A New Day… Has Come

Lucky number five. If you’re a Céline fan, you know why I was optimistic about this fifth and final trip to see Céline in Las Vegas. The number five is lucky for Céline in many ways, and has brought her luck in her life and career. It has also brought me luck as a Céline fan. I saw her for the first time on the 14th! 1 + 4 = 5. Then I saw her for the first time from the second row in 2005! On the 5th of July, my fifth time seeing the show, I saw her for the first time from the front row! So I knew, deep down that this was going to be an amazing trip, however bittersweet it might be, knowing that this was most likely the final time I would see her in this show.

I already had tickets for Sunday the 17th, in the third row. Second row seats had slipped through my fingers, but third row would do. And I planned to, for lack of a better word, stalk the box office the remaining show nights to try for first or second row. When I arrived at the box office a couple hours before the show on that Wednesday, my heart nearly shattered. There was a huge stand-by line of at least one hundred people. This could not be happening. I saw my box office friend from last year, Neal*. So my mom and I went to say hello, and see if he could help us out in any way. My mom asked him if he remembered me, I thought that was a stupid question, why would be remember me? He stared at me for a minute, really trying to remember, but nothing came to him. Either way, he gave us some advice and said tonight was pretty unlikely for tickets, but the only thing I could do tonight was stand in the line. So I did, for two hours. There was a couple in front of me in line, they decided spur of the moment to try to see the show, they’d never seen it before. I told them all about it, and they couldn’t believe I had seen it seven times! I tried my hardest to see it my eighth time that night, but when 8:30pm, show time came around I was still ticketless. I pouted for a moment and then looked on the bright side, that I had three more days to try. We waited around Caesars that night and ate, then I waited outside the doors for the cast to come out, so I could say hello. The first two I saw were André and Yves. I went up to André first and asked for a picture, he always greets me with such a big warm smile, and said, “Of course!” And then I turned to Yves, and asked him if he wouldn’t mind either, he said, “Sure!” I put my arms around them, and got yet another picture with two of Céline’s very talented musicians. I then said, “Thank you so much!” And they thanked me, and I let them on their way. I never want to be rude and take up too much of their time. Next I saw Mégo, I remember how nervous I was to meet him for the first time, this being the third. I went right up to him and asked, “Mégo? Would you mind taking a picture with me?” He said, “Oh, yes! Of course!” He immediately put his arm around me and smiled! Next I saw Don, one very talented dancer! There are no words to describe his energetic personality. He is definitely one of a kind, talking to you like he’s known you forever. I asked for a picture, and he so kindly did. He asked me if I’d seen the show that night. I told him, I stood in the line for two hours, but no such luck. He said it was extremely hard, being the final year, and even when he tries to request tickets for his family to come out, he can’t even get tickets. I thought that was ridiculous. Then I heard my dad say, “There’s Michel!” I wanted to catch Michel, because I had something for Céline, being the final year and all. I had only asked Michel one other time in 2004 to deliver something, and I thanked him profusely in both person and with a card. I don’t think he minds, but I don’t want him to think that the only reason I approach him is to ask him for something. I didn’t want to be rude to Don, but he whispered, “You better go catch him!” I laughed, and said, “Ok, thank you!” He said he hoped to see me in the crowd, hopefully front row sometime that week! I turned around and my dad had stopped Michel for me, saying, “Man, I didn’t hardly recognize you without your hair!“ He said with a laugh, “Sometimes that’s a good thing!“ As he turned the corner, I said without hesitation, “Hi Michel!!!” He said cheerfully, “Well, hello!” I instantly reflected on what a babbling idiot I was the first time I’d met him, and now I’m talking to him as I would a friend. I turned around to get the gift for Céline out of my bag, which was a video I had made for her. It was like a letter, with words all throughout telling her how much fun I have had over the past years, along with pictures and videos from those experiences. I also grabbed the card I’d made for Michel, it thanked him for his constant kindness and generosity, and was decorated with the pictures I’ve taken with him over the years. I handed him the gift for Céline first, and asked him if he wouldn’t mind delivering it. He looked down and read the words, “Dear Céline” and immediately said, “Yes, of course!” Then I handed him his card and said, “And this is for you.” He looked at the card where I had written “Michel”, then at me, and at the card again. He was visibly shocked, and I will never forget the look of disbelief he gave me, asking, “For me?” I wondered if anyone besides me had ever thought to give him something before. I said, “Yes, it’s for you! You get one too!” His smile beamed, and he said, “I get one too!!!” Then my mom asked, “Do you have time for a picture?” He said, “Of course, of course!” So we posed for a picture, Michel pulling me so close once again that we were cheek to cheek. My mom took the picture, and Michel asked, “Did you get it, is it good? Oh, take one more!” We both laughed and he pulled me even closer while she took a second picture. Then he quickly put the gift for Céline and his card into his briefcase, looked up at me and blew a kiss, I blew one back, saying “Thank you!”, and he was on his way. I’m always blown away by the constant kindness of Michel Dion. It was then that my mom realized Don was still there, and she went up to him and asked him how Spain was. He said, “Wow, you remembered!” My mom said, “Of course, mojito, mojito!” He laughed really hard, and did the drunk dance again, saying, “Too many mojitos!” He’s such a character. He said he was returning to Spain this fall again, he loves it there. I figured since he didn’t seem to be in a hurry, I asked him, “Would you do me a favor?“ He said, “Sure!“ I said, “My best friend Ashlee is a big fan of the show, and she couldn’t make it out here one final time to see it, would you mind just saying ‘Hi Ashlee!‘ to the camera real quick?“ He said, “No problem, let me know when you’re ready!“ I said, “Ok!“ And he went on and on talking to Ashlee, it was so kind of him, and I couldn’t wait to show it to Ashlee, she would be so excited. I told him, “Thank you so much, that is going to mean the world to her!“ He put his hand on his heart and went, “Awww.“ Then he started chatting with my parents and I again. He’s such a friendly person, always wanting to chat. We give him the opportunity to be on his way, but he wants to talk! He said that even after performing with Céline night after night, “She still moves me.” I looked at him with a knowing expression, saying, “I know, I love her so much!” My dad asked him if he was going on tour with Céline next year, he said they didn’t know yet. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to. He explained, “Of course it would be amazing to tour the world with her, but I hate living out of my suitcase.” He said it’s frustrating not knowing what language to speak, he gets so confused and tries to order food in Germany, in Italian. He said there should be a universal word like, “Shit!” so that at least one word could be understood everywhere! He's hysterical! We chatted for a little while longer, and he told me again that he hoped to see me in the crowd this week, just keep trying, “Keep pushing ‘em!” I said I would!

