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Becky (Beckyd)

I drove up from Rhode Island alone not having a clue how long it was going to take to get there or how much time I'd spend at Yankee Candle in South Deerfield on the way up and ended up at Tanglewood about 2:30pm Saturday afternoon. There were already cars in the Hickory lot so I just pulled in and parked then followed some other people in through the gate behind Ozawa hall and roamed around the campus a bit checking out the lay of the land.
Just as I got near the 'shed' they started what must have been a sound check or something and played the pre-recorded electronic background (with backing vocals) of Alla Luce del Sole, just hearing even that part without Josh was enough to give me goosebumps so stood around listening until the groundskeepers started clearing people out to close until 5:30. When I explained that it had taken me close to 4 hours to get there and did I really have to sit in my car for the next 3 hours the guy was nice and said 'well, go sit somewhere over where the string quartet is practicing and maybe it'll be okay'.
Back over where they were practicing someone else wanted me to leave but just then I saw people arriving to set up the tent for our party and they were kind enough to let me help out. Thanks guys!!!- I was the one in the black flowered dress. We had a great time the rest of the afternoon rolling t-shirts, filling goodie bags and getting everyone checked in for registration.
The part was absolutely fantastic - I got to meet some other Grobanites from my home state and so many others. Happened to think last night we should have tried to see how many states were represented all in all.
Can't improve on what others have said about the concert and after concert party - it was all so magical.
Lisa thank you so much for organising such a wonderful event, and thanks again for letting an unofficial elf join the work force. Grobanites are the nicest people!!!!!

Bonnie (Bonnie Ravesloot)

Oh, what a night!! It's hard to believe this long anticipated event is over! Now it feels like I walked through it in a cloud! Images keep flashing through my mind--the tent filled with balloons and all those wonderful Josh goodies for sale or up for bid, Josh singing, Lisa at the podium, Grobanites I finally got to meet and hug who had only been names on the board, Josh at the podium, a pix with Zach, Josh singing 'An Affair to Remember, thousands of people in the lawn and shed. A night of wonderful memories.
Hearing Josh sing again was a long-awaited fulfillment and how thrilling it was to get six songs, and my favorite-Gira-among them! Seeing Josh hug Mr. Williams was so endearing and to watch him accompany Josh-WOW!!
Truly a highlight of the concert. The Boston Pops and Mr. Williams were phenomenal and the whole concert went so fast.
It was so much fun to meet so many Grobanites--everyone made it so easy!! Thanks for buying all those raffle tickets from me! The only hitch for the whole night was not enough time to talk to everyone! I guess I should of signed up for more activities!! I'm still here in CT but will have to wait to see more Grobanites at another time.
I was so surprised when Josh and team arrived at the tent--I did not expect it!! I so appreciate that they took the time to acknowledge us and to hear that Josh had felt our energy! He's such fun to listen to--he's so good at making you feel like you are special to him. Thank-you Josh for sharing so much of yourself with us!
Lisa & elves and all who contributed just outdid themselves--thank-you for making my visit extra special.
I hope we have an event like this again and that even more people can come. Do you I dare start a countdown until the tour? Let's see..... only
5 MONTHS UNTIL THE TOUR!!!

Chris (joshfan4life)

~~We arrive at Tanglewood early (1:30) & walk the grounds.
~~To say the Berkshires are beautiful would be an understatement.The misty green rolling hills,the musicians practicing,the gorgeous flowers...I was in heaven!...
~~We sit in the empty shed,and see a young lady walking around w/flowers.My daughter & I both pegged her as a Grobie so I say Hi! It's Robby from the board..We hug, she says she wants to find a kindly stage person to deliver flowers to Josh!
She does find someone who promises to "personally" deliver them to Josh..yay Robby!
~~Later, we arrive at the M & G,I am astounded by donations the set-up..it was beautiful..many thanks to ALL Grobie elves..job well done!
~~I meet Bonnie(from Indiana)..you looked gorgeous! Brieanne (she designed & made the M&G banner) nice job Brie! Also meet NY Connie,my board buddy Chrisann (you're a sweetie!) Kim (the comedian) & the infamous Chad!(you know who you are)
~~John Williams portion of concert..incredibly moving... & funny with the "bugs bunny" cartoon & accompaniment!
~~Josh was phenomenal..and this newbie was practically levitated..off my seat with sheer delight at hearing him
**LIVE**
~~"An Affair to Remember"..big surprise,and beautiful...and the Grobanites..WOW each song...a standing ovation..you just know Josh had to get energized from that amount of LOVE!

Kay (homiesmurf)

I had such a great time at Tanglewood!!! I feel like a dork because I started crying. Not for Josh... but when the Boston Pops started playing. I was like thats what I want to do when I get older. . But Josh sang so beautifully. I had to watch through the binoculars and look at his mouth because it felt like he was lip synking. Not like he would do that... but it sounded exactly like his cd. He's awesome... and when he came to visit the tent. He is such a nice guy. I mean he was talking to us and I just felt like it was this normal guy that was standing up there. I mean he doesnt act like he's famous or that everyone LOVES HIM!!!! He is so down to earth and nice. I wish he was my boyfriend just because I think he is the only nice straight guy out there. haha. . And Lisa, thank you so much for throwing an awesome party. I had a lot of fun and I ended up meeting some new people. Thank you. I will always remember last night and it was because of you.

Mary (copie carrots)

Hey everyone! I had such a good time at Tanglewood! I know it's been a couple days since the show but I don't really have any way to post here too often so I'm just trying to catch up a little bit. Anyway, I can't wait to see the video of Josh at the tent so I hope someone puts a link to it. The show was great! I loved how John Williams played bits of movies and cartoons and did the music to it for us. It was like having really, really good surround sound! Josh was phenomenal as always! I can't wait till he goes on tour!! Also, I loved meeting everyone at the M&G and at the hotel! MIconnie is so nice and Val, I don't know her screenname but she was a hilarious Josh! Ruthie, I'm really glad I met you and did I hear you say something about living in Richmond? Michelle, it was so good to finally meet you and I hope I get to see you again at another show! It was great to see all the people from Stella's M&G in June again too! Jessi and Candace, it was so fun hanging out with you guys I'm really glad we met and I hope to see you around my area sometime soon (before October, right Jessi?) Julie Evenstar, you are so funny! I didn't see you before we left, I wish I could have said bye and gotten a picture but there'll be other shows I hope. Connie, I had such a good time going up there with you and meeting yr kids (they are so cute!) We have to road trip again!
Thank you Lisa and all her Grobanelves for an awesome M&G and all the great things she gave us! I have so many buttons and t shirts now that I'm gonna be spreading the Josh everywhere I go. I really hope I see all of you again and keep us informed of any M&G's around here for the tour or for the cd release.

Michele (Michele531)

What more can be added? The time with old friends...making new friends...Josh tearing down the house....hearing him sing "An Affair to Remember"....what great memories!

