Prudential Center @ Newark, NJ - 1/31/09 & 2/1/09

January 22nd was like any other non-Metallica day. I get home from work and from picking up Jayda. I drop all my crap at the door and try to figure out what’s for dinner. Like usual, I check email almost immediately. Hmmmm, this is strange. I got an email from MetClub that stated “Meet and Greet 2/1/09...” WTF? ARE YOU SERIOUS? Oh my God, I won a M&G! I wondered did they see my sign from the Philly show? It's pretty crazy that after all this time, I hold up my first sign, and low and behold, less than 1 week later an email shows up stating I got M&G passes. You would think that I was going to the Grammy’s or something because I felt special! I was going to meet Metallica! It was about freakin time! Wait, what will I have them sign? What would I say to them?

So on my agenda was a BIG trip to Jersey. A close girlfriend of mine, Christine, lives right outside of NYC in Jersey, so I combined the 2 Jersey shows with visiting her. My parents babysat my daughter, Jayda for the weekend. I missed her, but I was in heaven to say the least. Three whole nights off from what seems to be the most difficult job I’ve ever had. I decided to fly, and that was fine, except for the part where I flew into and out of JF-Freakin-K Airport! This place is HUGE! When I got off the plane, I thought to myself, "Where the hell do I pick up my rental car?" Oh, you have to take this train to the rental car place. What? Apparently the train system is a part of JFK, and it’s so big that you actually had to take a train to what was still considered part of JFK to the rental car place. I finally got my car with GPS. Oh yah, did I mention that I’ve never used GPS. So I type in the address, and set out for the next part of my journey. JFK is so damn confusing that I screwed it up so much that the computer didn’t even have time to recalculate and turn me around before I screwed up again! I drove for about 45 minutes and ended up back at the car rental place.

Long story short [Ed. Too late! ;)], I finally made it to Christine’s house. She had a party with all the girls that night. There was a bunch of food, beer, etc. You name it, she had it. I made plans with my Jersey partner in crime, Rita, who would be my guest on my last “floor” show (Jersey show #1). I had seats for the 2nd Jersey show because I knew I’d be wiped out from show #1 and would have people with me who might not be able to handle watching the show from the rail. But, it all worked out good because I got to do my M&G (for Jersey show #2) and return to my seat to soak the whole show in, and didn’t have to have some sucky non-rail floor spot.

Picture from MetOnTour.com

The night before show #1, Rita asked me, "When does the show start?" Seven. "When do the doors open?" Five. "We’re leaving when?" Eleven. WTF?!?! I explained why we had to leave so early, and she accepted. She is such a trooper. The next morning Christine made us a fabulous breakfast and sends us out the door with goodies, sandwiches, chips, etc. She is the hostess with the mostest. We arrived and ended up second in line. It was cold and torturous that day, but we made it. Some people in line decided to order pizza, which was great. Having had sandwiches I was more interested in holding the box, or letting the steam from the hot pizza warm up my face. It was funny hearing them try to explain to the pizza guy where to deliver the pizzas. Remember, we were standing in line on one of the sides of this HUGE arena - the Prudential Center.

I had positioned things right and was the FIRST one into the venue. First I walked, and felt like a queen, then I walked faster, and faster, got my silly wrist band, and got down to the floor and went in the wrong stupid curtains! Quickly realizing my mistake, I came out and ran through the other curtains, caught up with everyone else and both Rita and I got a spot on the rail. Aww yeah! For this night I gave Rita one of my other VA Fuel shirts to wear, and I wore a Metallica jersey that I bought back at a show in San Francisco. This was the same jersey that Rob wears at almost every show. The jersey is made for a guy, not a metal chick. I had my mom alter it to make it fit me better, and she did a fantastic job because nobody noticed unless I told them. Anyway, it was cool to be the only person I saw wearing it, and I just know Rob noticed - he had to! Again, cool show as expected. Rita loved it! She lost her voice, and was just in awe. When Rita and I got back to Christine's place, Christine just got home from work, so we got to chill a little bit and set plans for my last night of Metallica, and my Meet and Greet...

Now, let me give a little background on this whole Meet and Greet thing. The night I first met Joanna, we were at Nissan Pavilion (6/28/98). We had awesome seats, and after that I joined the MetClub, and subsequently, Virginia Fuel. Back then M&G's were obtained by seniority, the first chance I had to use my MetClub card I was the next group to be called when it got cut off and no more MetClubbers could go to the M&G. So, I said to myself, "It’s ok. Next time I’m definitely in." Somewhere around 2000, the switched from seniority to the lottery system. Argh!!! But here it is, 2009, and I finally got what I’ve been waiting for all these years. It’s a good thing really, because I am a different person now, and so are they...

February 1st, I wake up, and cannot believe it’s the day. I finally decided to get each band member to sign my black Metallica Christmas bulb in silver metallic ink. Got it - check. Now I had one more thing for each one to sign. Years ago, my friend and fellow Fueler, Amy met the guys and told Rob how much I dug him. So when she met him at a M&G he wrote a note on her ticket envelope saying “To Jeannette: Where R U? Rob” So I brought the envelope to show him that and sign it again.

