I guess you could say my experience at the Evansville Concert actually started in Lexington, where our best friends, along with my husband and I, attended the AI concert together. Since this is about the Evansville concert in the first place, let me fast forward to what happened at the Lexington concert that resulted in me thinking I had to go to the one in Evansville as well.At intermission my husband, who didn’t even know he was going to the concert, went to buy a light stick for me. Not only did he come back with a light stick, he came back with a mug and a David Archuleta T-shirt that I know, now, costs $35.00. I was absolutely floored.Anyway, if you read my recap of what happened to me at this point in FANS OF DAVID, you know that sometime after intermission I wrapped both the strap of my light stick and the strap from my camera around the same arm.Needless to say, since you’re already imagining, just as the smoke was billowing and David was rising, I reached to take the camera off my arm, and dropped and broke it.The lens was completely jammed and would not open or close at all.Realizing David was going to perform whether I had a camera or not, I jerked myself into reality, lived in the present moment and tried to keep all those pictures in my head which I thought would be captured in a Kodak moment.So, knowing my world would not be complete without pictures of David and a “close encounter” that I did not have at the Lexington concert, I looked at the rest of the schedule and to my surprise, there was a concert only two hours away.This is where my experience at Evansville begins.

I called my best friend, Ruth, who had gone with me to the Lexington concert, and told her not to think I was crazy, to which she replied she already knew I was crazy, I didn’t have to prove it to her, but that I had looked at the schedule for the rest of the tour and there was a concert in Evansville, Ind. that I wanted to go to with her.She laughed as loud as I’ve ever heard her and said she had a prior commitment that night, but that she would get out of it. (You’re probably thinking that, no, she shouldn’t have, but I bet you also know how David made her do it.) I bet he does it to you, also.Anyway, she asked if I could buy one more ticket so she could bring her sister and I said yes.Her sister would meet us in Evansville, since she was coming from Illinois and we were coming from Kentucky.

Ruth and I left Bowling Green around 9:45 a.m.The trip only takes two hours, but since I didn’t want to miss the buses, I said let’s leave early.I wanted to meet the idols at the concert in Lexington, but missed David by over an hour and only got to meet Brooke and Jason.So we left early.We had followed MapQuest to the letter, but at the last exit we were supposed to take, Ruth told me MapQuest was wrong and we needed to take another exit.So I did.You can fill in the rest of the story.We went this way and decided we were going the wrong direction.We went that way and decided we were going the wrong direction.I made a Mario Andrettiu-turn in the median and conceded to Ruth as to where we should go.She managed to get us into Henderson where there was construction on the bridge.We inched and inched and inched our way until the bridge was in sight.I looked at Ruth and said “Ruth, it’s just not meant to be that I see David Archuleta.”“It’s just not meant to be.”If we could only get over the bridge, I knew that Evansville was only about ten miles away.It was around 12:00 noon and I was chomping at the bit.I thanked God I had a Jaguar because when I got out of this traffic I was going to do ninety and asked for forgiveness ahead of time.I told her to call her sister, who wanted to go shopping, so she could pick her up at the stadium, and leave me to meet the buses.And that is what she did.I threw Ruth out of the car to meet her sister and got to the barricade around 12:30.By the way, Ruth loves David Archuleta, but I am the one with ODD.Marilyn did not know David Archuleta, but would fall in love with him later.

I had been emailing two women I had found at FANS OF DAVID, and we had decided to meet at the buses.I told some young girls (and, I guess, you know by now I am not) who were giving away beaded necklaces, that I was supposed to meet some FANS OF DAVID women and they told me to go down the line a little further.As I was walking, I saw two women who looked like they were watching for me, soI yelled, “Are you Dee?” and she said, “Yes” and I yelled to the other woman, “Are you Maia?” and she yelled “Yes”also.I introduced myself and we jumped up and down like idiots, but you know we do have ODD.Dee, then introduced me to her sister, Teresa, who had flown in all the way from Albuquerque.I now knew, that four of David’s angels had found each other and that soon we would see him, and feel like we had all died and gone to Heaven (no pun intended).

We shared and we laughed and we shared and we laughed some more.The funniest thing that happened to us was when Dee, who had a huge picture of David, put him between us and we took pictures.In one of them it looked like he was about three feet tall, and in the other one it looked like he and Dee were kissing.It was hilarious.I also met Mary, Christy, and Dominic who are involved with Fans of David.Dominic told me that it was hard for people to understand those of us who have ODD and why we have it and I told him it was hard for me to understand too.

Finally, the buses rolled in around 2:00 and the first people off were none other than David Cook and David Archuleta.Even though I had come only to see David Archuleta, I must admit to have number one and number two standing in front of me, I felt like I must be the luckiest woman in the world.(And you can only guess who I thought was number one and number two.) J Both Davids were adorable.They laughed AT each other.They laughed WITH each other and truly looked like they loved each other like brothers.This scene only proved that what they had said, publicly, about loving each other was true.I will never forget seeing both of them, so physically and emotionally, this close together.