Thanks to Lisa, and of course Josh and Brian and the team....Carla for the balloons....all the elves who worked so hard to set up the tent, sell all the wonderful items and help out. Thanks to everyone who contributed something to make this so memorable.

What made this so special for me was staying at Flicker's B&B with Paula, Laura, LiuAnn and her sister Lyn, Janey and Gerry. The innkeepers Marge and Dick are Grobanites...they were at the M&G and of course, the concert....They went out of their way to make this the most Joshiest weekend for us. Josh's CD was playing 24/7....we Joshed from morning until night! At Saturday breakfast, the table was set with pics of Josh for each of us. Thanks, Marge! Marge is quite a hoot...she even had a great Josh story to tell us Sunday at breakfast...how she managed to get an autograph from the curly one at the M&G. I don't think anyone wanted to leave....but of course, all good things must come to an end. So we left, got lost again for the 3rd time in 2 days.....and made a three hour car trip in seven hours because of severe storms along the way. But, it was all worth it.....

Ellen (Ellen)

I had been to a few Chicago area M&G's before, but this was the first time I had the chance to attend something THIS big! I am sooooooo glad I was able to be there! I had a wonderful time despite my travel problems--flight delays, screaming babies, bad weather, major turbulence, lost luggage, etc. At least my luggage was finally delivered to my hotel...about 20 hours after I'd gotten there! Geez!

Anyway, it was wonderful to be able to see some old friends/familiar faces again: Valerie, Connie M., Chrisann, Bonnie R., Allison (In Awe), Julie and Diana from Canada, Cindy, Marianne, Anna C. and Kathy K!! I was also thrilled to finally meet one of this boards first and well-loved Grobie, NY Connie!! Oh, not to mention how cool it was to meet one of my first Grobanite sisters, Neelie, who was SO kind to meet me at the airport! Also, I loved meeting Michelle (AmericanPye66), Judy (one of my fellow Old Pervs!), Rosey, Kim, Kathi S., Pamela, Linda Story, Kelly (Wilcox), Kristin, Julie (Celede Evanstar), Andrea (azzure79), DianaCA, Michele, Laura, Nancy (Spyder), Angela Cheng, Nancy Sisler, Paula, Robbie (Ambyguity), Deb (the Web Mother), Lynda, Tami, Jessie (JGirl), Texas Jeanne.........Oh, geez! So many people! I'm sure I'll remember more names later. Oh, yeah, like Ruthiegirl! Chad! Carla!

I was pleasantly surprised by all the nice comments about the t-shirts and balloons from the M&G. It was weird, but soooooo cool to see one of my Josh portraits being used all over the place! Wow! Also, everyone who wanted ME to sign one of my Josh prints made me feel soooooooo appreciated!!!!!!!!! That was really nice!!!!

Oh, yeah, someone did get one of Sandra's Josh portraits confused with mine, but that's OK! I just hope that woman wasn't too embarrassed about it. I sure didn't want her to feel bad about that!

Even though I didn't have any Josh encounters this time or get anywhere near him, I still had an awesome experience!! All of the people I talked to at the M&G (and at the dinner on Friday night) made this trip fantastic!!!!! Also, hearing Josh sing something wonderful and unexpected was a HUGE treat!!!! I hope he does record that song from "An Affair to Remember." His voice was beyond beautiful!!

Judy (jhonorat)

Okay...short and really late but...as Chris Groban once said "Grobanites are the nicest people."

Yes they are! I had such a great time meeting people whose posts I have read and board names I have seen. Hi to all of you *waves to all her new friends*

A really special hi to my new buddy Kelly..we made a great connection and we agreed it is a good thing that we live so far apart cause we could really get into some major trouble together!

It was HOT!!!! HUMID!!!! How you people that live in that humidity do it, is beyond me! I will never again gripe about 105 degree or 107 degree heat that I live with again because IT IS A DRY HEAT!

About Josh...I know it has all been said but he is just the sweetest person....so great with the children...so generous with all of us...to invite all 300 of us to his open house at his new penthouse in BV! (Hey, I tried!)

About the concert.....wonderful. One last thing.

WHEN JOSH WAS FINISHED SINGING THE THEME FROM AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, YOU COULD HAVE SCOOPED ME UP WITH A SPOON BECAUSE I HAD MELTED....AND IT WASN'T THE HUMIDITY!

Donna (dtorre327)

Hi everyone. I had such a great time. This was my first Josh experience.WOW is all I have to say. My pictures will be up soon. I just wanted to add I went to see YoYo Ma on Sunday night and I went into the gift shop to get my children each a shirt. Lisa's kids and Sharon (elysium1) had there M&G Josh shirts on and the woman that worked inside asked where we got our Josh shirts Because alot of people on Saturday night were going in asking if they could buy them and they kept telling people they don't have shirts with Josh Groban on them. I thought that was pretty cool.
It was so great meeting all of you.

Connie (ConnieG)

Hi all, Not much to add to what has already been said except to reinforce how super Josh's "band" (Zach, Tariqh and Eric), are. Mary C. and I were walking around the shed earlier in the evening and stumbled right into Zach looking for family in the shed. We managed to find words and say hi to him, and left him to look for his family. And people already mentioned that they stayed at the M&G for at least an hour. You could really casually talk with them if you wanted to. Take pictures, etc. It is so nice to know that Josh has such nice people surrounding him.

The concert was great, and Josh looked good even though he was so far away from where we were sitting. We held our breath for a moment when we couldn't hear Josh singing a few notes from Gira, but by the time we started asking ourselves what was going on, he started singing full force again.

Grobandust didn't sprinkle on all of us though, because there were about a dozen of us (Mary C. and I included) who didn't make it back to the M&G in time to hear & see Josh. So, those of you who couldn't go, don't feel so bad, some of us who were there didn't even get to see him.

((Post the video of the M&G somebody, that would be SO GREAT!))

It was terrific to meet so many Grobanites in one place. I made lots of new friends and can't wait to see some of them again when Josh tours!

Carla (BertBird)

It was a truly great weekend and I want to thank Lisa McCabe from the bottom of my heart for her help and hardwork! You are truly a wonderful person!

Ok so where do I start? - there is soooooooo much to tell.

Been packing for a week, to make sure I didn't forget a thing!
Head up to Mass. on Friday with LynnF, her sister Laurel and niece Kristi. Our Inn also happened to be at the place where THE BAND WAS STAYING!!

Had a couple of nice conversations with Zach and met Eric with his mom and aunt.

But that was Saturday morning - I'm jumping ahead of myself here.

We all went to meet the other Grobanites at The Brewery and had a wonderful time, met Ellen (OctoberOpal!!), Joanie and her husband, Mary from WA, of course Lisa!, Letiesha (sp?) from France, Nancy (spyder), LuLu and her sister, Kay and Paul, many others...... the food was really good too! Thanks Lisa for picking a great place.

OK - Saturyday morning - meet Zach and Eric - didn't see Tarik or Craig (wondering where Josh was - maybe there? not sure, but didn't see David or Brian either).

Saturday - visit Norman Rockwell Museum then head out to TW at 3:00pm. Balloons in trunk ready to go!

