When we reached the hotel the lobby was decked out in hanson lovin' girls!! Wow, what a party we were going to have!! As we went to unpack our car a van pulled up & a lady with two hanson girls asked," Are they here yet?" After exchanging puzzled glances with each other Michelle asks, "WHO'S here yet?" "Don't you know Hanson is supposed to be at this hotel?" She leaves us with our mouths hanging open & trying to get control of our body parts. Finally we say, "She's crazy" & move on, making sure we keep our eyes peeled for blonde males.

While Michelle & I are doing some major primping, our girls are hanging out at the door to our room. They are wide-eyed & reporting to us all the going-ons in the hallway. "There's this weird girl knocking on all the doors. She is carrying a camcorder and asking if Hanson is in the room." It's like a girls dorm. They are so excited (who wasn't!!!!!) & there were rumors flying around every where. It was 3:30 & the gates didn't open until 6:00. To heck with it! We were going NOW!!!

When we got there we were informed that we were not allowed to park until 5, which was another hour & 40 min. Let me tell you now. We are both professed goody two shoes, but we had a REAL problem with obeying the "rules" & the "authorities" that were handing them out. He told us to go up & turn around. Wellll...Michelle went up & turned TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT! We sat behind some cars that did the same & after a few minutes WE WERE IN!!!

We got out & bought souvenirs & sat in the shade of some trees. At 4:30 Hanson started their sound check!!!!!! Oh girls, to be there in the shade with a breeze & Taylor-blue skies listening to those awesome voices...When Michelle wrote about leaving for paradise I bet she didn't realize how right she would be... Michelle ran to the fence & if it didn't have barbed wire on the top she would have scaled it!!!

Michelle, Jessica & Suzanne were lured to the fence by the sound of masculine voices. Regina stayed 50 feet back. I wimped out when I noticed I'd have to walk in sandles through leaves of three! Poison Ivy...hate the plant, LOVE the song!!! Hanson style, of course.

Michelle & the girls were soon joined by another woman who was VERY vocal & proceeded to brag about knowing Hanson (her Dad knew them & took her to their house) & seeing them backstage about three times. She said girls were throwing up backstage & she tried to help them, but Hanson said to leave them alone since they were doing it to themselves. Yeah, right! Well, it wasn't long after that discussion when Michelle strolled back to me with a look of disgust written all over her face.

We stood there at the foot of the hill staring towards the top wishing for a pair of wings. We were just in awe & getting jittery every minute, "Oh my gosh!!!! We are actually in the same place as THEY are!!! AAAuuuhhhh!! I just heard Tay speak!!!! I hear "soldiers"!!!! Our daughters, on the other hand, turned into a pair of whiny 2 yr olds. They wanted to go to the concession area where a bunch of screaming girls were. We tried it once & couldn't EVEN hear the sound check. Michelle & I went from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, "When we get into the pavillion you will not eat, drink, OR go to the bathroom!!" It's a wonder no one reported us for child abuse.

As we headed to the opening of the gates we passed by Mrs. I Know Hanson. She was surrounded by teenyboppers & they were like, "wow!" Michelle & I just rolled our eyes at each other :)

Finally!!! The gates open at 6:20 (20 minutes late) & we proceeded to get lost. We didn't realize how close we were to the stage (one level above the floor) & started at the top! I swear our minds had gone to total mush...

Please bear with me as I sort out the various emotions that I found myself being caught up in. This is a concert I will ALWAYS remember... "until the end of time."

If the media was unbiased, they would have written about all the different age groups, which also included men & boys. The sight was AMAZING! A sea of smiling, excited faces. You couldn't help,but be caught up in it! The video camera was set up & scanning the audience. I made sure to be BRIGHT so I could be SEEN! I had on a lime & yellow tie-dye with a hot pink heart on the front & back. Add that to my long red hair & I could be seen for miles! In the hotel room I hunted for a pen & wrote "Hanson" on the front of my shirt & "Rocks" on the back. I wanted everyone to know that I was an adult fan, and not just there for my daughter. Unfortunately, my plan didn't work. Everytime the video pointed our way signs went up all the way around us. Oh well, I TRIED!!