Oh!I almost forgot!I am a woman who has had three bladder surgeries…the first one at the age of 29, the second 16 years later and the third one, one year after that, so, I must ask you to forgive me when I say that the most important thing I did when I got to Evansville (including going to the concert) was to find a bathroom.I was not going to meet David Archuleta looking like a kid who had wet her pants, even though it might have made me look fifty years younger.So, before I could even introduce myself to Maia, Dee and Teresa, I had to find a bathroom---which was across the street and one I had to drive to, because the lady in the main office told me they didn’t have one that I could use right now, which made me really wonder what they were going to do with all the old women like me who had had bladder surgeries and all the pregnant women who would have to pee every thirty minutes when they got to the concert.

Anyway, back to the Davids.When both Davids got in front of me, Dee had already told me to say to David Cook, “I want you to know that I really came here for you, but I just liked David Archuleta’s T-shirt better.”So that is what I said.I thought both of the Davids, and we, were going to die laughing.It was priceless and I was so glad Dee told me to say it.I had so many things for David to sign and so many things to say, I felt like he would have to stay with me at least thirty minutes.Knowing that he couldn’t, I quickly gave him a picture, I wanted him to sign for a little girl named Caroline, of him sitting at the piano singing Angels.I guess it goes without saying, you know how he signed it.He wrote Sweet Caroline with two musical notes around it.It was so precious and so priceless, and when I gave it to her, her mouth fell open and her eyes got as big as saucers.Next, I asked him to sign the back of my T-shirt which was the one Phil bought me at the concert in Lexington.I had worn it for two reasons.First, I wanted people to know who my idol was, but, most importantly, I knew if I asked him to sign it, he would have to touch me.HE WOULD HAVE TO TOUCH ME!!!HE WOULD HAVE TO TOUCH ME!!!AND HE DID!!! I also wanted to touch this person who, I knew was touching the world.He signed it, David Cook signed it and so did Michel Johns, Carly, Chikezie, Kristy, and Jason.

Next, I gave him his gift.I had read what other people had given him on FANS OF DAVID and before I bought it, I felt like whatever I gave him would pale in comparison.So, believe it or not, I had prayed to God about what I should give him and left it up to Him to show me what it was.Listening to David sing Angels, as I was driving in my car, it was as though God spoke to me through David, and said, “Buy him an angel.”“He sings Angels.” “He is an angel and they are how I protect him.” I raised my hands, even as I was driving, and said “Thank you, God.” I asked the lady when I went to the Christian bookstore if she had any angels and she said they were all sold out, so I hunkered down to look at the coins, like members of AA carry in their pockets, and I saw an angel on one of them.On one side, was a picture of her kneeling, flanked on both sides with very large wings, and on the other side was the inscription “Protect us all, Giving us strength when we might fall, Watching, guiding, Lighting the way, Thru the night, and every day.”I thought what better words for David to carry with him, than these words God had led me to.Feeling like he still needed something else a little more “earthly,” I gave him a gift card to Carrabba’s that my son had given me and I felt no shame for re-gifting it. JHe looked up at David Cook and asked if he would eat there with him and David said he would.Both Davids turned around to leave and I realized I had not gotten him to sign the most important thing.I had brought a CD I had made of twenty-one of his songs that I had made off of I-Tunes.I listen to him when I drive, when I mow, when I exercise, when I put my make-up on, and even when I’m not listening to him, I hear him singing in my head.Anyway, I asked him to come back and sign my CD and when he looked at it, this is what he said, “Oh, there’s twenty-one songs on there!”“Twenty-one.”And I said “Yeah. There is.”“To me, that’s really the first CD you released.” “And it always will be.”After that I gave him a hug…YES I GAVE HIM A HUG-- and then he turned to the next person to make her feel just as important as he had made me.

Since I was so hot and sweaty from waiting so long for the buses (I would do it again in a heartbeat) I went to the hotel to take my second shower.Realizing I had left my medicine as well as my toothbrush at home, I called the front desk to tell them I was getting in the shower, and asked if they would leave a toothbrush in front of my door.They said they would, so I got in the shower.Never before in my life, would I consider going to the door to retrieve a toothbrush, with my hair dripping wet, wearing only a towel, except this time.I was completely oblivious to where I was, because I was here for only one reason and that was to see David Archuleta.The fact that someone else might be staying overnight in this same hotel, simply did not enter my mind.So when the stranger coming down the hall saw me wearing only the towel, I bent down, retrieved my toothbrush, stood up and shut the door…proudly!

