WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN:

Distance Lends Perspective
Miles traveled: 3090
Number of shows attended: 4
Cities visited: Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Indianapolis

Words From the Road:
  • "Happiness is five people in a king-sized bed." --Meghan, Philadelphia (Excuse me... Upper Darby...)
  • "Oh, I thought you wanted me to sketch you." --A lady in New Jersey
  • "Isn't it baffling? Water in a tube, and it glows." --Zac, Montreal
  • "You suck. --Amanda, Boston
  • "If you pump the brakes, you might make it home." --A mechanic, New Jersey Turnpike
  • "Put it in your bag! Hurry!" --Me, Boston
  • "I don't know about you, boy, but your daddy got game." --Hayden, Indianapolis
  • "Bling bling!" --everyone, Montreal
Things that Rock About Meeting Hanson
  1. Being able to just look and look and look at them from dangerously close distances. To absorb their beauty like a sponge. To be driven to absolute distraction when they smile at you.
  2. Beinng able to touch their hands and to faithfully proclaim to the world that they're indeed large enough to land small aircraft on without incident.
  3. The understanding that if someone ever attempts to map the Complete History of the World, in that one particular moment, you and Hanson were in the same place.
  4. Knowing that no matter what sort of stupid, inane thing you say to them, it won't be nearly as stupid as some of things they've said in interviews.
  5. Basking in their awe-inspiring tallness.
Things that Do Not Rock About Meeting Hanson
  1. Never in your life will you feel as unattractive as when you are standing next to Jordan Taylor Hanson.
  2. Rest assured, no Hanson will ever slip you the meaning of life in a Meet and Greet.
  3. You may not have time to get the second syllable of "hello" out of your mouth. Never mind a marriage proposal.
  4. You may spend so much time looking and looking that you forget to do any amount of talking.
  5. The moments you spend with Hanson are assuredly among the most painfully fleeting you will ever experience.
  6. Elevating your expectations to the point that, in person, the boys seem downright cordial and boring.
The Thank-Yous
  1. To Amanda, for being a trooper, for dealing with all of us, for letting us wreck her house, mess up her parent's bed, borrow her mom's socks, kidnap her favorite jeans, destroy her car's brakes and other annoyances. And especially for being good company.
  2. To Sly, the official TTA Tour 2000-Mobile.
  3. To Jackie, for the opportunity, and for generally being a good host and a good friend.
  4. To Meghan for breaking her neck to get up to Boston and down to Philly. Going to see Hanson without you would have been blasphemy of the highest and most shameful kind.
  5. To Brian and Sue-Ann at the Woodrow Wilson Rest Area between exists 7 and 7a off the New Jersey Turnpike for taking care of us and for going out of their way to get us home safely.
  6. To AAA for nothing...
  7. To the security guy at the Orpheum door for being a crappy liar.
  8. To everyone we lied to, including Mary and Amanda's parents, for the sake of these trips. We love you, but some things are just necessary for the sake of Hanson.
  9. To the man outside of Metropolis who wasn't rude to us and gave us correct, clearly stated information. In English
  10. To the staff guy at the Orpheum who let Stefanie stay with us. You have no idea how cool you are. May your generosity and compassion come back to you tenfold.
  11. To Hanson for not suing Stef for damages when she broke their bus.
  12. To the girl at the front desk at the Comfort Inn, Downtown Montreal. We only see four people too. Thank you.
  13. To whoever sets up those Meet and Greets...
  14. To the praying mantis.
Bottom Line:
Hey Hanson. See you in the summer.