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The next day I was bound and determined to get a front row seat, at all costs I would be in that front row this Thursday evening! And so, at 4:00pm, four and a half hours before the show even started, I was at that box office. Someone said the night before that the stand by line can start as early as 4:00pm, so I was there… and ready to stand there all night if I had to! I went up to someone who has helped me out in the past at the box office, and I asked her if there was anything in the front row. She looked and said, “I have fifth row.” I said, “No, I’ll wait.” She looked at me and said, “I have fifth row though, those are good seats.” I said, “Yes, I know, I’ve sat there before, but this is my last trip out here, and I’m going to hold out for front row.” She looked at me, crooked her eyebrow, leaned back and said, “You’re one of those diehards, aren’t you?” I said, “As a matter of fact, yes I am!” She then asked me how many times I had seen the show, I said seven times. She said, “Oh, that’s nothing!” I rolled my eyes and said, “I know Ramona! But seven times is a lot for me, ok?!” She laughed and asked me if I was going to her party, I told her I’d be there. Ramona was reaching the milestone of seeing Céline’s show over 100 times that weekend, and there was to be a party on Saturday. I told her I’d be back, she replied, “I’m sure you will!” So I sat down on a ledge next to the box office, my mom said she was going to go shop, and to call her if I got tickets. So I sat down and began to text Ashlee, telling her to pray for me to get front row. I hadn’t even gotten halfway through it, when I looked up to see Neal* in front of me. I said, “Hello!” He said, “You were here with your mom last night, looking for Row AA?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Come on down to the end, I think I can help you out!” I said, “Really?!” I jumped up, dialing my mom at the same time, I got her on the phone just before Neal* was behind the counter and I said, “Come now, hurry!!” Neal* looked up the tickets, and my mom was there just as he said he had front row off to the right. I instantly said, “Right in front of her when she sits on the steps!” He said, laughing, “Yep, seat 304 and 305.” I said, “That’ll work!” He started to purchase them for us, and my mom said, “Wow!” He then revealed, “I put a watch on front row last night after you left.” I gasped and said, “Thank you so, so, so much!” He handed me the tickets… Row AA! I jumped up and down, unable to contain my excitement! He then asked me if I was a TeamCéline member, I told him I was. He asked me if I had a VIP tag, I told him I’d never gotten one. He asked another lady who was next to him if they had any, she said they were all out. He held up his finger and said, “Hang on a minute, I think I have one.” He came back with one for me, from his private stash. I said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” He smiled and told us to have fun tonight. I told him we would! We then went back to the hotel room so I could freak out, and call Ashlee. I looked at the clock, it was 5:00pm. I had three and half hours before the show started! I took my time getting ready, even taking a long shower beforehand.
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When it was about 7:00pm, we decided to go across to Caesars. I was filled with excitement, I was so lucky, after the huge line the night before I didn’t think it was possible, but my persistence paid off! We walked into the Colosseum, and after getting a picture with “Céline”, and a quick visit to the bathroom, made our way to our seats. I wanted seat 305, for reasons previously mentioned, it has the number five in it! I sat down, I could easily use the steps as a footstool. While I was astonished by that, a photographer asked if we’d like our picture in front of the stage. I said, “Why not?” I’d already had my picture on the stage, but this is cool too! A guy that was sitting next to my mom, on the very end of the aisle was laughing at our poses. My mom joked, “What? Didn’t you get your picture taken yet?” He then said in some other language I couldn’t identify that he didn’t speak English, that didn’t stop my mom from doing some interesting sign language, trying to communicate with him. I looked around, and then saw a familiar profile way in the back, it was Lynne*! I told my mom, and we immediately got up to say hello. I grabbed a card I had made for her also. When we approached her, I realized she was talking on her radio, so I waited patiently. Another usher lady tried to get us to leave, but my mom and I explained I knew her, and just wanted to say a quick hello if she had a moment. She gave me a suspicious look, then Lynne* turned around and exclaimed, “Hello, Miss Ashley!!!!!” while wrapping her arms around me into a big hug. The usher lady looked down at the floor. Lynne* said, “I was just thinking about you the other day, realizing it was June and I hadn’t heard from Ashley yet, and then I got your email!“ She asked about the other Ashlee, and I told her she was doing well, and had moved back to Indiana. Lynne* apologized that she was so busy! I said, “Oh, that’s ok, I know, I just wanted to say hello,” and holding the card out, “this is for you!” She said, “Oh, you didn’t have to do that!” I said, “No, no, it’s my last time and I wanted to!” “Oh, that’s right, you’re seeing the show on Sunday, right?“ I said yes, and that I was in the front row tonight, adding, “Right in front of her when she sits on the steps!“ She gasped in excitement, knowing how much being that close means to me. She asked, “How did you manage that?!“ I said, “I was very persistent!“ She said that’s how you have to be with them sometimes! She was visibly excited for me, wanting to talk more, when someone else approached her with yet another request, so I laid my hand on her back and said, “I’ll let you go!” She said, “It was so good to see you!” I replied, “You too, take care!” We then took our seats again, show time was only minutes away. I knew I didn’t have to, but out of nervousness, I had to go to the bathroom again. I came back sat down, put my feet up on my footstool/the stage steps and nervously awaited the arrival of Céline Dion. This would be my eighth time seeing the show, how lucky I am. Then the glass broke and my heart skipped a beat.