Tent is huge!! lots of tables to decorate - get to work immediately - the HOGs really helped out tremendously - a big thanks to TOM (seattledebs HOG)!! Many elves arrive - I need many of them - I have over 300 balloons to inflate, tie ribbon to, and make the "arrangements". Those Josh Mylars were fantastic and it sounds like everybody enjoyed them, it gives me great pleasure to know that. Josh did mention them when he was at the tent!

Had to add that Lisa had coordinated her T-Shirts to match my balloon picture and Seattledeb had a cake that also had the same picture on it! It was unbelieveable!

I had a blast meeting and greeting everyone! It was so much fun and I met so many Grobanites, that is what made this evening so special (besides seeing Josh perform, of course).
People started to arrive around 5:15pm (maybe a bit earlier). I was so sticky from the humidity - went to change clothing around 5:30pm and arrived just in time to check in with Kelly Wilcox for more Grobie Elf work.

I want to say Hello!!! to Brie and her mom and dad, BonnieR, MIConnie, Valerie, Lisa, SeattleDeb and Tom, Debbie and Stephanie from Queens, Ping, LuLu and her sister, Pam (sweetbriarose), KathiS, Judy (puzzlejunkie), Kay and Paul, Joanie and her hubby, NYConnie and mom, Diana and Julie from Canada, Donna (dtorre), Ricki - (I know I'm missing some Grobanites but as I remember I'll edit and add!!)

So 8pm is on the clock and we all head over to the shed. Josh's performance was amazing - he absolutely "felt the love" from his Grobanites - multiple standing ovations from us and then the entire crowd. It was clear that his Grobanites were there and I was so proud to be part of it! (Josh's parents were not at TW, cshore).

We then headed back to the tent and as previously stated Josh, Brian and David and a sheriff (body guard) drove into the tent and greeted us. He was on the podium for 15-20 minutes, I took some pics (waiting for them to be developed) -it was like one big conversation - Josh really does appreciate all that we do for him - he was truly amazed at we all did at the M&G. It is just incredible how one common denominator can make magic happen. It was literally Grobania coming alive!

All I can say is, Josh, you are incredibly gifted and you truly bring out the best in people.

Josh then left and slowly the other band members arrived. First saw some cute guy with some other people hanging around the entrance of the tent - went over to greet them and it was Craig, with is Dad, Grandfather and Grandmother. Spoke with them for a bit. Chatted with Craig, made sure he felt welcomed - got autograph and photo-op - walked him over to enjoy a cup of coffee. What a really nice guy.

Saw Eric (he remembered me from The Red Lion), eventually got his autograph and photo-op too.

Then noticed that Tarik was standing there - of course had o seize that opportunity for autograph and photo-op (which I told him "model for me Tarik", he's so cool.

Ahh, I see Zach (again! and he remembers me by name!) told him I would love to treat him to breakfast - too bad it will be a late night and we'll all sleep late! Now Grobies I was just being a friendly Grobanite, that's all! But of course - photo-op and autograph!

I had grobandust falling all over me that night and I told each and every band member that I would see them on tour! No doubt I will meet with them again! And you never know, maybe some cute curly haired man with bottomless lungs will be around too!

June (CapeCodJune)

It has taken me over four hours to read through this thread. Sometimes when you have been anticipating something for a long time, when you actaully get there it doesn't live up to our expectations. Well, this wasn't one of those times. It was everything I had hoped it would be. I didn't have a close up Josh encounter but I did get to see and hear him in the Grobanite tent. And I met so many new Grobies and saw some that I had met in Toronto. Yay, I met Rosie, What a sweetheart. I wanted to meet Spyder but missed her. And was looking for Snow but now I see that she didn't come to the M&G.

I do like to travel, but it surely can be a hassle. An hour and a half on the bus to Boston and then a five hour ride on Amtrak to Albany and then the rental car to Troy, and boy did I get lost there! But I made it and checked in at Grobanite Central.

The party that night was fun. Chad, you are a hoot with your llama phobia. In the middle of the party my missing roomate showed up. Her name is Turid and she had won the raffle for the plane ticket to the concert and had come all the way from Norway. What a sweet lady. She has been a Josh fan for a long time. We got along really well.

I can't add anything more about the concert. Josh of course, was magnificient. And YoYoMa the next night was incredible. I had never heard him before and loved it even tho I was a bit sleepy from having been up so late at the party the night before. Every musician on stage with him was absolutely the best.

Monday morning said goodbye to MIConnie and Val as they left. Candice and Jessi came by my room to chat before they left. One thing I really like about the Grobanites is that there is no age barrier. We all love Josh so we're all on the same plane. After they left, there was a huge silence in the hotel. I was the only Grobanite left. And why you ask? Okay, I'll confess. I went to the American Idols concert in Albany on Monday night .And I was not the oldest person there. And I had a blast. I had a great seat and could move out and dance in the aisle since everyone was standing for most of the concert. What incredible joy and energy coming from that stage. What fun. I felt like a teenager again.

The ride home was a little easier. I had to take a bus from the Amtrak station as the tracks were being worked on and it was more comfortable than the train had been. And they provided everyone on the bus with a box lunch! I have never run into that before. When I got into Boston and ambled down towards the bus to the Cape thinking I had plenty of time, wow, the bus was right there and about to pull out. Great timing. My son met me at the bus stop and I was home, tired but on a really great high. I haven't come down yet. I should be at my workbench but here I am indulging in Josh stories.

What a diversified weekend I had. Three concerts and all of them so different. So many nice people. I had never been on a train before and the conductor found that quite amusing. Do you think that people tend to look out for a woman traveling alone or was I just lucky? The nice man in the information booth at the Albany train station had told me where to wait until the bus came in and then came over to where I was sitting to make sure that I got to the right place at the right time. Maybe I was giving off Joshglow and people react to it.

OH my Josh! I am so glad to be a Grobanite! this has become a big part of my life. This was my second Josh experience and I am really looking forard to the next one, in New York. And of course, the tour. When I asked how many concerts people are going to, Kathy Konicki, my Siamese twin, said "As many as the credit card will allow!" I agree. My daughter says she is going to make me a bumper sticker that says "I,m spendng my children's inheritance on Josh Groban concerts".

