Our good friend Martin was in on it and helped maintain the charade we were going to the High Museum of Art (conveniently at the same MARTA exit) and that they were having an outdoor event, which is why we brought a blanket. The secret was maintained until after we got off the MARTA train at the Arts Center and I confirmed for a concert volunteer we were headed to the concert so we could get street directions on which way to walk. Mom was totally shocked and then so excited.
Seating was unassigned, but we got a decent spot near the top of a hill where we squeezed into maybe three square feet of real estate between other peoples' blankets. An Irish band opened before Paul came on stage close to 8:45pm (lots of waiting and sore/numb backsides from sitting on the ground since 5pm when we were told the concert would start). But oh, was it worth it!
Yes, Paul is older. But his facial expressions and his eyes were still those of the boy from Liverpool, delighting in the response of the crowd and sometimes full of mischief. And that was sexy. Seeing him onstage live (THANK GOD they had two big screens on each side of the stage to show him in clear detail for those of us half a mile from the stage!) and in person was incredible. I was surrounded by so many people who LOVED the Beatles when they were in their teenage years and many of us who were raised on the Beatles by those same teenagers of the 60s. What an awesome energy in the crowd (and no, it had nothing to do with all the joints that were being lit up all over. wow!). It seemed everyone was full of awe and appreciation for this man. His talent. His voice. And his charisma.
Cameras weren't allowed, so I was limited to the camera on my cell phone which is great for up-close, but not for far-away details. Here you can see the two looooong screens hanging on either side of the stage and these are where live video of Paul on the stage was magnified up for all to see.
And here it looks like a blur of lights in the pic, but in person I could very clearly see every detail of Paul. Oh Paul, you still rock!
I haven't been to a music concert in over fifteen years (I know, that's a long time but I just really don't like being in crowds. At all), but this was well worth coming out to see. Walking two miles, sitting on the ground for three hours waiting for Paul and feeling my butt go numb, getting soaked to the bone during a 45 minute cats n dogs rainstorm, standing for two and a half hours while my feet went numb, long port-a-potty lines, walking two miles back soaking wet....none of that mattered.
I got to see McCartney!
And for the second time in her life, so did my Mom :D
p.s. BIG THANKS go out to my husband for staying home with our kids and Martin's son to feed them, entertain them and get them to bed. It was a surprise for all of us that the concert would not be ending until after 11pm and we wouldn't be home till midnight.