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It doesn’t matter how many times you see her, it’s always so overwhelming that first moment when she walks onto the stage. The first notes began, and I had the death grip on my mom’s hand, shaking in anticipation as usual. She was so beautiful in her new costumes, well new to me. She went through her first few songs like a blur, they go way too fast. During “The Power of Love” when the male dancers do the “cane walk”, when Don was directly in front of me, he leaned down nonchalantly tilted his head, smiled and winked at me! It was so cool, because they normally don’t break character, and no one would have noticed unless you’d been looking at him. Then after “To Love You More” she got a standing ovation, which she was shocked by! Then things started to quiet down, I yelled, as always, “I love you, Céline!” She glanced my way, and then listened to everyone else calling out to her, proclaiming their love. She’s always touched, saying “Thank you!“ even though I’m sure this happens every night. She gave her usual speech and then said, “Shall we go for it?!” As she made her way over to my side during “I‘m Alive“, she immediately noticed my shirt, pointing at it and laughing! I had made a shirt as I always do with her name on the front in glittery paint and rhinestones. I blew her a kiss, and she winked! During “I Drove All Night”, Céline ran over to me and did the “drive” dance motion with me and then sang “to get to you” with us pointing towards each other. Every time I would do a dance move with her, she would smile. It has to happen all the time, but she seems to be touched by it every time. Then during “If I Could”, when Céline came down to sit in front of me, literally at my feet, I whispered, “I love you.” Then I grabbed my mom’s hand for dear life as she began to sing to me! I think she thought that I was grabbing my mom’s hand because of the meaning of the song, about the relationship between mother and child. But it was because I was freaking out. Either way, she sang good portions of the song directly to my mom and I, about halfway through I gained enough courage to sing back to her a little, which made her smile. During “Love Can Move Mountains” my mom bumped me on the shoulder towards the end of the song and pointed in the opposite direction, when I looked, I saw André the guitarist standing in front of me, smiling and nodding during his guitar solo. He obviously remembered taking a picture with me the previous night. I smiled at him and waved, he then smiled bigger at my acknowledgment. Also, Elise the backup singer, waved at me although I’d never met her before. I was excited to see that it was Don that did the rap at the end of the song. He came over to my side, and I did the rap right back to him! The rest of the show went so unbelievably fast, before I knew it, she was singing “River Deep, Mountain High”, I was so looking forward to seeing this newly added song! Let me just say that Céline rocks that song and that dress like nothing you've ever seen before! The audience started off standing, but some people sat down, and I was so mesmerized, my mom tapped me on the shoulder to sit down with her, so people behind us could see. She was amazing, rocking out like never before! I blew her kiss during the song and she went, “Mwah!“ Then the familiar “My Heart Will Go On” began, I have come to truly dislike this song, because of the new meaning behind it. It means the show is coming to an end. And that it did. Céline was doing her final bow, and getting ready to give out the rose. I knew I wouldn’t receive it, because I had already spotted a rich person in the front row, just across the aisle. Surly enough, the wife of a man dressed in full cowboy style, leather, hat and all, got the rose. Céline took his hat, which was about the size of her body, and put it on her head, laughing! Looking around at all of us, like “Check me out!” She cracks me up! Then she gave him back his hat, walked back onstage, hit the stage floor and threw her hand up in the air swinging an invisible lasso, yelling, “Yeeeehawwww!” It was hysterical! Then as she made her way off stage, she looked down at me. I blew her several kisses, as I always do, and she did the same back to me, with a wink and a smile. Every little moment warms my heart. I was totally worthless after the show, just staring off into nothing, trying to let everything that had just happened, sink in.

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After the show I saw Deon, who kindly took a picture with me. Then I saw Kelby, who my mom as usual scared the crap out of! All of a sudden I saw her out of the corner of my eye, Kelby in tow. Then he said, “Hi, what’s your name?!” I told him my name, and then we posed for a picture. We talked for quite a while. He asked how we knew him so well, I explained that I’d met him several times before, and he was one of the first dancers that I met the first year of the show. He was excited that I remembered him so well. Then he asked me if I liked the show, I said, “Why yes, I enjoyed it from the front row!” He said, “Oh my God, really?!” He asked me when the last time I’d seen the show was, and I told him it was last July. He said, “Oh, then you hadn’t seen ‘River Deep’ then yet?“ I said, “No!“ And he said, while putting both hands over his heart, “It’s my faaaaavorite!“ I agreed, and we gushed over Céline some more. Then he asked where I was from, I told him. He said it was so nice to meet me, and then proceeded to reenact the expression on his face when my mom came up to him and went, “Kelby! Come here!” I told him, “It’s happened before!” He said, “That’s what she was telling me!” Then my mom told him about a couple years ago when he peeked his head out the doors, and my mom yelled, “Kelby! Come here!” and he had this frightened look on his face and went, “No, you come here!” He said, “Oh, I did? Oh, my God!” Then he admired my shirt, my mom told him I’d made it, he said, “Oh my God, you did? Let me see!“ I turned around so he could see the back, and he said, “That is awesome!“ He’d thought I bought it at the store or something. Then he asked my mom what her name was, she told him, and he gave her a big hug! I told him that this was my final year, and that Sunday was my last show, and he said, “Oh, come here!” Motioning to hug him, and he gave me a big hug! After the hug, which did make me feel a little better, he said, “Sunday night is for you, I am performing all for you!” I said, “Aww, thank you!” Then he asked me how many times I’d seen the show, I said after tonight it was eight times! He said he would definitely see me on Sunday, and thanked me for all my support, and off he went. After that, we saw Michel again, he took a picture with another fan. I wasn’t going to bother him again, but he looked up at me and smiled really big. I waved at him and smiled back. He said, with a big expression, “Heellloooo!” Then he saw my parents, and said, “Hi guys!” Then I saw Amber again! We posed for a picture and she clapped her hands saying, “Oooh, I like a good flash!” Then she told us to have a good night, and off she went! Then we went back to the hotel, so I could pass out from all the excitement!