Luz (Indaymen2)

It was such a pleasure to meet you in person.Thank you so much for the very warm welcome for us from Calif. I just got back from our mother/daughter escapade on the East coast and I was so exhausted but I can't resist reading all the Tanglewood stuff because I didn't get to see them until now.
It was my first Josh encounter and it was worth the travel.I was trying to video tape the performance but I just have to stop and use my binoculars because I can't stop shaking....The people I was sitting with were very nice .I was bringing 2 of Ellen's picture of Josh and when they notice them, everyone was asking where I got them.I have to pass them around for everybody to enjoy!!! Although I really wished I had it signed by our MAN!
I didn't get to the Tent really fast because I tried to join those fans that were lining up on the right side of the shed after the show. I saw Andrea there so,I waited until I decide to go back to the tent.While I was walking back, I can hear the noise from the tent.People were asking what's going on?Between walking and running,I told them,JOSH GROBAN is there!!!!! I was able to see maybe half of the whole time he and the team were there.I had a video and took some pictures but I didn't get to have a picture with him.I was too shy to walk up to the front.It was a very wonderful experience to see him and hear him sing and now up close...OMJ.I thought I was going to faint.
The M& G was really an experience of a lifetime.
THANK YOU SO MUCH LISA FOR EVERYTHING!!! I HOPE YOU CAN GO TO THE SPA AND RELAX AFTER THE HARD WORK YOU DID FOR THE GROBANITES.THE WHOLE TANGLEWOOD AFFAIR IS REALLY "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER."
I GOT MY HUGGGGS FROM FAMOUS MI CONNIE!!!
TOOK PICTURES WITH A LOT OF GROBANITES!!!!
OVERALL, IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL CHERISH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
LYNDA AND LORI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE COMPANY.MY DAUGHTER AND I FELT LIKE WE HAD AN EXTENDED FAMILY DURING OUR STAY AT TROY. THANKS FOR THE RIDE AND OUR TRIP TO 3 STATES IN A MATTER OF HOURS DESPITE THE RAIN.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW.I NEED TO GO TO SLEEP.tO ALL THE GROBANITES THAT I'VE MET, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

Brie (BrieanneElise)

i had sooo much fun at Tanglewood! even my best friend sheri had tons of fun with all of the grobanites. i think she really appreciated being included in everything even though she's not a grobanite. she told me that if she had a computer, she'd register and start posting here. i think we've successfully grobanized her.
my parents thought the concert was absolutely wonderful. i couldn't believe how much my dad was getting along with everyone and grinning like an idiot (he's usually a very serious-looking fella).
the llama hike was a ball! sheri thought that was the best part of the whole weekend. we got plenty of "llama kisses" and "bug rubs."
yo-yo ma was an awesome concert as well. the musicians were amazing and funny as heck....it must be a brazilian thing. this one guy, i think his name was ciro baptista, was soooo adorably funny. he was the percussionist (amazing too!) and he didn't speak english much, so every time he got up to speak it was so cute and broken...and always ending in "OK". i wanted his autograph more than yo-yo ma's.
we stayed after the concert to wait for yo-yo ma in order to get an autograph. he came out and talked to us for a minute, saying he couldn't stay because he had to go to some reception. But we got a picture of him.....there weren't really a whole lot of people there so we were pretty close to him.

Luz (indaymen2)

It was my first Josh encounter and it was worth the travel. I was trying to video tape the performance but I just have to stop and use my binoculars because I can't stop shaking....The people I was sitting with were very nice. I was bringing 2 of Ellen's picture of Josh and when they notice them, everyone was asking where I got them. I have to pass them around for everybody to enjoy!!! Although I really wished I had it signed by our MAN!
I didn't get to the Tent really fast because I tried to join those fans that were lining up on the right side of the shed after the show. I saw Andrea there so,I waited until I decide to go back to the tent.While I was walking back, I can hear the noise from the tent.People were asking what's going on?Between walking and running,I told them,JOSH GROBAN is there!!!!! I was able to see maybe half of the whole time he and the team were there.I had a video and took some pictures but I didn't get to have a picture with him.I was too shy to walk up to the front.It was a very wonderful experience to see him and hear him sing and now up close...OMJ. I thought I was going to faint.
The M& G was really an experience of a lifetime.
THANK YOU SO MUCH LISA FOR EVERYTHING!!! I HOPE YOU CAN GO TO THE SPA AND RELAX AFTER THE HARD WORK YOU DID FOR THE GROBANITES.THE WHOLE TANGLEWOOD AFFAIR IS REALLY "AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER."
I GOT MY HUGGGGS FROM FAMOUS MI CONNIE!!!
TOOK PICTURES WITH A LOT OF GROBANITES!!!!
OVERALL, IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL CHERISH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Kelly (bokeh)

Well, it's taken me over a week to sit down and think about how to put my feelings about my Tanglewood experience into words. Large parts of the memory are starting to fall apart into bits and pieces so I figure I better get it out.

I'm glad the cooler heads (and those with better memories for the fine print) have relayed the details of the actual events. Not just for those who weren't there, but for those like me who were there, but who at any given moment were either too physically or emotionally fried to actually remember what happened. I'm a really emotional person anyway so it's hard for me to disengage and relate a story objectively. Sorry! From me, you'll always get the sapped-up version.

Meeting so many Grobanites was amazing. It was totally surreal to see these people in person that I recognized from pictures but had never met before. And all the stories you always hear about Grobanites being so nice and funny and twisted and hilarious are all true. Before Tanglewood, I know there were some discussions about what it meant to be a Grobanite and is it a group you'd really want to identify with, and I can tell you all weekend long I was so proud to be a Grobanite! I regret that at the post concert M&G I was so exhausted I pretty much sat and spaced the whole time. There are so many people I can't wait to meet again.

Taking this trip and hearing Josh sing live for the first time was a very personal and moving experience for me, but honestly it was icing on the cake of being part of such a great group of people. Having Josh crash the party was just the sticky sugar candy sprinkled on the top of the icing on the cake. It was insane fun.

My thank you list: Kathi, you are the best travelling buddy ever. No one else could make me so proud to sit in a crowded airport waving a Joshsicle! I'm so lucky to know you. Pamela and Deb, you guys rock and deserve medals for putting up with me. Ruthie, you are so sweet and I owe you big time! Gladys, having that MV connection at Tanglewood made it feel like home. Let's not wait until we're 3000 miles from home to meet again! Michelle and Linda you are hilarious and I feel so lucky I got to get to know you both better on Sunday. Donna and Kelly and Carla and Myra and Julie and Julie and Cheryl and Bonnie and Connie and everyone who said hi, gave me a hug, made me laugh, or let me hitch a ride in their car or crash their walk to CVS, thank you. And all the organizers and elves, you outdid yourselves!

I totally have post-Josh depression. It's like coming home after a really great date. I can't believe it actually happened and I can't believe it's over and all I want to do is sit on the phone with my girlfriends and relive it over and over. It was worth all the expense, exhaustion, bug bites, delayed flights, airport tears, midnight breakdowns, and wrong turns on I-90.