Even though we all knew Admiral Twin was up first, the Hanson chant was yelled intermittently throughout the wait. When Admiral Twin came on I was so proud of the audience. Although most people were seated there were a lot of yelling & clapping for them. I stood up most of the time (I needed to rest my tootsies once in awhile) & clapped to their music. They had a great rock & roll sound & I enjoyed their energy! They were jumping around the set obviously enjoying themselves. When the set was being changed after Admiral Twin the excitement level was really pushing the limits!!!

Every billowing of the curtain brought earsplitting screams. I swear my knees were buckling & my heart could hardly stand the anticipation!!! Michelle's hands were shaking so bad it took all she could to hold onto her binoculors! Then it happened. The music started...the curtain fell...AND THERE THEY WERE!!!!! AAAUUUUUUHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!! They were REAL!! And I could see them with my own eyes!! "GimmeSome Lovin'" totally rocked the place!! Ike was jammin' on the guitar, Tay was pounding the keyboard & Zac was almost hidden behind his drum kit, but your ears could pick up his awesome drumming!! Our "2 yr olds" grew up quickly into shrieking preteens (I didn't know my daughter could scream that loud!!). Our daughters were jumping up & down, & occasionally landing on my FOOT!!!

Michelle DID share her binoculars once with me (while still strapped around her head, he he) so I could get a close up of Ike, Tay, & Zac. How I wished I was close enough to really see them! Of course, the 40 ft screens were a great help & I was thankful for that.

Visualize...

Isaac in an open dark striped shirt, snug white t-shirt, and classy dark pants. The striped shirt comes off after a few songs when he gets hot.

Isaac singing "More Than Anything" in the snug white T-shirt.

Isaac coming from backstage with a light green silky shirt blowing around him as he ran back on stage.

Zac in the famous blue camouflage shirt & dark parachute pants. At times when a green light shone on him it made the shirt look irredescent. Just right for Mr. Sunshine.

Taylor in a white open shirt with a snug black T underneath. Nicely fitting VELVET maroon pants. Not too tight or loose. Of course the white shirt came off...after the first couple of songs. Gee Taylor, why bother putting it on? He, ever so casually, slipped off his button up shirt & dropped it on the floor. If you weren't paying much attention (which I WAS) you would have missed it! I was expecting it to happen, but not THAT soon!

As usual, their music & harmonies were TIGHT! Though they have played these songs so many times before, you could read the expressions of pure pleasure on their faces as they performed them once more for us.

I had a hard time deciding where to look! I had the choice of them live or on the big screen. It was like watching a tennis match! Thank goodness for the giant screens when signs went up in front of our faces.

TWICE Tay looked up our way!!! Michelle & I were giddy beyond belief! Another time he WAVED our way! My hand automatically shot up to wave back. I waved frantically at him before he turned back to the keyboard. I felt like a total idiot, but hey, maybe he DID see us!!

The set change to 3 car was done quickly & the guys looked very relaxed. Zac could be seen so much better at the smaller drum kit, Ike sat strumming his guitar as Tay spoke (couldn't hear when they talked...*sigh*). Oh how I would have loved to hear the 3 car garage songs louder. I was SO looking forward to hearing them in the deeper voices. I do forgive the screaming girls because what happened was so cute. As the songs began, girls would scream VERY often. Finally I turned to the screen to see what was going on when I heard them yell again. There was Zac singing away, oblivious to the attention he was receiving...BUT he soon caught sight of himself on the screen as the girls were letting it rip once more. He grinned from ear to ear! Everytime after that he'd grin at the screams. It was SO sweet. He seemed so happy that all that attention was for him :)

THEN...Tay & Zac walk off...I got goosebumps just thinking of that beautiful song I was soon to hear. Ike sat behind the keyboard & touched a few keys. He turned toward the side of the stage & jerked his thumb up. He tried the keys again, jerked his thumb up...again, the keys...ahhh. perfect. The emotions that played across his face as he sang was breathtaking. We didn't need a sunset. We could just watch the glow on his face...*BIG sigh*

After Ike turned off the lamp & walked away...they changed back to the original set. The audience had calmed down during Ike's song, but when they came out to jam the emotional dam burst again!