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So, I had done it. I had sat in the front row at least once during my final trip. I was content, but still I wanted to be able to say I made every possible effort to see it as many times as possible. So I went to the box office again, to see if my luck was still there. I was supposed to meet a few other Céline fans there at 7:00pm, but when I arrived I didn’t see them. So I went up and asked Missy at the box office if she happened to have anything in the front row. She looked at me with that same look, the “I’ll check, but it’s probably pointless” look. Her eyes widened and nearly popped out of her head and she exclaimed, “I have two front row, dead center!” I said, “Oh my God, are you serious?! They’re mine!” I was jumping up and down, and just then Neal* walked by, noticed us, and then looked at the tickets I was purchasing and went, “Wow!” He laughed at my huge grin and inability to stand still. I could not believe I had just walked up to the box office, asked for front row, and actually got it. Not only front row, but front row center! Then I realized the date, June 15th. Lucky number five was making it’s appearance yet again. To top things off, Manny had just arrived and wanted to go with me. He was seeing Céline for the first time, and he was sitting front row, center! After calling Ashlee and screaming, “I got front row, dead center!” I quickly changed in the Caesars restroom, and then in we went. It was nearly showtime, so we quickly went to our seats. Once again that feeling of having to go to the bathroom out of nervousness hit me again. Even though I didn’t have to go, I went anyways. I returned to my seat, sitting next to us was a couple who’s seats were accidentally resold the previous night, so they’d gotten front row. Prior to the show, my mom had given Manny some simple instructions if he was to accompany me to see Céline. He was to make sure I kept breathing, to hold my hand throughout the first few songs, and to bump me every time Céline acknowledged me so that I would know it had actually happened and I wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating. Manny laughed at my inability to take a full breath of air and the fact that my hands were shaking. I told him, “You don’t understand how close you are about to be to THE Céline Dion.“