Thank you Josh & Grobanites!

souldiver101

The night started off great. I met some really great people, Joshfan4life (Chris) and her family, and Scooltchr (Carol Ann) and her family. Anyway they were so nice. Of course I wasn't there earlier in the day to catch the rehearsal when Josh sang happy birthday to Carol Ann. I was out in Lenox looking around with a friend. So anyway, I went to see the concert and I ended up trading seats with someone so they could sit next to someone else and I ended up sitting next to the most wonderful lady. She said she doesn't post to the board, but her niece does and she keeps her up on things going on in Grobania. She was so much fun to talk to and she said that she would bet that she was the oldest Grobanite there, not that you could tell by the way she was hooting and hollering when Josh got done singing. I think she was there with her husband, I am so bad, I can't remember her name. Shame on me. She was a lot of fun to talk to so if she happens to read this maybe she'll remember me and I just want to say hi. Another funny thing that was funny was that of course being a Grobanite and wanting to show the Josh love, I was standing and screaming for Josh when he was done and this older gentleman turned around as if to say "What the hell is she yelling for?" It was so funny, all I could think of was that part in Sixteen Candles when the Grandfather says "Dang that rock n' roll rubbish. Well I guess it's here to stay Howard." Ha. Ha. It just reminded me of it. So after the show people were standing out next to the shed and they said they were waiting for Josh to come out. At that time I could see Josh inside and it looked like he was signing something for someone so I figured he might come out. Now after about a half an hour or so one of the security guys says Josh has left. So I said I wonder if he went to the meet and greet, so I start to head that way. Now mind you I am in high heels (that's the last time I ever wear them again in my life) and I have a little bit of a hike ahead of me. So I get about 100 yards away from the tent and I hear everyone screaming. Now mind you there are really no walkways on the way to the tent unless you want to walk all the way around so being me I took the shortcut over the grass. I am so happy that it was dark out because when I heard that scream I freaked, I started running through the grass and mud, remember it had been raining the day before and the grass was still somewhat wet, so if anyone was able to see this they would have been laughing hysterically. If anyone did see it, well I hope you enjoyed it. So as I get closer to the tent I hear people saying bye, and I see the go cart leaving. I was going to yell JOSH WAIT!! but I didn't want him to think I was a psycho, imagine if he had been able to see me running, anyway I decided to go and look to see if he was around anywhere and I met up with a girl named Mary. We of course were unsuccessful. But you know what the really sad part of all of this...if I had just stayed where I was in the first place I would have seen that wonderful little go cart pull up right in front of me. Yep, he went right back to where I had been standing in the first place. Oh the humanity. So needless to say I went home devestated. How could I not. I not only missed him once, but twice. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. But ya know, if he was looking for me he could have just told security he would be coming to get me instead of having me chase him around. I wish. All in all though, the Grobanites are wonderful people and the concert was, what's the word, oh yeah....AMAZING!!!

Kim (violinkim)

My TW adventure starts on 7-31 at 7pm, I leave Milwaukee,WI, headed for Niagara falls,ny...we get there at 7:30 am on 8-1, then it's off to the hotel in Albany,ny, we get there at 4pm, then it's off to the Troy m&g get together.... Now the day has arrived! Josh Day! We leave for TW at 2:30, help with the set up of the m&g...it's 5pm, time to stake out my plot of land on the grass...6 pm, check in at the m&g, eat, bid on auction stuff, and mingle...8 pm it's GO TIME! Concert starts at 8:30...Josh is on around 10-ish...I call my Mom and she's able to listen to Josh's performance...I had goose bumps the whole time Josh was performing and I lost my voice from cheering so loud!
THEN---after using the lady's room and packing up we start walking toward the m&g tent, and who comes racing past me on a golf cart??!!! JOSH!!!! I screamed "We love you Josh!!!" and he answered back,"Thank You! Thank You so much!(pause) I HAVE NO BRAKES!!!!" , and then I saw the back of his cute curly head, and he was gone, trundling down the dark path that led back to the shed...
So that was cool, but I missed seeing him at the m&g tent by about 5 min., oh well. I got my picture taken with Tariq, Zack, and the other members of the band, in the tent. I think it was great that the band guys stopped by, they were so friendly and personable!

So that's my story and I'm stickin to it... I had a great time at the m&g and my first Josh-live experience was excellent! I can't wait for the tour to start!
Thank you to all the friendly Grobanites I met, and all the stories I heard, and all the pictures (of Josh) that you all shared with me!! I am proud to say that I am no longer a m&g or Josh virgin!!!

TW was great and I really hoped Josh is back next summer, I'll definately be there!!

PS- John Williams was awesome, and Yo-Yo Ma on Sunday was great (dispite the crazy rain!)

Gladys (Peruvian Princess)

Hello every one of my fellow Grobanites!

I'm still on cloud 57!! What a super fun time this past weekend was, golly it's actually a week ago today we were in Troy. And a week ago tomorrow, I got to hear and meet Josh for the first time ever!! *SNIFF, SNIFF*

As some of you know I left for Boston, on Sunday, July 28 (having stayed at my in-laws in Federal Way, because my flight out to Boston was at 8:15 AM) At any rate, I stayed with my friend, Tamsyn, whom I've know since 8 grade. At the Logan airport, I had my first acquaintance with the East coast humidity, YUK!! So I got a chance to tour Boston and Lowell (where she lives) and the East coast for the very first time!!

Please forgive me if this is too long, but I had to share my story.

Troy and Tanglewood story part I:

We arrived in Troy on Friday at around 7:40 PM check into our room, then freshen up and head for the lobby, where there are so many Grobanites. We got to meet Michelle (americanpye66). She's very nice. We decide to wait for her roommates and all walk towards the Pub.

OK, so we get to eat and quench our thirst and to meet a lot of Grobanites, we meet Linda Story, MIConnie, NYConnie, Valerie from Chicago, Julie (Celede Evenstar), man alive, she's a tall one!! Luz and her daughter, (Later that evening Mary (Myrrhll), Deb (SeattleDeb) come by and they tell me/us about a great incounter with Josh, Wahoo!!) Wow, so many, there must have been like 50-60 of them, but no Ruthie (Leg Groping Fairy) in sight!! They were selling B/W Josh prints of Ellen's and another Grobanite's artistic talent, Josh Wash soap, Baby Winslow Llamas with Josh buttons, Coffee Crisps, all to benefit the David S. Fund.

My friend, Tamsyn wanted to call it a night and went back to the hotel. We played guess the interview or fund raising event. They drew numbers indicating which skit they were to do, and we had to guess. Those who won (5 skits at a time) won a prize, all with Josh's pictures of course. Valerie from Chicago dressed up like Josh complete with black curly wig, black turtleneck, jeans and a water bottle. Oh yeah, she had darkened her eyebrows too, what a sight to see! Too funny!! We also had a word scrambled game, with either Josh's songs or people Josh's has sung with, places he's sung at, etc.

I had brought both Boston papers, The Herald and The Globe. These were the (Friday, Aug. 1) papers with Josh's articles and pictures of him and I shared with anyone who wanted to read them.

It was getting late, then all of a sudden Ruthie comes in and of course Jessi and I scream and we all hug like long lost friends. OMJ!! She is so beautiful, sweet and kind. We talked and she ate and chatted some more. Jessi and Rosemarie left shortly after that. Ruthie and I sat and visited some more then left for the hotel and much needed sleep.

