beer after another at $6.50 each. If they just wanted to get drunk, why did they pay $80 to sit there? I still think it's so ludicrous to sell alcohol at an event that will send thousands of drivers into congested traffic.

Bon Jovi hit the stage around 9:00 as it got dark and turned in a 2 ½ hour show. They started with Bounce... and rain. Bounce was great in a stadium setting. Bad Name followed, which I was glad they played early. I really find that song a bore, even if it does go over so well. Everyday was a blast live! I'd Die for You was next. It's still as intense as it was years ago when I saw it for the first time. Jon started Prayer a cappella and the audience took over. I have to say the audience in Boston wasn't as into it as they were in Atlanta earlier this year. Captain Crash was fun with the audience in participation mode doing a bouncey wave. Colleen and I both freaked out and started screaming and jumping up and down when we heard the intro to KTF. We had missed it in Atlanta and were glad to see it was back in the set. The lushes gave us looks like we were crazy for reacting so strongly to a song. Jon only did one jungle scream... we got jipped! LOL Wanted followed with Jon and Richie turning up the coolness factor. They went to the back of the stage for the intro and made their way forward. Indeed, they rocked us all. At the end of Wanted, I noticed Jon motion to Hugh to come over, which you usually don't see at the end of Wanted—it's always Jon and Richie doing their male bonding. Jon told Hugh something and what followed was another screaming fit from me and Colleen as the opening notes to Fever began and we looked at each other screaming "Fever!" Jon was a total sex kitten in his delivery of that song. Purrrrrrrr. I knew that Fever would lead us into Bed of Roses and I was happy to hear it again. I've always thought some of Richie's best guitar work live came from that song. Jon dedicated It's My Life to his friends in the New England Patriots camp. Needless to say, the audience was wild for that one.

The Distance was done beautifully! Jon's voice... oh my god... I can just melt into that man's voice. I even shushed Colleen and asked her to "just listen" because, well, as much as I love Colleen, I would rather hear JON singing!!! LOL I want to go back to that moment, that song. Runaway followed in it's fast original form. Just Older followed it with Jon doing a football parody about making a play, Sambora catching, and it was good—touchdown. More male bonding from Jon and Richie. Awwww. Aren't they sweet? At one point in the show, Jon sat and marveled at the longevity of their career and the fans coming back year after year. Even with thousands and thousands of people, he made it an intimate moment. It's probably not the first time he's said such things, but the sincerity was there. I guess it would be—how could you not be moved looking at a vast crowd singing your words back to you?

Saturday Night was one of the highlights of the show. Jon did an extended speech toward the end that sounded like you were listening private conversation between Jon and whoever the lucky "you" is. He was in his own little world and as he looked up for the stars that he said he could count on, he took the audience with him, celebrating the fact that even in hard times, being alive is something to hold onto. He repeated, "I am alive" for emphasis. It was an intense ending.

At one point, girls kept escaping from the fan pit. After the first one Jon told us that she just wanted us to know she loved him. Later he said, "We've been showering together for two hours, we might as well get to the good stuff" or something along those lines. During In These Arms, Jon his made his way into the audience and made contact with many fans. It looked as though he might come down the aisle right beside me, but he turned. Dammit. He returned to the stage with his shirt ripped open and a new cap. I think this was the first time I saw them do In These Arms. I'm sure it was. It's one of my favorite songs and I know they didn't do it at either show I saw in 1993. Next came Richie singing I'll Be There for You. I miss Jon singing it—would rather hear Richie do one of his solo songs or a different band song. But it's nice to see him get a positive reaction from the audience rather than sitting and mass exodus. He deserves better than that. Colleen and I had another screaming fit as they started Blood on Blood—her favorite song ever. I think the last time I saw them do that song was Little Rock 1993. It was a THRILL to hear it again. Jon broke a guitar string and had to have a quick guitar change during this song. They followed with Born to Be My Baby with the audience doing extended "na na"'s at the end. Sleep When I Dead came next, a typical performance. The first set ended with Raise Your Hands which went over very well.

Our encores were Blaze of Glory which I enjoyed a lot. I always love listening to the crowd sing along. The usual Bad Medicine/Shout ending summed up the show. Jon did a great job on the "yeah"'s in Shout. He also ripped his shirt which led to a female frenzy. I care more about how he sounds and performs than how he looks, but I have to admit that the man is a total package. He's got intelligence, talent, charisma, and showmanship all wrapped up in a drop-dead-gorgeous from head to toe body. His energy and charm add so much to the musical performance to make it a completely entertaining experience.

After the show, Colleen and I searched for Sonya and Laura and eventually were found by them. We couldn't find the sign where we agreed to meet! Either my or Sonya's cell wouldn't work well for us to call each other. I think it was hers because I called my friend Julie back home during KTF to let her listen to part of the show. Unfortunately, it turned out that I called my mom instead of Julie so my mom sat on the phone wondering why she was listening to the concert while Julie sat in her living room telling her husband that I was dog because I was at a Jovi show without her. I really, really wish she'd been able to go too. It took about 2 hours to get out of the parking lot and we got home around 2:00 am.

Sonya and Laura have been converted to fans. They want to see another show. Colleen and I were on our own Cloud 9 for having seen another great show. Different people experience the concerts on different levels, but the end result was that we all had a wonderful time, felt it was worth every penny to get there (lots of pennies when you fly Delta!), and were left wanting MORE. Flying home the next evening, I was thinking about booking a flight to Cincinatti to catch another show. That notion was stomped flat by the air fare rates. Sonya and Laura, who basically went to Foxboro just for the hell of it, are looking into finding a way to another show in the northeast. When a concert leaves you with that kind of feeling, it's been a success. When people who weren't really fans prior leave the show so impressed that they want to buy the Cds they don't have and make it to another show, the band has done their job well.

Wednesday involved taking Colleen home, shopping with Sonya, putting down a new rug in her living room, going to lunch, and catching the plane. From Boston, I was co-pilot. Okay, not really, but a pilot sat next to me. Another girl boarded the plane wearing a Jovi shirt and she saw mine and asked if I went to the show and I told her I did. She was from California. Our plane left Boston late and I got to my gate in Cincinatti just in time to board. Then we sat on the runway forever while they tried to figure out why there was an extra passenger on board. It was only a 50 seater plane. We were delayed leaving by about 30 minutes. I thought it was odd that it was still so light after 9:00 pm (eastern) there. I got into Jackson about 9:30 (central), on time, because they flew faster than normal. I went home, saw my cats and dogs, and crashed. Then I had to be at work at 7:30 the next morning.

All in all, it was a great trip, with only a few problems which were worked around. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Actually, I'd do it again next week if it didn't cost over $1000 per ticket to fly out again.

So until the next time I shower with Jon and several thousand of our closest friends... keep the faith. Scream, baby, scream!

Becky