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And so it began. I nearly had a heart attack. I was in the freaking front row, seat 407, literally the best seat in the house. Could I handle being this close, two nights in a row? I was shaking and nearly in tears from the nervousness and excitement! Then she appeared, I grabbed Manny’s hand and did my usual death grip on it. As she began to sing all I could think was, “I’m in the freaking front row, dead center!” As Céline approached the stage, getting closer and closer to me, she instantly saw me. I mean instantly. Our eyes locked, unwavering, she winked and grinned at me. It was unmistakable, she had recognized me. Oh my God! Then when her first song came to an end, she locked eyes with me again, I blew her a kiss and mouthed, “Love you!” She blew me a HUGE kiss, her face full of expression, and mouthed “Thank you!”, pointing at me! Then the lights went down for her to begin “The Power of Love”, Don once again saw me. He gave me a huge grin as he did the “cane walk”. I smiled back and gave him a little wave! Over the next few songs Manny has bumped me so many times, because she literally kept singing to me, pointing at me, blowing me kisses, winking, smiling, or simply just locking eyes with me for long periods of time. He was in amazement. I had always told him about the interaction I’ve had with her in the past, but he didn’t know it was quite like this. In fact, he didn’t fully believe me until he’d witnessed it himself. He tried to brush it off, thinking Céline was just simply acknowledging our particular area, but when it kept happening over and over, there was no mistaking the fact that she was talking to me, pointing to me, and those kisses were in fact being blown to me! He also noticed people beside us looking at me wondering who it was Céline kept talking to! He recalls the woman next to him repeatedly looking at me. Not just glancing over towards me, but physically leaning forwards in her chair to see who it was Céline kept talking to! Then after “To Love You More”, I yelled, “I love you Céline!” She looked at me with such sincerity, leaned down towards me, blew me a kiss with her thumb, and whispered so only I could hear, “Thank you!” I blew her a kiss back. So it’s only five songs in, and already I am on cloud nine, make that cloud ninety-nine! How lucky I am to have had these moments with the person I admire most. Then she began “I’m Alive” and was really into it! I yelled, as usual, “Wooohooo! Ou! Ou! Ou!” And as usual she shook it a little more my direction, and laughed at me! She sang entirely to me and I back to her, “I get wings to fly, oh I’m alive! When you call on me, that’s right, when I hear you breathe, I get wings to fly, I feel that I’m alive,” then pointing at each other simultaneously, “and so are you!” She sang to me off and on through the whole song, but I can’t tell you exactly when it was, because at this point I was on brain overload. Or, should I call it Céline overload? The next song was “I Drove All Night”, and she was pumped! She was very playful with the audience, and to my shock, me in particular! She kept doing the “drive” motion with me and then pointing to me “to get to you” just like the night before. I would of course do it right back to her, which sent more winks and smiles my way! During the end of the song when the backup singers come up front, Elise, whom I’ve never met, waved at me again! Then it was time for “Seduces Me”, ah, da chair! She was very emotional during this song, nearly in tears at the end, I was blown away and even found myself saying, “Wow,” out loud. I didn’t expect such emotion during this song. Then afterwards she does her usual stumble across the stage, going, “Wooohoooo!” So I went, “Wooohooo!” back to her, she quickly looked over at me, I started fanning my face, throwing my head back, mouthing the word, “Wow!” and pointing towards the stage! She started laughing so hard, I thought she might fall off the stage, it was hysterical! She threw her head back laughing, and then threw it forwards again, grabbing her stomach! Then she started fanning herself, still laughing really hard, “I know, I know! You wanna, “ she laughed some more almost unable to speak, “you wanna try dat chair, huh?!” She laughed even more, her eyes sparkling at me, as she moved the microphone away from her mouth for a moment! I said, “Yeah!!” She laughed, with noise even, and said, “Thank you Franco Dragone!” She grinned at me as she proceeded to sit on the steps for, “If I Could”. She sang this song to a little boy in front of her. He was obviously crushing on Céline, blushing all throughout, and then even more when at the end of the song she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. So sweet. She then proceeded to walk back onstage, and then asked the little boy how old he was, “nine, ten?” He said he was eleven. She said, “Ah, den you have all your teeth in, huh? Brush dem well, brush dem well!” Then she proceeded to tell us all about how René-Charles had lost two teeth and she was very upset about it, I made a boo-boo face at her, and she made one back while nodding! Then she talked about the Tooth Fairy… “He’s da only kid in da world who puts his parents to bed at night! He never sleeps. He puts his tooth under da pillow, and you know who’s up?," then she made a face and pointed to herself, "Mommasita! Yep, dats right. I’m feeling under da pillow, da tooth is still dere, and… wait nope, he’s still awake!” It was hysterical! I love this Céline! Totally off script, talking to the audience as if they were her own family. She grabbed her ear, made an annoyed face, then stomped her foot, put her hand on her hip, leaned backwards to look backstage and said, “Yes, I know da next song is da French song! I wanna talk!” She was obviously being lectured through her in ears, but if you hadn’t known that, you would have thought she’d lost it, and was talking to herself! She then looked down at me and said, “There’s only 62 shows left, how do you think I feel?!“ I said, “I’m gonna miss you!“ She said, “I know!! I wanna talk!!!” I motioned to her with my hands and mouthed, “Go ahead!” She laughed and said, “I know!” Then she put her hand back on her hip, made a face, looked into the audience and said, “Maybe we should sing. I dunno,” then she looked back down at me again, “do you think we should sing?” I giggled at her, and shrugged my shoulders. Then she started her usual speech in a bored voice, “This next song was written by Jean-Jacques Goldman…” Then she smiled when I was the only one who went, “Woooo!” and actually knew who she was talking about. Then she stopped with the bored voice, and went on with the rest of her speech as usual. But as the spotlight closed in on her she looked at the little boy, used her finger as a tooth brush on her own teeth, pointed at him, and made the tooth brush motion again! It was too funny! After “Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore” which she noticed I knew all the words in French, she sang “All the Way” and glanced at me several times all throughout. She kept singing certain parts of the song to me, while looking me intensely in the eyes. I remember the words had never had more meaning to me, “I’m gonna love you all the way, for all those years, come what may…“ It was true, Céline would always be an inspiration in my life, and I would always love her for the woman that she is. I’d never thought of the song this way before, but as I sang along, I felt it. At the end, she caught me off guard by looking down at me and blowing me the biggest kiss I’ve ever gotten from her, leaning down once again and saying, “Thank you!” with a wink. She held my eyes with hers for a long moment, as if she wanted to make sure I knew that was for me. We were definitely sharing the energy tonight. After the fact, I wonder what it was all about. Was it because I’d seen the show twice that week, did she recognize me overall, was I being thanked for being a fun audience member and obviously making things a bit more fun for her, or just simply because I am a fan and a constant supporter in everything she does? Or maybe she saw my video? Either way, she was making my night by acknowledging me so much! She then sang “Ammore Annascunnuto“, seeing that I knew the words in Italian too! During “I Wish”, which she sang a lot to me when she was dancing on the steps, was so much fun! Don and Kelby also saw me, and had big smiles on their faces! Céline noticed both of them paying me a lot of attention and grinned. Then when Céline does her “security, security” bit, she looked down at me, saying her usual, “Somebody call 911 this is not part of da show!“ so I played it up with her, I gave her this, “Uh-oh” look, and then when she sat on the steps to “faint” she looked at me just before, and I made an “Oh my God!” face at her right before she fell backwards. I could see her as she was lying down, that her stomach was going up and down. Not because she was out of breath, come to find out, she was once again laughing at me! Because when she sat up she was looking at me, shaking her head, and still laughing! Then she began “Love Can Move Mountains”, and I swear we were almost knee to knee right before she looked at me and said, “Dance with us, come on!” And so we did! The dancers come up front now, and sit on the steps, one dancer, Loïc tripped over me, and then turned around and said, “You okay?” I said, “I’m fine, I’m fine!” He held his arms out, and said, “You sure?” I said, “I’m ok!” while laughing at him! A couple of dancers came up and danced with Manny too! Then she came out with “River Deep, Mountain High” again. Oh my God. If I thought it was good the previous night, I hadn’t seen anything yet! She shook that dress so hard, I thought it might fly and hit me in the face! I kept going, “Woo!” and “Ou! Ou!” which she got a kick out of, and made her shake it a little more at me, she’s hysterical! She also made faces at me while she used her mic stand as a guitar! She blew me a kiss as she was going off stage, after the song. And then, the song, that song, the song that means the show is somehow over with already. And as it came to a close, she placed the rose between her teeth and began to strut towards the little eleven year old boy, then she removed the rose from her teeth and gave him the rose. It was adorable. When she was back onstage, she waved goodbye to me, I blew kisses “Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah!” and she blew me a “Mwah, mwah!“ kiss back. She acted like she didn’t want to leave the stage, she was in such a good mood! I could see her as she walked off the stage, and she grabbed the towel someone threw around her neck and danced with it, then she proceed to act like she was riding a horse, and then smacked her butt! She did this at Yves, who pointed and laughed! Then Elijah, still in character ran over to the side of the stage made a shocked face, pointing offstage, and then covered his eyes as if it was not for him to see! Céline leaned forward laughing so hard, and then Elijah still in character, ran away like he was scared! It was funny, it’s a shame not everyone could see it! It was another amazing show, what a night!

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I saw Ramona in the second row, after the show. I said hello to her and met another fan, Kimberley. We took pictures outside, and I also met Clare from England. And Manny is now a Céline fan, of course after front row, center, how could you not be? He kept saying, “She was right there… in front of me, it was unbelievable!“ He was definitely impressed, as he rightly should be! He also kept saying how much respect he has for her, as a performer. Then I saw Don, he came out, pointing to me, “Did you see me the other night? I saw you!” Then he reenacted the “cane walk” and how he winked and smiled at me! My mom and I confirmed that we’d seen it! Then he grabbed me into a hug, and my mom took a picture, and he said, “Look ‘atch you in the front row again!” I said, “I have no idea what is happening this is just my week or something!” He said, “No, everything happens for a reason, and you must have done something right along the way to be here. You were meant to be here!” I told him if he knew what I may have done along the way, to let me know so I can do it again! He laughed. Then he and Ramona reenacted the part during “Seduces Me” when he breathes on Céline! I also finally got my picture with Barnev Valsaint, the back up singer. He was very nice, and kindly posed with me.

