Part III – Afterglow
The stage is dark and empty. I can’t move. I’m completely drained. I take a deep breath and turn around. The first thing I see and hear is Kellie screaming my name and pumping both fists in the air. Apparently she didn’t know I had wormed my way up to the front until she saw the Flag on the jumbotron. I tell ya, the rush you get from Mission Control giving you two thumbs up after a gig is second only to being on the end of Stewart’s finger.
My job done, I gratefully accept hugs and kisses from Nutters around the arena. I see Donna and hand over the Flag. A huge weight lifts from my shoulders. I breathe a big sigh of relief and reflect briefly on the incredible shit that just went down. As Jose says, I have “closed my circle.” I know there’s one more show, but this one was big for me. Huge. This was the first show I really got to celebrate with my new family (at Hershey last year I was not yet a Nutter) and it was everything I hoped it’d be. I found myself becoming reflective. I’ve looked forward to this for SO LONG – not just this show, but the 23 years in-between Police gigs. How do explain this? At Hershey, I was entranced, giggly, a kid seeing her favorite 3 guys on stage for the first time. The reunion that we all thought would never happen happened. And I never wanted it to end.
But last night was different – during the show, I was remembering what Stewart was talking about during Savannah – about how the three of them get on stage to perform “The Police Ceremony”. How that’s the reason behind no new songs, no new album, no further tour…this is “not who they are anymore”. I didn’t get that at the time. I thought I did, but I really didn’t. Now I do. Last night I witnessed The Police Ceremony. Not the Police. Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the show, that it was subpar in any way, or that I felt the Boys “going through the motions.” I’m not saying that at all. But this was a ceremony, a rite, a play. I saw three guys – three incredible musicians - dressing up and being the Police. And…I was ok with that. I feel good about it, actually. Last night was a catharsis for me. For lack of a better word, it was closure. I did what I needed to do and now I’m done. I’m OK with it being over, and I’m ready for it to be over. MSG is just the cherry on the sundae.
Now I get it.
The rest is somewhat less exciting. We took the shuttle back to C&P, where we said our tearful goodbyes and hightailed it out of there, since Betsy and I both needed to get to work today. We got back to her house and I crashed on her couch until I was awakened 6 hours later by her dog’s nose in my face. And here I am, in my cube, back to reality. Other than that, there really isn’t anything else to say except thank you.
Thank you, everyone - for reading this and giving the love and support that only other Nutters can give.
Thank you, Kellie - for the opportunity to serve and be part of this strange little cultural phenomenon known as the Flag.
Thank you, Stewart – for everything. But above all, for just being you.
The End.
Letting my raven tresses wave with nameless grace.