Justin Timberlake is extraordinary. This we all know. His ability to sing, dance, and play guitar and piano for two and a half hours and leave seeming less tired than me, watching his concert, is exceptional. Not to mention the fact that he can also act and he seems like a nice guy who stays out of the trouble many famous people are unable to avoid.
Much as I’m trying to change things, I am not extraordinary. This we all also know, or at least it feels like it. While in my head I sometimes pretend I’m a popular celebrity whose talent is celebrated, in reality, I’m a 24 year old aspiring novelist and screenwriter who feels like a food blogging outsider and failure that has never been kissed and went to Justin’s Detroit stop on his 20 20 Experience World Tour with her mom and aunt.
My aunt, Debbie, me, and Mom before the show!
Because I never give up hope that something amazing will happen, I brought the sign above with me to the concert. What did I have to lose? However security not only made me throw away my poster, saying only paper size posters were allowed at this show, but also return my fancy camera to the car. These rules were not stated on the venue’s website and I can assure said venue that the marijuana we smelled was much more distracting and dangerous.
After being thrown for a moment (I mean, I’m a blogger, my hands don’t know what to do without a camera), we traversed the mountain of stairs to our fourteenth row floor seats. Somehow amid twenty thousand or so of our closest friends, the floor section felt very intimate, like a club performance. I pulled out my phone, which took excellent videos and not too shabby pictures. Plus, it didn’t run out of power like my aunt’s iPhone. Yay for my Samsung Galaxy S5!
Supposedly no signs were allowed in the show, but a girl on the opposite side of the floor had one stating it was her birthday. Justin saw it, talked to her, and even led the crowd in a round of Happy Birthday. She was 24. Ironic. She’ll never forget that moment, and neither will I.
She got to be special. Exactly what I wanted. I know, I know. Maybe he wouldn’t have seen my sign. Maybe he would have ignored it. But maybe not. I suppose I need to realize, as Mom said, that many people in the crowd wanted to be special, be singled out. It just sometimes seems like life is a series of other people getting that chance and me being left in their dust.
I pouted for a few minutes, but then I thought about how awesome my seats were, how often I get to have this opportunity, and how lucky I was to be there at all. I sang, I danced, I jumped . . . well maybe I didn’t jump when commanded, but four inch Louboutins, bad knees, and jumping don’t exactly mix 😉 I had a good time, because if I hadn’t, it wouldn’t have been anyone’s fault but my own.
So my heart is broken because I still haven’t gotten my shot at life, at success, at popularity. But that’s not Justin’s fault. At the end of those two and a half hours, full of every Justin hit you can think of, seamlessly strung together and blended with Jay Z, Eminem, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, and Cool and the Gang tunes, my voice had disappeared, my ears rang, my feet throbbed, and I put at least half my body weight on my aunt as we ascended the stairs. The marks of an awesome concert by any measure. Justin surely did more than his part to be certain we all had an enjoyable night.
The 20 20 Experience is just that, an experience. It’s the best concert I’ve ever seen, and Justin is the best performer of his generation and likely others. I dare anyone to try to best him. I’d go again tomorrow.
Sure, I left in much the same way I entered: never been kissed , aspiring novelist and screenwriter, dreamer, loser, Justin fan, girl hoping one day everything’s just going to click. The thing is I don’t know what tomorrow will hold, a scary and exciting thought all at the same time.
You will find your place, your kiss, your true love. I just know you will!!! xo
Thank you for the support and kind words, Liz!!!!
Oh darling, this made me laugh and sigh at the same time. Justin T. would be a memorable first kiss, but it’s probably best you avoided kissing a married man for your first one! 🙂
Haha! Yes we thought about that and decided even a kiss on the cheek would be cool. Plus, considering my situation, I hope it’s clear I am not trying to break up any marriages!
Haha, of course. I hope your first kiss is a real one that makes you feel butterflies from your head to your toes!
Very few people think they’re all that extraordinary, even, I’ll bet, Justin Timberlake. Sure he’s a “success” but I’ll bet he’s painfully aware of every area in which he thinks he falls short. You’re putting yourself out there with your blog and your writing — just keep working on your craft, and you’ll be fine.
That is a really good point, John! I think we all see our flaws . . . it’s just part of human nature.
You are not a loser, girlie!!! Stop talking like that now 🙂 I’m glad you still had fun at the concert even though you didn’t get to bring in your super awesome poster and your camera
Thanks for the pep talk, Ashley! I can always count on your for advice and support 🙂
Hey who is Justin Timberlake anyway?? Move over Justin, here comes Laura.. Find your own spot in life girl and don´t let how other ppl react change your destiny or dreams.. xoxo
That is awesome advice, Johlene! I always let other people get to me and I shouldn’t. Thanks for the wise words xo
You are so welcome.. don´t waste these precious years girl, make every day count! Every step you take is one step closer to fulfilling your dreams.. xoxo
I’ve been visiting your blog regularly just to check for new posts, since I really enjoy the way you write. It feels like I’m sitting with you in the same room and know you. You are not a loser, you are creative and a smart girl.
Who knows, maybe Justin T is reading your post right now and happy to have a fan like you 🙂
Next time bring your extraordinary cherry pie bars! (Only kidding.) Seriously, Laura you are so young and so lucky. Loubitans? Oo la la! And you are right, you don’t know what tomorrow will bring…And the truth is you are special..There is only one Laura who can write, sing, dance and be loving to her family like you <3
Thanks for the kind words, Kim! I do think those cherry pie bars would have sealed the deal 😉
Confession – I actually have been reading all of your posts, but life has been so rushed I haven’t been commenting! I love how you related your JT experience to real life. There is actually so much to be thankful for even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment. You had the opportunity to be up close and personal at the concert, wore a gorgeous dress and were able to enjoy a fun girls’ night out with your mom and aunt – it doesn’t get much better than that! Have a good weekend, Laura 🙂
Thanks for reading all my posts, and for leaving a comment – I love hearing from you. I do often think I look back on events and appreciate them even more than in the moment. That has definitely been the case with the concert. I hope you have a good weekend too 🙂
I agree with Liz and Kelly, lol! Life has so many turns!