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On Saturday, once again I tried to get tickets, but no such luck. I’m not complaining whatsoever though, because two nights in a row is something I can definitely live with. Even though I walked the line for a little over an hour, and Neal* kept a look out for me, they didn’t have anything up front. While I was trying to get tickets, Manny was bragging to two women from Canada that he had sat front row, center the previous night. Yep, he’s officially a fan! That day I was also to meet a fan named Jen, who lives in North Carolina. We had both been at the June 14, 2003 show and she had been sitting next to my parents, but we didn't know that until later on when we met on a fan message board! We'd actually worked to plan our trips around the same time so we could finally meet, and it was very exciting to finally meet her in person!

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That evening I met Jen for the first time, and her along with my parents & Manny went to get pictures with dancers and musicians. Jen had met some of them before, but had never taken pictures. So I made it a point to change that! I stopped as many as I could for her, some I had not even met before. They were all kind enough to take pictures with both of us. I saw Don briefly, he seemed to be in a hurry, but that didn’t stop him from waving to me with a big smile! I also saw Deon, he took a picture with Jen, then said, "Sunday night's the last night, right?" I made a boo-boo face and nodded. He said, "You need a hug?" I nodded again, and he gave me a big hug! Then Michel came out the doors! Jen had met him before, but had never taken a picture with him. I knew she really wanted one, so when Michel started going the opposite direction I yelled, “Michel!” He turned around, and with a big smile came right over to me. I said, “I’m sorry to bother you again, but would you mind taking a picture with my friend?” He said, “Oh, of course, of course, my pleasure!” I could tell Jen was thrilled, and she commented on Michel’s new haircut! After they had their picture taken, I said, “You have time for one more?” He said, “Sure, sure!” I said, “It’s my last trip out here, and I’m gonna miss you!” He smiled and then hugged me tighter than ever, so I threw my arms around him, and Manny took our picture. I have to say, it is one of my favorite pictures. After the picture, he gave me the biggest kiss on the cheek. Not an “air kiss”, a kiss, it even came with a “mwah” sound! So I turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek as well. And then I let him on his way, not wanting to take up any more of his time. Jen was thrilled, as was I. Both Manny and Jen were kind of taken aback at how Michel seems to know me. I finally do believe after five years of my mom trying to convince me, that Michel does recognize me. It's still hard to grasp, but I'm beginning to believe it!
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After that, we went to Ramona’s 100th show party at The Slice Bar. There were a lot of fans there, and it seemed as if everywhere I turned I ran into someone else and we would reveal our screen names and instantly know who the other was! When we got there, I gave Ramona a card I had made for her, and she loved it, showing it to everyone. There was also a delicious cake, and everyone was gaga over the autograph that Ramona had received from Céline backstage before the show. I saw Angela again, who had arrived that day, it was great to see her! Elijah and Mégo were seated at a table as well, my mom was very excited because we had not seen Elijah yet this year, and she loves him! She went up to him and asked, “Elijah I don’t know if you remember me, but…” Then Elijah said, “Yes, I remember you… your name starts with a ’Shhh’…” My mom said, “Cheri.” He said, “Yes, that’s it!” She couldn’t believe his memory, and asked him if he wouldn’t mind taking a picture when he was finished, he said he would be more than happy to as soon as he was done. And very shortly afterwards, he stood up and told my mom, “I’m all yours!” My mom said, “Well, I love it when you put it that way!” She asked if he would pose with me. Beforehand I asked him if he wouldn’t mind recording a video message for Ashlee, he agreed immediately although I could tell he was very tired. I recorded his message which I knew Ashlee would love, then we posed for a picture. Then my mom came over to him and she hugged him telling him, “Oh, I just want to adopt you and take you home with me!” Elijah laughed and smiled. Then they posed for a picture and I took it. On his way out, I told him, “Thank you for always being so kind to me when I come out here to see the show!” He smiled genuinely and said, “My pleasure, thanks for all the support!” My parents also chatted with Neal*, who came to celebrate as well. My mom describes her discussion with Neal* to be almost like two spies in a film. Without looking at each other my mom asked, “Hey Neal*, do you ever upgrade seats?” He said, “No.” Then after a long pause, “Maybe.” And so it began, long story short, I was to meet Neal* at 5:00pm the following day to see if he could somehow upgrade our seats for my final show. When I walked up to my mom and Neal* he mentioned to me that he did receive the card I had sent him last year, and that it didn’t occur to him until after that first day that it was me who’d sent it. I told him I was so glad that he received it and that he remembered it. He joked, “Well, you know I get cards everyday, with the fan club and everything!” I laughed. Then towards the end of the night while I was sitting at a table with Clare, Jen, and Manny, he caught my attention before leaving and said, “See you at 5:00pm tomorrow!” I nodded and said, “Ok!”

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So at exactly 5:00pm, I was at the box office. Neal* was ready and waiting for us. But unfortunately it was never revealed that the tickets were TeamCéline tickets, and he couldn’t change them. It was no big deal. We all thanked him anyway, and I told him the two shows I attended that week already were more than enough. He gave us our original third row seats, mine on the aisle. Then he mocked my email address, ashley_aka_celine! He wanted to know where LaOtto, IN was. He asked me when I would be returning and I made a boo-boo face replying, “This is my last night.” He said, “Aw, don’t say that!” I said, “No, I think this is it.” He told us if we did happen to come back, to look him up again. He shook our hands, and told us to have a good time at the show. Indeed we would.