As you can imagine none of us, with the exception of Tamsyn, got any sleep. I kept tossing and turning, thinking of the concert and JOSH, later that evening. I must have gotten maybe 4 hours of sleep total. I ventured to the lobby were continental breakfast was being served and Ruthie was already there, as well as other Gorbanites. Kathi Skarbo was there and we hugged and she said, "Look, here's Kelly!" Wahoo, I finally got to meet Kelly (bokeh)!! She and I live in the same little town and it's so ironic to meet in all places like NY! Kelly and I have only e-mailed each other but our lives are so busy they conflict. We also met David S' sisters, Lisa and Nanette, they are such sweeties!! Luz and her daughter. Love your great smile Luz! Ruthie and I picked up where we left the night before and we're talking about Josh's songs and Ruthie excused herself, saying she'd be back. I got to meet and talk with several other Grobanites some having met the night before, Tami from Toronto with Monty her moose. She is so beautiful, kind and sweet. Ruthie came back and had Josh's song/piano book with her. OMJ!! She is a wonderful pianist!! She played "Broken Vow" since it's her favorite, she got applause and a request to play the entire book, Ruthie played a couple more, then Jessie and Mom, Rosemarie, came down for breakfast.

We were told by Valerie if anyone wanted to head out to Walmart to meet back at the Lobby in fifteen minutes. Jessi, Rosemarie, Ruthie and I rode with Tami (Toronto). Ruthie and I needed to get a couple things, but we stopped first at the magazine racks to locate 'Entertainment this Week' which had a small article in it about Josh, there were only 4 left, we each took one and Tami came while we were reading the article and she bought the other two. We then headed to a pharmacy to find any newspaper articles about Josh, no luck at all. We then stopped at a grocery store, because Valerie wanted to get something else. Jessi, Rosemarie, Ruthie, and Tami got items from the deli to eat at the hotel. We got to the hotel to freshen up again, 'cause the humidity was as Jessi said, up 200%, YUK!! Several Grobanites were headed to a restaurant to have lunch. We said we'd follow in a few. Tamsyn was still sleeping, so I went downstairs to see if anybody was ready to head out to eat, Ruthie was there as well as three Grobies from Canada, Julie, whose daughter Megan, (who's 4) got her picture taken with Josh at the Enfant Cirque DE Solie, in Quebec (?), her daughter was not there, and a mother and daughter, who's names I can't recall, sorry, please forgive me. I do remember you're a teacher!

Tanglewood story Part II:

Okay, we all get back to our rooms after eating lunch and get ready for the concert. Ruthie had to get there early, she was a greeter and a helper in preparing for the M&G. So off we went, towards Tanglewood. Ruthie, Jessi, Rosemarie, rode with Tamsyn and I. Note: Remind me to stay in Lenox next time, 'Cause staying in Troy was an hour and a half drive from Tanglewood, and with a car that had no A/C, and the humidity being up, this girl was very miserable.

On the road towards Tanglewood we are oohing and aahing at all the beautiful houses along the way, when to our right we see this huge building that looks like a castle, and we say, yup that's for the Posse all right, it's a resort, spa and has a golf course. Later that evening we learn that that's where Josh was staying!! Do these Posse members know how to pick our castle or what????!!!!!!!

We finally arrive at Tanglewood, it's so big and the grounds are so lush with green trees and bushes. People everywhere, they have so many parking lots, luckily we have a parking pass to let us park near the Hawthorne tent where the M&G would be. We first have to drop off Ruthie, to make this short we find the place to do so. And we go find our parking lot, get out of the car and wait to have the gate opened to let us in. That's when we first see Lisa McCabe, she says to all us Grobanites that it'll be just a few more minutes till the guards let us through. The guards then tell us that it would be better if we go down a few more gates to enter into the grounds. So we do and finally we're in! By this time I'm so pitted out, luckly I decided to bring my outfit with me and more deodorant, powder, perfume, and hand held fan to keep me sorta dry.

OMJ!! The M&G Hawthorne tent is huge, first we had to get in line to get our name tags, by this time it's just Tamsyn and I 'cause Jessi and her Mom have lawn tickets and they wanted to set up a place to stay for the concert. They gave us a goody bag, it's plastic and medium blue in color with handles, on one of the sides it has none other than Josh's (head) picture and a smaller (half body) one of John Williams in the background, the writting says, "John Williams with Special Guest JOSH GROBAN all in black lettering including the pictures. The bags are filled with a pencil with Josh's first and last name, it also said "For Always", a mouse pad with Josh's picture and the Starry, starry night theme, chocolates wrapped in foil with Josh's image in a little silver square box, a lyrics book with all of Josh's songs with translation for those in Italian and Spanish, a magnet that has a picture of Josh from his CD cover on the upper left hand corner with the words to "Let Me Fall" each word is cut out to be used separately, a small tea candle with a lovely scent, and a two sided, half sized poster of Josh's album cover of his first CD/DVD, and a book marker with an oil panting by someone, can't remember. We got our Tanglewood 2003 T-shirt with Josh's picture and his name written on the bottom. I didn't care for the color of the T-shirt itself 'cause it is tan, but of course I'll wear it, anything with Josh's picture on it!!!

The inside of the Hawthorne tent was filled with round tables, enough to seat eight to each table. Navy blue tablecloths adorn each table. The decorations on them were a bouquet of 8 balloons, two off white, two light blue, two medium blue and the last two were mylar, off white background and had Josh's picture, the same one used for the T-shirts. There was a lectern with a microphone to the left, the long tables of auction, raffle items and items to buy, to the right of that. Next, in the back of the tent was Brie's huge banner she made, then an oversized card for David Letterman that everyone was welcomed to sign, to get Josh on his show. The dinner buffet was wonderful, so much good food and plenty of cold beverages, yeah!!!!!!

Met with so many Grobanites, Ricki (voice_lips_eyes) and her hubby, Bonny (Ravesloot), Pat (Seattle), Brie, June (CapCodJune) Chad, Kim, Deb (SeattleDeby) , Kate, Ping (Pingthing). Some of you probably won't remember me, but I do remember you!! I'll edit later to include more names.

Now it's time for the concert to begin, we walk towards the shed, Jessi and Rosemarie head towards their lawn sitting area. Ruthie also goes to find her seat, she was with the main group. OMJ, people all over the lawn, with chairs and camp lamps, blankets and pillows, coolers, and kids running to and fro. What a sight, a sea of people stretched out as far as the eye can see. This concert is sold out, it's one of the largest Tanglewood has ever seen next to James Taylor, but I think it surpassed even his concert. Wahoo!! See what Josh does to people!!!!

We find our seats inside the shed, We were not with the main group of Grobanites our seats were to the left in section 19, row U. The main group were in sections 12 and 13, rows A and on up. I got to visit with more Grobanites. Then Ruthie came back and we call LaurenTN, and tell her that the concert is about to begin. Josh is scheduled to sing after a tribute to the movie "ET." I told Lauren that I would call her later at the M&G, instead I call her back when Josh comes on stage so she can hear all the songs. (Last month Lauren had asked me if I could do this and I agreed, since she was the only one out of the Posse to ask.) They then flickered the lights to indicate the concert was to begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tanglewood story part III: The most incredible evening of my little old life!!

