Oh, the anticipation....U2 360 Tour

I have been anticipating this trip for months. It was going to be a quick, packed, chocked full trip, that I knew. But there was One thing I did not anticipate, Our old friend, Murphy. Stand by me as I tell you my true story (with song titles from the concert added for effect).

Cliff and I arrive in Atlanta with about 45 minutes to spare to go to IKEA. Thank you Cliff for my GPS I got for mother's day. It came in very handy where the streets have no name. I love IKEA!

I could spend days and thousands of dollars there, but I had neither, so I spent 45 minutes touching everything, buying a few things, but ultimately feeling like I still haven't found what I'm looking for.


We made our way to my sister, Ginny, & Neal's condo. Talk about elevation, they live on the 26th floor of a highrise!



As we went up the elevator, I felt a little vertigo. After a quick tour of their place, which was amazing, I told Ginny, "Get on your boots! Let's go have dinner!" We went to Uncle Julio's and had delicious chicken fajitas and bacon wrapped shrimp! YUM! Neal had a conference all day over by the Georgia Dome where the concert was, and had gotten an EXCELLENT parking spot in the parking deck. So he took a taxi over to meet us at the restaurant, leaving his car in the parking deck so we could make a quick exit after the concert. We ate fast, as we decided we should arrive sometime around 8:15, or so, to be there in time for U2 to start. The Muse was the opening act. I don't know them and was content to miss that, but if I missed when U2 came out it was going to be sunday, bloody sunday! So we go out to our car and ... (enter Murphy) it won't start. I am not kidding! Dead battery! Not even a click! Nothing! AHHHHHHHHGGGHHHH! THIS CAN"T HAPPEN TO ME!!!! It felt like the end of the world!


I flagged down a couple leaving the restaurant and asked them to help us. The lady says, "I'm sorry but we are late for a concert."


"Are you going to the U2 concert?"


"Yes."


"So are we! Please help us, it will only take a minute."


"ok..."


We hooked it up and .... nothing! So we quickly unhooked the cables and let the kind people go, after which Cliff went in to call a cab and Neal called their concierge for a taxi, just for good measure. I felt stuck in a moment as we waited for the taxi to come, and was praying that all of this anticipation wasn't for naught!



The cab arrives, takes us to Ginny and Neal's condo so Neal can change and we take Ginny's car to the MARTA station near their place to take the train to the Georgie Dome.



We get our passes and hop on the next train at about 8:45pm.

I am trying to stay calm, but I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight. This became my moment of surrender. Either we will make it or we will not. It is out of my control.

We are there in no time flat and as they scan our tickets, we are told that the Muse is done playing. We rush to find our seats and .... yeah...by some mysterious ways and amazing grace, we arrived before the show started! After a quick trip to the ladies room, we were set for 2 1/2 hours of an amazing, magnificent, 25 song, dazzling, rockin', exhilarating, voice-straining, sweat-producing, heart-pumping show!

How do I even begin to describe a show like this?! There was an amazing energy in that place!

After the show, we decided to walk on to Neal's car which was in the 2nd spot next to the exit of the parking deck. We were out of there in 5 minutes as we watched all of the other concert-goers walk on by! Good call, Neal! We headed back through the city of blinding lights to our car at the restaurant and tried again to jump it. This time it worked! But our battery was so dead that the car kept trying to shut off at every light or whenever we slowed down! The lights, the RPM gauge, the air-conditioning, everything, kept shutting off, FREAKING me out in Atlanta traffic. I need those headlights to light my way! Thankfully, Cliff was driving. We finally made it back to their place and got a parking spot, deciding to get a battery in the morning. All in all, it had been a beautiful day! So we hit the hay, 26 floors above the earth and I still slept well. Next morning, we look out the 26th floor to a wet and foggy, but beautiful view with no line on the horizon.

Ginny takes Cliff to get a new battery, and we say our good bye's as Ginny heads to work. Cliff replaces the battery as it drizzles rain.



Thankfully, the car starts and we are on our way, no thanks to Murphy! Murphy, I'd do it again with or without you anyday!



I have lots more pictures than I can possibly post and video too! So anytime you're headed my way, just stop by and I'd be happy to show anyone that's interested! It really was Magnificent!