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So tonight was the night. My final A New Day… performance. I almost didn’t want it to happen, because I knew the sooner I walked into the Colosseum, the sooner the show would begin, and the sooner it would be over. I wished so much I could have had my moment with Céline, whether it be a rose or not, just a hug, anything. But then I scolded myself for not being thankful that I had experienced two amazing shows this week, nine altogether, and been given more attention from Céline than most fans would ever dream of. I never thought in a million years, after sitting in the front row twice that week, that it would be when I was in the third row, on the aisle that I would finally have my moment with Céline.
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Before the show I chatted with fans Ramona, Angela, Kimberly, Tandra, and Vic. Also, Jen was sitting with us in the third row. We took photos in front of the stage before the show, and Ramona showed me the picture of her with Céline the previous night with the cake we had at the party, and her autograph! Then before I knew it, the show began. My heart broke. This was the last time I would hear the glass break and the beginning notes of “A New Day Has Come”, and would see her suddenly appear through the doorway and onto the stage to dazzle yet another audience with her phenomenal talent. It was very sad, but I tried not to let myself whine or pout. I was seeing this amazing show for the tenth time, yes it was my last, but it was my tenth. Many fans may never get to see it, but I had. Céline was amazing all throughout, although she didn’t go off script at all. Then after “To Love You More”, I proclaimed my love for her. I could see her smile. During “I Drove All Night” she came over to our side and did the “drive” dance, simultaneously all of the fans in the first, second, and third rows did the dance with her, she smiled really big, and you could see the sparkle in her eye! Then after “If I Could” which was sung a little to me, which Céline was very emotional and made me even more sad, something happened. Whether it was a technical difficulty or Céline wasn’t feeling well, I’m not sure. But something was up, and you could see the frustration in Céline’s face. Being a perfectionist, she was not happy. Some people might say this was a bad show to see, but I am not one of them. It is during shows like this one, which do happen unfortunately, that Céline needs her audience the most. So as her fan, I did my best to pull her through this show. Cheering louder, standing up for an ovation when it seemed no one else was going to, and trying my best to send her every bit of energy I had inside of me. It was towards the end of the show, and suddenly my mom switched spots with Jen so she was next to me, to this day she has no idea why she did it. She just did. Céline was singing “Love Can Move Mountains” some dancers came down the aisles dancing, being on the aisle is a different perspective. Then there was “River Deep, Mountain High”, which I chair-danced my heart out to, trying to send more energy Céline’s way. Then just like that, she was singing that song… the last song. I wanted to pause it all, or at the very least put it in slow motion, this could not be it. I found myself indulging in the one thing that had not yet happened over the past five years, I had not met Céline. Yes, many wonderful things happened, that I treasure, but I had not met her. I wondered if that would ever happen, would it someday be possible? Then as Céline approached the audience with her rose, I saw her walk towards the right, and I thought for sure she was going for one of the fans I knew sitting in the front row. But instead, she stopped next to one of her security guards and asked him if he knew where someone was. He then led her up the aisle steps, she glanced up and saw me again and smiled briefly. Then she proceeded quickly towards the back, her security guard with her the whole time, to about the tenth row or so, and gave the rose to someone she obviously knew. Then she quickly turned around, fixed her dress, and then looked up… at me. She locked eyes with me and smiled a very genuine smile. My mind was going crazy, all I could think was that she was going to walk right past me, this was my moment, I could not freeze, this was the time to do something - she was looking right at me and not looking away - I had to do something, anything. I thought of blowing a kiss, but couldn’t move. Then I thought of saying, "I love you!", but couldn’t speak. This was my last show, I had to will myself to do something! Then finally I smiled and managed to hold my right hand slightly out towards her, palm up. At this point, she was about to the fifth row, still locking eyes with me, smiling. When my hand came up, her smile widened, and nearly took up her entire face, her eyes sparkling. And instantly, without a moment’s hesitation, she held her left hand out to me. Complete trust, I recognized. The security guard was trying to get her back onstage as quickly as possible, but she was walking towards me instead. She grabbed my hand, enveloping mine into hers, squeezing so tightly that her knuckles turned white, I remember my fingernails against my palm she was squeezing my hand so tightly. Then she stopped in front of me! Yes, she stopped, her face inches from my own, her hand in mine. All I could see were her eyes, and their sparkle. It was so intense, as if her soul was reaching for mine. We spoke with our eyes, she felt what I felt, she knew what I wanted to say. I became completely unaware that anyone else was around us, although there were 4,100 people in the audience. She took her thumb and lightly rubbed the top of my hand back and forth, then she took her other hand away from the security guard, so she could blow me two kisses with her thumb, wink, and smile. Then she said, “Thank you!” She said it in such a way, full of emotion, you knew she meant nothing more. Then her security guard put his hand on her back and she proceeded to walk slowly towards the stage, still locking eyes with me. She kept holding on to my hand until our arms wouldn’t stretch any further, for a moment I thought she might take my hand with her! As soon as she let go of my hand, and had her back turned to me - I instantly freaked out. I had touched Céline Dion, she had stopped for me, out of 4,100 people, she acknowledged me! My hands went up to my face, I turned to look at Jen, my mom and dad, and their mouths were all dropped open, jaw to the floor. Then it really hit me, they’d seen it to! This was real, it really happened. It had finally happened! I started a combination of laughing, crying, and hyperventilating! I started saying, “Oh my God!“ over and over again. I wondered why I couldn’t seem to get any air, it never occurred to me that I was still covering my face with my hands, making it impossible to get oxygen. Duh. I’d done this exact same thing the first time she spoke to me during my very first show, you’d think I would learn. Then my mom told Jen to make sure I kept breathing, her in her own state of shock said, “Do you need your mom?!“ My mom came over, just as I was about to collapse, and she said, “It happened.“ My mom remembers the people sitting behind me going, “Awwww.“ I calmed enough to at least stay upright, and I looked up just as Céline was walking offstage, I waved at her. Then I saw Kelby as he was running offstage, my mom yelled, “Kelby!“ He saw me, pointing, waving with both arms, with a huge smile, he’d definitely seen what had just happened with Céline, he was super excited! I pointed back to him, and waved! My mom said at some point Deon had also winked at me, but I couldn’t remember. Then the lights came on, and I had to sit down. Wow. That was too intense. I can sit and talk to her from the audience to the stage, but to have her right in front of me, talking to me, squeezing my hand so there’s no doubt in my mind that she was real was almost too much. Some people might go through life and never even be in the same room as the person they look up to the most, but I was able to have that moment with her. It was spontaneous, unplanned, and it was entirely her choice to do it. She could have just touched my hand quickly and kept going, she could have even walked past me and not have done anything, but she gave me as much time as she possibly could under the circumstances. It would have never happened had my seat been changed somehow, that seat was meant for me. It was meant to be. And wouldn’t you know it, I sat in seat 401. 4+0+1=5.

