My husband, who is moderately tolerant of my celebrity boyfriend, had been trying to get me to go away on a little trip by myself for the past few weeks. He understands that staying home full-time to mother a toddler can at times feel like herding a chimpanzee (a cute, verbal chimpanzee, but a chimp nonetheless). And while a little trip to the beach or wherever always sounded good, the details of trying to arrange such a thing around my husband’s travel schedule, finding babysitters, etc. just seemed too overwhelming and I just never really got around to it.
Now, for months I had been mourning the fact that I would not get to see Clay’s Christmas show, as he was primarily touring on the east coast. During my kid’s naptime, I downloaded concert videos taken by fans and read concert recaps written by other lucky fans on the discussion board where I “lurk”, wishing that I could go but knowing that it would be completely unrealistic to just drop everything to fly across the country for a concert 2 days before Christmas.
Which is why I had such a great time!
About a week before the concert, my husband surprised me with travel, hotel and concert ticket arrangements for the very last concert of Clay’s Christmas tour. He knew that I would never be able to say “no” to Clay, and so he arranged a date for me with my celebrity boyfriend for Christmas. I have the bestest husband EVER!
This was my first time away from my daughter, and it was very bizarre to be walking the airport or the mall without a stroller. I did not have to prepare and tote around five separate snacks (just in case the first four are deemed unacceptable) and the only person’s behavior I was responsible for was my own. I felt very…light. Saturday morning I walked to the mall by my hotel and reveled in the fact that I could try on shoes, and go into tiny, unstroller-friendly shops. I spent the rest of the afternoon in my hotel room reading and watching movies on TV. I even bought a candy bar in order to complete the scene of decadent laziness.
And then, all of a sudden it was time to get ready for the concert!
(Warning! Fangirl ahead!)
Allow me to introduce my celebrity boyfriend, Clay Aiken.
This picture was taken Saturday night by somebody with a much nicer camera and better photographic skills than I possess. You can see that he even dressed up for our date. I especially liked the tie. He is such a classy celebrity boyfriend.You may remember him from the second season of American Idol, or more recently when he made headlines because a certain bleached-blonde daytime TV hostess used her LIVE! show to go off on an unprofessional rant about him and show herself to be the jealous two-faced shrew she truly is.
But I digress.
Clay reminds me of some of my friends in high school; somewhat nerdy guys who were also incredibly smart, funny, and talented, but who never really got a chance to shine because the Cool Kids could never see beyond the exterior. Clay is the antithesis of superficial celebrity, but unfortunately he still has to deal with the Cool Kids of the entertainment industry who don’t feel like he belongs in “their” club. It always amazes me how “adults” suddenly revert to junior high when their egos are threatened.
Clay is very smart, and has an amazing amount of courage and grace. While the reptiles who run tabloid magazines make up outrageous stories about him, and his peers stumble out of bars half-undressed trying to make headlines, he has quietly completed his undergraduate degree in special education, started his own charity to promote inclusion of disabled children, become an ambassador for Unicef, and was recently appointed to serve on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
And he sings, too!
As his fans already know, a Clay Aiken concert is really something that you just have to experience. Nobody can sing about Christmas quite like Clay, but he is also incredibly entertaining and quick-witted, and enjoys bantering with the audience between songs. He was wickedly funny that night, and the fact that it was just his voice and the symphony to accompany him was very special. I have seen him perform “Mary Did You Know?” many times on TV and in concert videos, and this time was the truly The Best. At the end of “Don’t Save It All for Christmas Day” he got rid of the microphone and sang the last line so powerfully and strong that I know the people up in the nosebleed section could still hear him clearly, and he sang “All Is Well” as an encore, complete with the “glory notes” he is famous for.
I was sitting in the first row of the orchestra section, which is the closest seat I have ever had at a concert. At one point he was looking directly at me and singing, and so I smiled at him, and he smiled back! EEEEEEEE! I think that this must mean that we are engaged. Do you think that my husband will object?
After the concert was over, I let myself get swept out of the auditorium with the rest of the crowd while I moped about how it was all over too quickly, and found myself in the parking lot, looking at The Tour Bus. Now, it is a Known Fact among the fans that Clay will come out after the show and thank everyone before hopping on the bus and heading to the next venue. I realized that this might be my only opportunity to participate in this Ultimate Fangirl Experience, so I decided to wait.
Eventually, Clay and his security people came out of the venue to much cheering and applause, and went into the bus. We were directed to form a line along the back edge of the sidewalk, which we did quickly and efficiently because we are nothing if not well-trained fans. The line stretched down the entry and around the corner, and Clay was brought to the end of the line with 2 security people and worked his way back toward the bus.
He was wearing grey sweats and a blue hooded sweatshirt. He is very tall. He looked me right in the eyes and said “Merry Christmas!” and squeezed my hand. I could feel the rough edge of the ring he wears on his right index finger. And then he moved on down the line. The whole thing probably lasted less than two seconds. I felt like I was now an official Crazy and Enthusiastic Fan. Yay me!
While waiting for a taxi to come take me back to the hotel, I met several other fans from New York, California, and Texas staying at the same place. One of them is a poster on the fan discussion board where I lurk (*waves to auntdementia*). I never get a chance to talk with other fans, and so I met up with them back at the hotel for dessert and had a great time. Clay Aiken fans really are the nicest people.
On the flight back home the next morning, I got to sit in first class. I finished my second book of the trip, read a magazine, and gazed out the window while I reclined and was served snacks, dinner, and a few rum & cokes. It was like having a butler wait on you in your living room.
And then I was home again.
I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful husband who is smart enough to know when I needed a break and man enough to arrange to send me away to see my celebrity boyfriend. This goes down in history as truly my Best Christmas Gift Ever.
