When we last left off, my friend Cris and I had just been invited to party with Kate and Fred of The B-52’s.  Now, I’ve heard about people in extreme conditions going in to shock, but have never experienced it myself.  Until now.  Everything around me suddenly became a little hazy and a little fuzzy.  At some point, I stepped outside my body.   Kate quickly snapped me back in to reality by asking me to help carry a few things out to her awaiting car.

By the time I got back, Fred was chomping at the bit to go.  Seems he wanted to catch a ride with us, despite his bus being parked out back.  At this point, I figured I was probably in no condition to drive since I was both hyperventilating and twitching uncontrollably with nervous laughter.  Either Fred didn’t notice I had lost my ever-lovin’ mind … or he didn’t care.  Regretfully, when I got in the car, I started speak-singing “I’ve got a Ford FOCUS … it seats about THREE … so hurry up and bring your JUKE BOX MONEY!”

How or why Fred continued riding in the car after that point is beyond me.   Inane banter notwithstanding, I casually mentioned this was the ninth time I’d seen the group live.  Fred seemed impressed … or bored … with him it’s hard to tell.  On the way to the host hotel, I started asking Fred a few questions.  I mean he WAS a captive audience.   Fred was patient with me despite my seemingly mild retardation.  Is he working on any solo projects?  “Yes, The Superions”.  Does he remember meeting me in 2001 at SpiritFest?  “Uh, no.”

By the time we got back to the party suite, I needed a drink to calm my jangled nerves.  I was running on fumes and the party hadn’t even started.  Fred broke open a bottle of wine.  I immediately snatched it out of his hands and started drinking it straight out of the bottle.  By the time we actually got to the BDay wingding, I had enough liquid courage to party it up.

Kate was pouring champagne and poised to make a toast to her girlfriend, Monica.  After the toast, Monica asked if anyone else was an Aries.  I mentioned I was indeed an Aries and my birthday happened a couple days earlier.  Kate and Monica proceeded to toast me too.  If there’s anything closer to bliss than being toasted by a band you idolize, I would like to know what that is.

As the party was wrapping up, Fred told he wanted to go clubbing.  Score!  You’ll read more in Part III.