Then, I decided that I needed to talk with Kirk about Amy. Metallica has played a very special role in Amy's past, especially Kirk. So, I was going to have him write a note to her too. I didn’t have anything else for Lars to sign, but that was okay. I had a promise to keep. Years earlier when I went to the shows at the Fillmore [Ed. May 18/19/21/22, 2003], my Godson made a Shrinky Dink for me that just said “Metallica”. He thought I would meet them there and wanted me to give it to them. Well, that didn’t happen. So this time, instead of having Lars sign something, I’d give him the Shrinky Dink and one of my Doctor's business cards. My doctor told me before I left to make sure they knew he’d fly anywhere in the world to give them free cardiac treatment/intervention. So, Lars would get these items.

Now for James. I hold James close to my heart. What started as a schoolgirl crush for the long haired bad boy has evolved into a deep respect for, sincere concern for, and an ongoing personal growth experience. As I get older, I find that the things I once wanted to say to him were no longer the things I would say now. The things I liked before didn’t matter and the things I did want to talk to him about would take hours. I have dreamt about having discussions with him. Seriously, one dream I remember we sat on the corner in my neighborhood at the mailbox. From marriage, to rehab, to continued sobriety, children, milestone birthdays, family values and spirituality...I care about this man! I know this sounds a little gonzo. But he impacted my life with the music first, then with his ongoing trials and tribulations, his willingness to change, becoming a better man and continuing to follow his dream. He’s just got a spot in my heart. I think he’s a beautiful person, inside and out. I decided I wanted James to sign the “gratitude list” that he’d written in So What! when he was in rehab/fresh out of rehab. What he wrote comforted and impacted me tremendously then and still does today.

I chose to wear a t-shirt that read simply, “Its ok, I’m with the band” and a blouse to go over it. My girlfriends dropped me off, and in I went. I saw everyone in line, and wanted to be with them, but not in the cold, and not at the cost of my M&G!! So I walk into the lobby, wondering how the whole thing would work, and how I was going to know who this person was that was going to lead me to my dream. I notice a little group of people gathered with what appeared to be different pieces of Metallica paraphernalia, and I asked if they were there for the M&G. I found the spot. So we chatted, and it turned out almost had won the M&G on the radio, and the number of actual Clubbers was less than that. I was surprised, perhaps 8 Clubbers, maybe 12 radio winners?

My new Metallica friend - Jenn

I eventually befriended a girl named Jenn, who was just as psyched as I was. She is a clubber from up north who teaches band and plays various instruments including guitar. She brought some cool stuff to get signed - her guitar faceplates. She also had her 7-8th grade band class record a Metallica song for each one of the guys to listen to. They loved it, but that’s her story! We made an agreement early on that I would take pictures for her, and she would take pictures for me. We all got our “M&G” sticker on our shirts (it kinda felt like an all important badge, kinda like wearing a tiara in public without the princess feeling) and listened to all the rules. Each member would sign 2 things. If you want them to sign body parts ASK before flashing, and don’t even bother to ask Kirk because he won’t do it. Stand against the wall. They would take one picture of us with our own camera with each band member that came out, etc.

The first one out was Kirk. He made his way down the line, signed a few posters, albums, etc. I was the first girl in the row so, I watched as the guys just did the signatures, and then BAM! He got stuck talking to me. I was very comfortable with Kirk. I didn’t expect him to be any different than he is on video, interviews, etc. He was just cool. I explained that he’d met Amy years ago, and why, and he remembered her! So I asked him to write the note to her - he seemed genuinely glad that he was reminded of her, was updated, and had a chance to communicate with her. I had him sign my bulb, got my picture taken with him, and that was about it.

Next came Rob. Now THIS was cool, because now he’s the one I have the schoolgirl crush on. It’s the hair, man! Learn this gentlemen! Women dig long hair! I told him that I thought his energy, vibe, openness and ability were exactly what the band needed, and that I think he was a Godsend for us. I said something about Suicidal and Infectious Grooves, and he was just all smiles the whole time. Very cool guy. NO, I didn’t ask if I could braid his hair. I wanted to, but didn’t. And this is where Jeff will kill me because I don’t remember if it was Rob or Kirk that mentioned about my shirt and said it was cool. If I had written this when I was supposed to, I would have remembered! Meeting Rob seemed to go really fast. I did have him sign the bulb, and showed him the note he’d written me years ago, and explained it, and then I boldly professed, “Well here I am!!!!” So he wrote, “Jen, we finally meet! Rob 2009.” After Rob left, we waited for a long time. Worry began to set in that there wasn’t going to be time for Lars and James, but we remained confident that they’d come out. On the other hand, time was running out. They had interviews going on...but, all the sudden everyone jumped to their feet...