They flicker the light to advice the audience the concert's about to begin. All of sudden a side door opens on stage right and out comes John Williams dressed in a white (suit) coat and black (suit) pants, he looks very elegant and debonair. He gets a standing ovation of course, you can feel the audience really loves him! He then welcomes everyone to "Film Night" at Tanglewood, hoping that all will enjoy tonight's performance by The Boston Pops Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Saxophonist Dan Higgins, and special vocalist, Josh Groban! The crowd gets very loud with clapping, cheering and whistling!! Oh My, I'm so pumped!!

This is what they played:

Film Night at Tanglewood

"Call of the Champions"
(composed for the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta)
Arr. John Williams
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

"Fawkes the Phoenix" Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Arr. John Williams

"Dry your tears, Afrika" from Amistad
Arr. John Williams
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Escapades for Saxophone and Orchestra
(music from the film Catch Me If You Can)
arr. John Williams
Dan Higgins ~ Saxophone

"Duel of the Fates" from Stars Wars Episode I
Arr. John Williams
Tanglewood Festival Chorus

INTERMISSION

During this time Ruthie comes to me, asking if there are any seats available, because of the large crowd and the snafu in parking, etc. There are many empty seats, in which they get filled very quickly shortly after that. (You all would be amazed what our own Ruthie did, but I'll let her tell her story, what a wonderful young lady you are, Ruthie!!) Ruthie leaves on her mission. We then hear this big wallop of cheers and some says it's Brian (Josh's manager), so of course I have to get up close and personal to see this man. While walking there, again there is a loud roar and I see this bald head (sorry!) in the middle surrounded by Grobanites!! Yep you guessed it, it's Zack Provost!!! He comes out to visit and I got to meet him, shook his hand, hugged him. Oh yeah I got a picture with him too!! But in meeting with Zack I missed out on meeting Brian, oh well!

The lights flicker again, intermission is over!

"Film Night" at Tanglewood part II:

Monsters, Beauties, and Heroes (with film montage)
Arr. John Williams

(There is elderly gentelman sitting on the right side of me and he's really getting into the music. They play music from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws, King Kong, etc.)

Baton Bunny (Bugs Bunny ~ with film montage)
Suppe` (arr. Franklin)

Finale from E.T., The Extra - Terrestrial (with film)
Arr. John Williams

(OMJ! That was so great!! I was crying because they showed the final scene of that movie. Sniff, Sniff )

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! The excitement is so electrifying, 'cause we know Josh is next!!! So I redial Lauren's cell number. I tell her Josh is next, oh my stars, I can't stand it!!! John Williams introduces Josh, and he comes out that same stage right door. The whole place goes absolutely wild. I start crying, of course and I'm talking to Lauren, and doing my best to hear her. WOW! 18,000 people sure make a lot of noise!! Lauren asks me what Josh is wearing, he's wearing his famous black suit, black shirt, black tie, and black socks and shoes!!! And those adorable curls, beautiful smile, elegant hand and fingers!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! THUD!!

At this point I have the cell phone in one hand for LaurenTN (Ruddabudda) to listen, the binoculars on the other hand to see that gorgeous man with. I'm so shaking with excitement and my hands are so wet with nervousness and humidity. He bows and puts hand to heart and says "HI!" Of course all the Grobanites shout out "HI!" back. He says, " What a privilege it is to be here at Tanglewood, finally!" He apologizes for not making it last year, due to his Tonsillectomy. He goes on but can't remember all he said, sorry!

Presenting JOSH GROBAN

with

Zack Provost, piano ~ Tariq Akoni, guitar

Eric Holden, bass ~ Craig MacIntyre, drums

Josh introduces the song and sings:

Alla luce del sole
Fabrizio/Morra/Ross

(Josh's mike cuts out in the middle of this song but they give him a new mike, apperently the stage mike for Mr. Williams had been acting up all along. The whole place goes nuts, the thundering crowd applauding with a standing ovation, me crying, one has to be there to experience it all!!!! His voice is the most beautiful when heard live, actually faultless, and Lauren is screaming and thanking me for letting her hear Josh speak and sing!!!!!!!!)

Once again Josh introduces this song saying that this song, in particular, means so much to him and sings:

Vincent (Starry, starry night)
McLean/Foster - Lubbock

(Can 18,000+ love Josh anymore? Again more applause and a standing ovation, Lauren tells me, that's incredible, and she's at the same time posting to the Posse. Lauren is having a hard time posting and THUDDING at the same time!!! Multitasked lady that one is!!!)

Josh introduces the next song, I love how he pronounces Cinema Paradiso in Italian, he says it without an accent. Can Josh do no wrong?? Sigh!!!!!!!

Love Theme from Cenima Paradiso
Morricone/De Sensi

(Once more the audience goes crazy, applauding, whistling, people (Grobanites yelling Josh we love you!) saying what a nice young man, great voice, what a talented gift, etc.)

The next song is once more introduced by Josh:

Gira con me
Foster/Afanasieff/Quarantotto - Foster/Ross

(Our poor Josh, but what a trooper and professional he is, apparently the sound engineer is having problems with Josh's mike and at one point his voice is lost, all one can see are his lips move. You call tell for a fleeting moment, Josh is concerned but and all is fine. Josh goes and finishes Gira with no other problems. Of course more thunderous applause, whistling, cheering, etc.)

John Williams stands up and goes to the piano and sits and he introduces the surprise song, An Affair to Remember, Josh then states it's a song that he's been requested to sing many times, by various people. (I wonder if Lindy (his Mom) was one of the many who requested it?) You'll understand when and if you all rent or buy the movie version, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. My all time favorite Cary Grant movies, it was made in 1957 (the year I was born!). In the movie, Deborah Kerr sings it in French and English(?), Cary Grant's character's grandmother plays the piano. Josh sings it magnificently, so beautifully sung. I am in tears!!! What is truly amazing is that John Williams himself accompanied Josh only by piano. How flattering for Josh to have the honor to sing solo with the most orchestral composers of our time!!!

Love Theme from An Affair to Remember
Warren/Adamson/McCarry

Here are the lyrics:

"An Affair to Remember"

Our Love Affair is a wondrous thing,
That we'll rejoice in remembering.
Our Love was born with our first embrace,
And a page was torn out of time and space.

Our love affair may it always be
A flame to burn through eternity.
So take my hand with a fervent prayer,
That we may live and we may share
A love affair to remember.

In French:
Tanis Chandler

Ce bel amour, qui ne peut mourir,
Sera pour nous un doux souvenir,
Promesse ardente du premier baiser,
Qui nous lie, tous deux, pour l'éternité

D'unbel amour toujour grandisant,
Qui défiera les épreuves du temps.
Trouvons la joie, restedans mes bras,
Que nous vivions un bel amour,
Affaire de couer qu'on n'oublie pas.

(John Williams gives a huge hug to our Josh, then the house explodes with applause, cheering, wahoo's. Josh bows and says thank you many times and tries to exit, but NO the audience will not let him leave, and Josh gives in and comes back to sing an encore.)