Next came the adventure to Wal-Mart.As I have already mentioned, I left home without my medicine, which is something I’ve never done in my whole life.I am a very high maintenance woman, but at least I know I am.I take seven different medications every day of my life.Yes, I’ve counted them.There are seven.So what that meant was I was going to have to go to Wal-Mart and let them give me enough pills of each of the seven medications to last me for two days.OMG!!!I had no idea how long this would take.I was standing here in my towel, having just flashed a man, with no medication to take, so I knew I was going to be a mad woman at the concert and David could not see me like this.By this time it was going on 5:00 and the concert started at 7:00.My friends wanted to eat at Olive Garden and I knew that was not going to happen.I got dressed and asked Ruth and Marilyn if we could go to Wal-Mart and they said yes-- they would let me out and I could see how long it would take to fill seven prescriptions.Since it was raining Ruth handed me her umbrella and off into Wal-Mart I went.There was no one in line so I gave the girl my list of medications and she said she’d have them ready in thirty minutes.I thought, “Piece of Cake.”Nixing Olive Garden, we drove across the street to Panera Bread where I knew I could eat nothing but a cup of soup, because my stomach was full of butterflies and I would have no medicine if they flew.We drove back across the street for me to go back into Wal-Mart, and parked in the handicap parking space, because that’s what I’d be if I didn’t get my medicine. JI grabbed my umbrella, ran into the store and saw the line of people who was moving as slow as molasses.Not one person was moving and I counted at least ten of them.I stood and I waited.I looked at the clock.I stood and I waited and I looked at the clock again.I glared at the pharmacist and technician who were glaring back at me.There was absolutely no way I could get my medicine and make it to the concert on time.The two women at the front of the line were there forever.All I heard was that she wanted only one pill and they had given her nine while I wanted sixteen pills and they hadn’t given me any.I twisted the handle of my umbrella to keep me from choking somebody, and thought about using it as a weapon.At 6:40 I grabbed my pills, bolted for the door, and headed off to Roberts Stadium.At 6:55 I sat down…section BB row 6 seat 11.Front and center.

I guarded my camera like a mother bear does her cubs.I watched all the idols, but waited for David.And then after the other eight performances he appeared.His looks captivated me.I loved his eyes, lips, hair, complexion and teeth.Even though he is small physically, his persona filled the room. This boy named David, became a giant.All eyes were on him.I was torn between whether to watch or take pictures.Sit or stand.Shout or listen.It was hard for me to concentrate because I felt like I was in a blur.I wanted the songs to go on, but knew they wouldn’t.What I wanted to last eternally, felt like a blink.To finally get to the end of a very long narrative, let me tell you what impressed me the most.In Angels, it was his smile when he realized the audience was not going to stop screaming.In Apologize it was the way he walked down the steps to the beat of the music. (I know that’s insignificant, but I liked it.) I also liked the deep knee-bends when he sang “it’s too laaa-i-aaate” the fifth, sixth and seventh time.(Yes, I went back and counted them.)In Stand By Me, I loved the way he changed the word “suicidal” to “in denial” (even though I didn’t think he had to, but that’s just the way he wants to please his audience) and how he ran his fingers across the girl’s hands who came down to greet him.Finally, in When You Say You Love Me, I loved when he raised his leg when he changed keys.I loved the “oooohs” he added right before he sang the last “when you say you love me” and then right after he sang them.I loved the tenderness in how he sang the song and the evidence of his growth, since the first concert.

David is at home on the stage.He was before thousands of people, but looked like he was before family at home.By the way, this was exactly what this concert felt like.In Lexington the crowd never really warmed up or was on their feet until after intermission.Here the crowd was yelling, screaming and on their feet from the get-go.There was no backdrop that showed close-ups of all the performers, like in Lexington, but here it would have made no difference. The auditorium was much smaller than Lexington but made for a more familiar setting.One of the idols told the crowd, that Ramiele had said, “The audience is “cute” and you’re going to love it.” Moms and dads, boys and girls, were there to enjoy the show, with no pretense at all.It was so obvious to me that the idols and the audience connected.It was amazing.

One of my favorite quotes is, “The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is Real.” “David cries for a song to sing and he, himself, is Real.”To say he is humble is an understatement.He bows out quickly so David Cook can take the stage and he applauds the loudest when David Cook is praised.He epitomizes humility.

David is one with his songs, their melodies and music.Words flow from his mouth like he is just breathing.Like a fish out of water, I feel David would be without a song.He breathes in, and out comes a symphony.I say that, not because he sounds like many people singing, but because he sings as one man with many abilities. He knows when to hold the note and how long to hold it.He knows when to ooooohhhhh and when to aaaahhhh and how long to pause before and after.He knows when to sing softly and when to crescendo. I’ve found no one who can sing along with him.You just have to listen.

After the concert was over, Ruth’s sister, Marilyn, who had barely heard of David Archuleta, looked at Ruth and me and said, “This boy is going to be around a long time.”“He’s going to be as big as Elvis.” And I totally agree. I will however add that I believe David will surpass Elvis.And I believe that was the consensus of everyone in attendance-- when they, themselves, left the building.

I now have seen David Archuleta twice and could see him many times over.I told someone I had more fun at this concert than I did on my wedding night.That is so true because I was sick and laying on the bathroom floor.Even though I was unfulfilled on my wedding night (and I’m sure my husband was also) I came away from this concert completely fulfilled.I saw David in the flesh, got his autograph, hugged him, laughed with him and even took pictures of him this time with my brand new camera.I made a little girl happy who couldn’t be there, and introduced a woman to him who thought he would be our next Elvis.David changes people’s lives.I know he has changed mine.“Thank you God that I broke my camera.”

Blog Source: http://www.thearticleblogs.com/authors/3877/Teresa-Kimbel