I don't remember the exact order of songs, but IWC2U was included. When the first keys were played, I felt overwhelmed. I tried to keep the tears in check, mostly so I would be able to SEE. I love that song. No, I have no personal reasons for it, except it is just so spiritual to me. This is where the description of soul man comes to my mind. The moans, groans & lilts in his voice amazes me. His voice just hooks you & takes you for a spine-tingling ride *shiver*

I was mesmerized, but was soon jolted back to reality by the jam session where they introduce their back up players! I was so excited because I knew this is when Tay takes over the drums!!! He walks up to Zac & whispers to him. Then he stands behind Zac, pointing at him. Finally, he is behind the drums!!!!! WOOOOOWWWW! I loved it!! It was WAY too short though. He was only on it long enough for Zac to super soak the front rows. As Zac took back the drums Tay emptied the super soaker on the audience again. Out of all the songs played, I have to admit "MMMBop" was the highlight. I don't know what it is about that song, but it threw everyone into a frenzy! Even some of the fathers who had been sitting down stood up & clapped! I I thought it was cool the way I could CLEARLY hear the bongos. Usually on TV you can barely make them out. I loved the effect on the song. Kind of Jamaican. Really cool.

They said bye & walked off the stage...yeah, right! I could hear someone talking, their was a hesitation (I guess I wasn't the ONLY one who could not hear them talking) then a roar went up in the crowd. Hanson came bounding out & jammed their hearts out again! "Summer time Blues" was great as Tay went around with the microphone trying to get audience participation! I couldn't take my eyes off of him! No, I take that back. I think this is where Ike jumps down from the platfrom Zac was on. Ike half knelt beside Zac, whispered in his ear, & jumped off! I held my breath until I saw he had made it safely (should I have doubted?).

Well, they left their instruments & Zac emptied his water bottle on the audience. Tay was stretching out shaking peoples hands (WAHHH!!!). The guys clasped hands, bowed and...IT WAS OVER!!!! NOOOOO!!! Just a few more hours!!!! PLEASE?????

As eveyone filed out of the pavilion we sat there to stunned to move, sorting out our emotions. Another adult fan, Jennifer, joined us & led us to the door that led backstage. Security kept trying to get rid of us. We'd move away a couple feet everytime they told us to LEAVE. Hey, Michelle needed to use her speeding ticket & I wanted them to know I spent my 15th anniversary at their concert. PLEASE, give us backstage passes!!!! Well, the lobster people (as our daughters nicknamed the red shirted security) ignored our pleas...darn.

One woman had been listening to us & pointed out her daughter in the backstage pass line (how DO you get those anyway??). We were shocked that she wasn't in line with her!!!! She said there was a woman from Ohio at the concert. I told her I was from Ohio & Michelle told her Kentucky. The woman exclaimed, "You came all the way out here to see a Hanson concert??" She was as shocked as we were insulted. The woman just didn't have a CLUE!!

So ends our adventure to DC... Guess what? We have tickets to CINNCINATI!!!!!! WOO HOO!!! And we are in the 7th row, Ike's side!!!! Eye contact!!!! Throw those binoculors over the hill!!!

We will be meeting Kim & Michelle (the Hansonology webmasters) & their daughters!!!!!!!! Hanson has made some wonderful memories for me & some even more wonderful friends...*sniff* I can't wait!!

Now, let's see. Should I wear that tie-dye shirt again? hmmmmm....

Regina