My NEW schoolgirl crush

Both Lars and James came out together, so it was a double whammy. A little voice inside my head said, "THE MOMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS RIGHT BEFORE YOU JEANNETTE!". I'm sure I was sweating. I made sure I had some gum, and I tried not to shake. Lars went down one side and then James the other. Lars comes up and I introduce myself and thanked him for his music. I told him I met him at the Fillmore and about the time I’d thrown a scrunchie on stage at the Fillmore. He put it on Kirk's head, and Kirk quickly got it off his head like it was dirty underwear. I also told Lars how I was the one that gave James the Virginia Fuel shirt in DC that he picked up and treated it like it was dirty underwear. We laughed, and he apologized. He thanked me for coming out and for being a fan.

Then I got brave enough to give him the Shrinky Dink. This was silly, but a promise is a promise. I hand him this little piece of clear plastic that has “Metallica” written on it - about 1/3 inch by 1.5 inches big. I tell him it’s a Shrinky Dink that my Godson made years ago that I’d promised to give the band. He looked at me like I was insane. Jenn and I had decided he would probably be the best one to give it to, (I don’t remember why, or if it was just that I had nothing else) so I wasn’t sure why the odd look. D'oh! He had NO IDEA what a Shrinky Dink was. He’s freakin Danish! [Ed. I'm American and I don't even know what a "Shrinky Dink" is!] So I had to explain it’s this stuff you color/write on, bake, and it shrinks. He was kinda like, “Ummm...okay...whatever you say!” So I told him a promise is a promise, and then gave him the business card. He said “Well I hope we won’t need this anytime soon!” But he did thank me and was on his way.

Here's a business card from my doctor!

James was the last one, and the perfect way to end the M&G. When he walked up, he almost looked at me as if to say, “Okay, what do you have for me to sign,” But, I just looked at him, and smiled, and took a big obvious deep breath. Then he smiled probably thinking to himself, “Oh boy, what’s gonna happen?!” So I kinda scooted around the side and tried to speak to him a little more privately. I had him sign the bulb, and during this I tried to explain some why I respect and love him. I told him that I was afraid we’d lost him (when he checked into rehab), and how when I was so happy and relieved that he got his life together. Of course, there are a few things I just want to keep for myself here, but I pulled out the "gratitude list," and showed it to him. He put his hand over his mouth and said, “I remember that. Wow...” I told him that was when I knew he’d gotten "it," and how proud I was of him. Even though he’d signed it in the So What! years before, I had him sign it again. I asked him for a hug, started to cry, and apologized for doing so. And in the coolest way, he said, “Don’t worry about it, that’s real stuff. You can’t stifle that kind of emotion.” This statement alone proved me right - James Hetfield freakin rocks!!! Then I told him everyone there would probably give me hell for crying! I probably took more than my allotted share of time, but, in the end, it was perfect. As I am writing this I am a little teary-eyed. What a cool ass dude!!! So there it is...my M&G.

Hetfield ROCKS!!!

“I remember that. Wow...”

“Don’t worry about it, that’s real stuff. You can’t stifle that kind of emotion.”

Afterwards, Jenn and I walked out together, got a drink, and began to decompress and make sure we weren’t dreaming. We got a bite to eat with another M&G winner, Mark who is from somewhere in New England. Mark had the funniest moment with James at the M&G. It was Mark's birthday, so he wanted James to write something saying “Happy Birthday Mark”. Well, the way he said it, with the strongest accent possible, James looked at him and said “is that Maak as in M.A.A.K??? Hilarious because there was absolutely no “R” in there. I got to the seats to find the girls all there and ready to rock! I briefly tell them about it, and am just struck by the experience. A guy at the M&G was actually leaving and couldn’t stay for the show. He had a GA ticket and gave me his wristband so I could go down if I wanted.

At some point I did go down and managed to get Jeff’s attention on the rail, and told him “mission accomplished”. (“Don’t forget to ask Lars when they’ll be in Virginia next!!!”)
[Ed. Where the HELL is the Norfolk show, Lars? It better be in early 2010!] In between Machine Head and Metallica George and Jeff were on the rail trying to sign Jeff’s cell phone number up to me in the seats so I could give them the 411. After much hilarity, we finally got it right and I told Jeff what I knew. I felt like a good little spy soldier! Metallica came on, and I got to enjoy a whole new show, I hadn’t really known what the lights looked like, the stage from afar, the whole scene. Turns out Maak/Mark had seats right near us, and since I was sitting with the girls, I just went ahead and gave him my wristband so he could go down on the floor. His poor buddy sat there bored as crap the whole time. But, hey, it was Maak’s birthday!

The show was quite spectacular and I could hear it better from where I was sitting. It was also great to watch the show from the seats. I had my girls, some beer, and a memory I was trying to commit to long term, with all the details. The next day Jeff emailed me, “Write it all down NOW, before you forget!” Well, I didn’t get it jotted down until now (April 2009), but I didn’t forget, except for who noticed my shirt. Sorry Jeff! I’ll never forget that night ever. I’m grateful for writing this too, because now I WILL have it written for when I get older. If you actually made it this far in reading, KUDOS to you!!!!

So the typical love story concludes: band finally wakes up...gives girl a Meet and Greet...she is once again love struck...not with band members mind you, but, Metallica the band, the music, and the idea of growing up with and older with them, or, along side them, however you want to look at it...and she lived happily ever after....