Star Struck

Last Saturday I went with my dear friend Loralee to Ravinia, the outdoor venue for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Now, this was not just an average symphony concert, because Renee Fleming was there to sing with the orchestra. To most people, the mention of Renee Fleming in concert probably doesn't do too much because there's a good chance they just don't know who she is. But for classical singers, Renee Fleming is pretty much the top. Ms. Fleming is arguably the world's greatest soprano and most famous opera singer. Needless to say, Loralee and I were thrilled with jubilation as we sat in our seats, and left at intermission with joy and glee. The glee had only begun, however, because at intermission they announced that Ms. Fleming had agreed to do a CD signing following the concert. Loralee and I knew there was really no other choice: we had to meet Renee.

Neither of us had any of her CD's with us, so we went to the Borders tent and each got a CD. We then realized that neither of us had a camera either. I know...a disaster! I had thought about bringing my camera, but Joy and I are facing camera troubles these days and neither of our cameras are working. Loralee just plain forgot, so I'll give her the blame for this one. I then ran over to the gift shop to buy a disposable camera, and of course they only sell cameras with no flash. Why on earth an outdoor music festival that has concerts that go well into the evening wouldn't sell cameras with a flash is beyond me, but they don't. I now pass the blame on to the Ravinia gift shop. Regardless, I bought this cheap-yet-expensive disposable camera, hoping for the best. Indeed, the best was yet to come.

The second half of the program was amazing. There is something found in music that hits a place where words just don't go, and I love that. Renee nailed some big arias, milking them for all they were worth. After the last piece, I lept to my feet with the rest of the audience, and we cheered and cheered. We then sat through FOUR (yes, four) encore pieces, which I actually think were the highlight of the concert for me. After the third encore, a lot of the crowd began to leave, so you better believe Loralee and I made ourselves up to some pretty good seats. In short, it was a glorious evening.

After talking to some other friends who were at the concert, Loralee and I went to the line for the signing, which at this point was quite long. We waited for half an hour before Renee even came out and then waited another hour before it was our turn. I distinctly remember asking Loralee if she was nervous, and she said she was; after all, Renee Fleming is her hero. I said I wasn't nervous and even reminded Loralee that just because Renee was a famous opera singer, she was still just another human. Yeah, I should have kept that in mind later. As we approached and saw our turn getting closer, we debated on if I should even as for a picture. No one else was doing it, and security people kept telling the line to make it quick, to not talk, to just move along.

All of a sudden, before I even had time to realize it was happening, I found that Loralee and I were standing in front of the soprano. Here is what our conversation looked like:

LORALEE: Hello.
RENEE (looking up and seeing Loralee): Wow, you look like Annette Bening.
Stephen is thinking, "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness."
LORALEE: Well thank you.
RENEE: Has anyone ever told you that before?
Stephen is thinking, "Think of something to say, think of something to say, think of something to say."
LORALEE: No, but people have actually told me that I looked like you.
RENEE: Oh really? That's means I look like Annette Bening!
Stephen is thinking, "Say something you fool, you fool, you fool."
LORALEE: We are both music students and we really loved your concert.
RENEE: Thank you.
Stephen is thinking, "Why is this happening? I am a distaster! You fool, say something!"
STEPHEN (finally!): I don't suppose there's any way we could get a picture is there?
RENEE: Of course, just arrange it so I don't have to stop signing.
LORALEE (we're getting pretty excited at this point): Oh, we are efficient!!!
STEPHEN: Efficiency is what we do! Stephen then immediately thinks, "What on earth was that? Could you even say anything more stupid than that?! Efficiency is what we do?!?! You gotta be kidding me!"
I then turned to have the security guard take the picture, and without saying a word, he shook his head no. He wasn't helping our efficiency I had so stupidly proclaimed. So I handed the lady behind us the camera and as we ran around the table something possibly worse came out of my mouth:
STEPHEN: When our friends find out about this, they're gonna kill us!
Of course I didn't say they might be jealous or not be able to believe it. Nope, they're gonna KILL US. Why oh why oh why?!

We then smiled for the camera, and we all know that with a disosable camera with no flash, there's probably not even a picture there. Loralee and I thanked Renee and then ran off, laughing uncontrollably. I couldn't believe the way I had acted. I mean, I've even met Ryan Seacrest before and acted fine then! I honestly could not get words to come out of my mouth, and then when they did, let's be honest, they left much to be desired. I was in fact 100 percent star struck, and I think I still am a little bit. It was so worth it and who knows, maybe I'll even survive. That is as long as I can hide long enough from my friends who are apparently after me.