Bye Bye
After the show, Linda and her family said good night to the rest of us, and headed home. Jolea slipped away sometime in there too. Edith and I went over and talked with Casey again, and helped him carry some boxes backstage as he was cleaning up for the night. I think we need to join the union now...
We came back and Judi was talking to a couple of guys who had also been at the show, Nate and Paul. It's always fun to put faces to names! We stood there talking for a while, then went over to where the buses were parked. There was a pretty good bunch of people there, probably fifty or so, and I could see Lawrence surrounded by people, chatting and signing things. As we were walking through the crowd, I turned and nearly bumped right into Mr. Glen Burtnik! Being as intelligent as I always am around Glen, I said something like "Oh! Hi Glen - great show!" and he smiled and said thank you and kept working the crowd! I went and said hello to Lawrence too, and then worked my way back to the edge of the crowd.
When I found my little group again, another girl had come up and was talking to them. We introduced ourselves, and it was another case of oh I know you - nice to meet you! She was Luanne, who I also knew from the lists and boards.
After a little while longer, the security guy who had been teasing us earlier in the day came out and told everyone that the bus had to leave, so we had to move back. He said, "If you want to wave bye bye, get back behind the racks." The barricades everywhere were really bicycle racks that were tied together. So we did like he said and got back behind the barricade. Then he said "Okay, great, thanks - bye bye!" and waved at us!
This was during the brief time when they were using one bus for the whole band and one for the crew. The rest of the band came out and got right on the bus, and George Packer came out to direct the bus as it was backing out. I said hello to him and he was very charming as always. Other people were asking him if the rest of the band could come out, and he said no, they had to get on their way. I have such respect for George's diplomatic skills. He's the one who always has to say "no," and yet he is always so kind! He waved the bus back, and as it turned we could see Lawrence through the windshield, sitting behind the driver and waving like mad, Tommy standing in the aisle peeking out from behind something, and JY riding shotgun, keeping an eye on things. We all waved goodbye - we were there, we might as well! Then the bus stopped to pick up George, and drove off.