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My hand went up to my face and just rested there, she had touched my hand. I was in a state of shock, pure shock. Audience members around me were saying, “Awww.” There was a couple that sat next to my dad, the man said he wanted to market the shirt I made, it was very professional! Then the lady asked me if there used to be more to the show. I explained some of the changes, by some miracle I had regained the ability to speak, and told her I had seen the show twice that week, and something was definitely up with either the technicalities or with Céline herself. Also, on my way out of the Colosseum, I glanced up behind me and saw René’s son, Patrick. I did a double take of him, and he smiled at me, noticing that I had recognized him. It was too crowded, and I was too overwhelmed to go up to him. I think he was in the audience that night though, sitting next to whomever had received the rose.
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I saw Ramona and Angela briefly, saying goodbye to them - probably babbling incoherently about Céline stopping and squeezing my hand. Then while my mom was looking at the pictures we’d taken, Jen and I saw Deon one last time. He actually came up to us and said to me, “Aww, this was your last one, wasn’t it?” I said, “Yes, but it was amazing.” He gave me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then Jen told him it was her last night as well, and he gave her a hug and a kiss as well. He thanked us both for all of our support, I told him it was my pleasure. Jen wished him well in whatever the future holds for him after A New Day… Then my parents, Jen, and I reminisced about the show. My mom told me Céline had smiled at me here, or winked at me there, but I didn’t remember. I was trying too hard to take everything in because it was my last show, that I must not have absorbed much of anything, except I very much knew that Céline had squeezed my hand. That I was sure of! Jen was amazed at how close she was to Céline and couldn’t get over the fact that all she thought of to say was, “Hi, sweetie!” She said, “That was all I could think of to say? And I never say that! I don‘t even say that to my daughter!” It was funny, because I knew exactly how she felt, having froze up the previous year during my first front row experience. I couldn’t remember her saying that to Céline, but things got really fuzzy when she was… well, in my face! My mom was also astounded at how close she was to Céline, she said she couldn’t imagine what my view must have been like! And she was so glad that she had switched with Jen, although she still didn’t know why, it allowed her to be that much closer to Céline. My mom kept saying, “She’s beautiful! She’s so pretty!” I told her I was very much aware at how beautiful both inside and out she was! My dad gave us his take on what he could see, he said he saw Céline come down the steps, jerk her hand away from her security guard, and then disappear in front of me for a while. Then he saw me freak out, he asked my mom, “Did she touch her?” My mom went, “Yes!!!!!” My mom also confirmed what I was aware of, she was nearly the same height as me, with huge heels on! I knew that wax figure was wrong, I just knew it! They also said that I probably helped her down the steps a little bit too, because the security guard was making her go faster than anyone could go in those heels. And no one could believe that she'd actually stopped, after how fast she was going back down the steps, she’d fully stopped in front of me, to acknowledge me. But that’s just the kind of person Céline is, and that is why I love her. She knew just how much those few seconds would mean to me! My dad later asked, “Well, who haven’t you met now?!” I laughed and said, “Well, I haven’t met René yet!”

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After everyone had gone, Jen and I sat on the Colosseum steps, not really wanting to leave, but satisfied in the fact that we had witnessed that incredible show, and that we had been lucky enough to be in the presence of someone who inspires us in so many ways. It was nice to have a fan on the same caliber as me, attending her final show as well. No one could understand the combination of sadness and appreciation more. After Jen left for her hotel, my mom and I went up to the Slice bar before we left. I happened to see Marc, the bass guitarist at the table in the corner. He looked wrapped up in conversation, but my mom insisted we get his picture too. She asked him, and he was more than happy to. He was so chatty that it was impossible for a while for my mom to take the picture! He asked me my name, where I was from, and if I’d enjoyed the show. I told him tonight was my last show. He then said something that I had been reminding myself all night, “We’ll be on tour!” He said he hopes they come near Indiana! I told him I would definitely see them on tour! He smiled, I thanked him, and then we let him get back to his conversation. We returned to our hotel, and the only words I could form the rest of the night until I inevitably fell asleep were, “Céline held my hand.”
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The next day was very depressing, there was no show. My A New Day… experiences had come to an end. But I had many memories to take home with me that I shall never forget. From the first moment I locked eyes with Céline Dion, when she spoke to Ashlee and I, meeting Christine, Lynne*, and Michel, to the backstage tour, who could forget all of the amazing dancers and musicians, the fans I would have never met otherwise, and last but certainly not least, the priceless moments with Céline. Every point, wink, smile, kiss, and acknowledgement will be with me always. And I shall never forget the grand finale, my tenth and final A New Day… performance when Céline stopped for me, and only me. When she gave up a few precious seconds of her time, to make a dream of mine come true. The moment I became an even bigger fan when I thought that to be simply impossible.

Following the trip, Ashlee and I made a final farewell video for Lynne*, her staff, as well as Céline. I also, feeling so thankful for everything that had happened over the past five years, made cards for each cast member or employee that had touched my heart or shown me kindness over the past five years. I did receive a few responses, even from Céline! They will all hold a special place in my heart. It was an honor to meet them, an honor to witness their talent, and it was an honor to experience A New Day…
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*Name has been changed to protect identity