Bon Jovi
How did I manage to meet him in person?

After that, I got myself acquainted with a Japanese fan called Kumi. We sat down to chat a little and she told me she's a big fan of Richie and had been to all the concerts in Japan and was scheduled to attend the following and the last one in Osaka. She had with her this huge plastic bag which contained a Hello Kitty stuffed toy for Richie's daughter, Ava Elizabeth!! Is that sweet or what? Just then, the irritating girl who sat on my left last night came over and introduced herself as Cynthia. In turn, she introduced us to 2 other Japanese fans, Tsutomu and Hiroki, who'd been at the hotel since yesterday. We had a nice little chat and exchanged contacts. 

Out of nowhere, it happened… Jon came down!! He was wearing a gray fitted tee with sweat pants and track shoes, and donning the same pair of shades as he did in the promo photos for Crush. He was with 2 other guys. We all went over and I guess he's tired or something, he had this expression of "not again!!" written across his face. Cynthia just kept talking and talking and talking and talking and talking!! I didn't even get to say a simple hi or something. Whatever Jon says, she'll have something to reply with. Excuse me, I can speak English too, you know!! Dammit!!  I did, however, get a picture taken… And I'll never forget his face...

I believe he went for breakfast at one of the fast food joints after that. I was hardly settled after that. We talked a bit more, then Cynthia had to go and the two Japanese guys drifted off. Hugh returned and we didn't do anything. Same thing when Jon returned. I did wave but he either didn't see it or didn't want to response. I couldn't bear bother them any further. Poor things. In between, I spotted some familiar faces from the crew walking about. One of the ladies even had all these Wendy's take-outs. And I began once again to imagine the rest of the guys having breakfast in bed. Which also brings me to what Hugh said. Perhaps the guys ain't golfing after all… Besides, I don't remember seeing golf courses around.   It's My Life is playing on TV now, on the Vibe channel. The first time I'm seeing a Bon Jovi MTV in Japan!! 

20 July 11:56AM in the air 

There is a strange tinge of melancholy that comes with leaving Fukuoka. As What A Wonderful World wafts through the cabin, I begin to have flashbacks of what happened at Hyatt and at the Dome… My heart continually pounds as I envision the band's faces. I had come here with a dream, a yearning of emotional fulfillment. Thought certain things have not exactly worked out as I wanted them to, I'm still thankful for the few precious gifts put into my hands. I'll never forget the wonderful experience of sharing a stage with the band, and the unexpected encounters at the hotel lobby. Somehow, I feel the chance meetings were to make up for the cancelled meet-and-greet.

As I write, I feel a sudden urge to cry. Maybe I already did, not because of sorrow but of the excitement of actually having fulfilled a long-time dream. I find that hard to contain. As well as the fight I'd had to put up to come on this trip. So much happened in so little time…

As of now, I'm looking at Dave and Tico's autographs. No Jon, no Richie, no Hugh even, but I'm grateful… some things money can't buy and passion got me these. And these are gonna be with me forever… Thank you Jon, Richie, Tico, David and Hugh, for teaching me to dream and to keep the faith; and to everyone else for making this possible. To Fukuoka, it's "Till we meet again".

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