Josh sings and again, I love how he pronounces this in Spanish!! Sigh!!!

Alejate
Afanasieff/Foster/Quarantotto

We applaud many times more but Josh says good-bye, SNIFF! But I know a secret, and by now I'm sure many Grobanites also do.

We get ready to leave and the elderly gentleman next to me looks at me and says, "You know that young man has a CD coming out in the fall." I tell him, "Yes, November 11 to be exact." He looks at me again and says, "Okay, how do you know the date?" I go on and explain I'm a Grobanite, of course he gives me this funny look, I further explain I belong to Josh's website, which is a community and has loads of information about this awesome performer. I give him the website addy, he writes it on his program, and we say our good nights. Hmmm, another Golden Grobanite soon to post??

So Tamsyn and I head toward the Hawthorne tent for more M&Ging, I hurry to the bathroom and as I'm brushing my hair I see Jessi, and whisper to her, Josh should make an appearance in an hour's time, so we are both screaming inside. Jessi returns to the tent. All of a sudden we hear screams, and I tell myself, Josh is here!!! So I run back to the tent, just in time to hear Lisa McCabe say "Here's our brown curly haired man, more screams. So without thinking, I end up standing front and center, beside Alice (JGFloat), about 15 feet from JOSH!! Brian and David Romano are also there along with security that Lisa had provided. OMJ!!!!!! He gives Lisa McCabe a huge hug. He's so adorable, that big beautiful smile of his is enchanting!! He tells the Grobanites we ROCK, “The energy you guys brought became the energy throughout the whole place…” Lisa introduces her family and one of her daughters comes up to him and says, "I want to be a singer too", and he asks "How long can you remember being able to sing, her reply was, "As long as I can remember" (she's looks to be about 6 or 7 years old) He then says," Wow, that's a loooong time, I don't remember singing past 13. Everybody laughed. You can just imagine cameras are going nuts with all the flashes, and they don't seem to affect him at all. Then Lisa's youngest goes to Josh and give his left leg a huge hug (I think she's 3 or 4) I tell myself, OMJ!! A mini-me-leg-grobing-fairy!!!!! Ruthie, I hope you saw that!! Josh crouches down to her level and looks at her temporary tattoo on her leg and says “She’s got a squiggly face on her leg!” Josh said when he gets his, he'll put it on his forehead! He's such a crack up! Someone has all of Lisa's kids get a picture taken with Josh, Lisa's two older boys are behind Josh and they give him bunny ears, too hilarious!! Reiley (SP), another little girl with a big hair bow is carried by someone and she tells Josh she's gonna marry Josh when she's 30, he says, "30 is good!" What a sweetie!! Here are a few more quotes from Josh:

"Boy when you guys throw a party, you throw a PAR
TAY!"

"Something tells me you guys are drinking more than water in here..."

When someone asked about his shave, “Oh yeah… there's a story… I shave with an electric razor because… well… I’m a 2 year old and can't shave myself! But the last two days I've shaved like a big boy!” (Also referred to himself as looking like "Grizzly Adams" with that grunge look!)

Then someone else asked, "Hey Josh, can we all come to your penthouse for a housewarming?" “Uh, I don’t think you’d all fit…. You have to picture this...it's just too cute!!!! Josh says nothing but holds up one hand and starts pointing to each person, counting each of us under his breath! "OK, just THIS half of the tent, comes one night!” (Which was the left side, the side we were on!!) Oh and David Romano is playing right along, sweeping his hand to each side. Everyone on our side screamed…. “And THIS half the next night!” The other side screamed, too!!

When he looked at our buttons he said, “It looks like that… what does TGI Friday’s call it with all the stuff on the uniforms?” someone yelled out “FLAIR!” “Yeah, that’s it! Flair!”

I'm sure there many more things he said but I can't recall it all. Brian and David got a chance to speak, David asks, "Did you all liked An Affair to Remember song? We all shout out "YES!!" And David looks at Josh and tells him see, Josh just smiles, then someone shouts they should record it! David nods his head as agreeing. Brian tells us thanks for always supporting Josh, or something to that effect. The dreaded time comes and they are taking Josh away. I hear Brian say, "Lets get out of here"

But I start following Josh, my eyes gluded to his head. I spot him leaning to my left and saying, "There's my girl" and he is giving MIConnie a hug! Awwww!! Brian does the same thing and I go past Brian. Josh is there just a foot from me sitting in a golf cart, I have my CD and sharpie ready and then this other gal hands him something to sign, I close in and tap his right shoulder. I tell him, "HI, nice to meet you, Josh" and shake his hand, his hand is so soft!!. Josh says, "How are you doing" Such polite manners!!!! I reply, "Just fine, thanks! I ask, "May I touch your hair!? "He says "Yes!!" So I do, with both hands, (my CD and sharpie are under my arm). His hair is so soft and the curls so curly. Josh just smiles big. Then I ask for a hug, he says "All right." I hug and sneak in a kiss on his right temple and breath deeply, (sorry to disappoint you all but, he just smelled like perspiration, exactly how I probably smelled to him ). As I kiss his temple, I tell him in Spanish, "Te Amo!" His reply" "Yo Tambien!" What a guy, he knows his Spanish even!! Wahoo!! Translation: Te Amo ~ I love you. Yo tambien ~ I do too!! THUDDA!! THUDDA!! THUDDA !!THUDDA! I tried to get his autograph but Josh, Brian, David, driver and golf cart, vanish into the night!!!! I didn't get a picture, oh well, next time perhaps? What a night to Remember!! I was totally amazed how easy it was for me to get that close to Josh. My brain wanted to chase the golf cart, but my body said, honey don't even try it, ya would fall down and end up all wet (dew all ready on the grass) and plain embarrass yourself, how true, how true!

Turid, from Norway (raffle winner, this past spring) was at our table, my friend Tamsyn got to meet her, they visited for quite a bit. Turid speaks English flawlessly. It was a pleasure getting to meet with you, Turid!! I hope you enjoyed your first M&G, and Josh concert with John Williams! I'm sure you had a safe trip home

I must apologize to Ruthie and Jessi for leaving you all behind. But I had my chance to meet Josh and I wasn't going to miss it. It was like, Josh was a magnet, and I was drawn to him. I was so selfish, I know, please forgive me. Josh's band appeared, had my picture taken with Tariq, Eric and Craig. I also had pictures taken with Jessi and Ruthie and Eric. I was beside Eric and I just grabbed his tummy and gave it a little pat and squeeze, He said laughing "OOOHH, okay, you'll have to post that picture on the board. Boy, was I something that night or what?? Well, all good things do come to an end! The party's over, they popped your pretty balloon and taken our Josh away.............

Lisa McCabe (you naughty thing you!Tee hee!) and her elves where awesome, incredible, industrious, so sweet and kind!! All the Grobanites I met, were a group of ladies I'll love for ever and ever!! So Lisa, how about next year? You know I'll be there in a heart beat!!