ACTUALIZATION :: The ninth in a series as we count down to Madonna’s new album. I just got back from New York City* after an amazing 3-day weekend at the Madonna/Smirnoff event. It’s been a whirlwind, and I can’t believe it’s all over already, but I cannot swipe this smile off of my face. Okay, so I didn’t meet Madonna. But, I made some very visceral improvements in my getting to her:
1) I introduced myself to one of her Sticky and Sweet Tour dancers, Ant Boogie, who immediately knew who I was. The conversation went something like this:
“Ant-Boogie, I’m a huge fan!”
“Aren’t you the one who vogued on a stool?”
“What did you just say?!”
Yes, that really happened.
2) I introduced myself and had a long conversation with Liz Rosenberg, famous for being Madonna’s rough and tumble publicist of almost thirty years. She was extremely down-to-earth and actually such a sweetheart. Known for being a pothead, I professed that she was “a woman after my own heart: weed and Madonna,” to which she replied, “In that order!”
Yes, that really happened.
Because I’m 5’5″, I helped myself to standing on a chair when I knew the show was about to begin. Madonna was coming. The music starts, the lights go out, and then a spotlight strikes. Madonna rises up from under the stage. The crowd goes wild and so do my tears. Keep in mind that this was an event hosted by Smirnoff, so I had a few (FREE) drinks to take the edge off. But just being in her presence is enough to start the waterworks.
Every memory I have of her, her music, her videos, her songs, her performances, her looks, her words, her voice, and even just her existences flashes in front of my eyes. All the good, the bad, the ugly, the fun, and the amazing times I’ve had in my life, Madonna has been there for, and my tears are just a symbol of gratitude for all the support through it all. It sounds crazy, but it makes sense to me. And I know when I finally meet Madonna (mark my words, it will be very soon), she will get it too.
So, let me go try and wake up from this fuzzy dream of a weekend. I wonder what other kind of Madonna trouble I can get myself into…
* A big thank-you to the amazing Thompson LES for letting me express myself in their gorgeous hotel while I was in NYC. They have the most stunningly beautiful staff in every sense of the word.
