C-A-N-C-E-L-L-E-D

Just 9 letters, 2 C's, 2 E's, 2 L's...apparently a harmless word, but...do never ever underestimate the power of a simple word! I would say that the word above, which I hardly dare to write anymore, is beginning to sound as if everyone had put a curse on me everytime I read it. The worst situation comes when this word appears in the little screen of your mobile phone...that little gadget that has sometimes brought you so much joy and put a smile on your face when it displays a message from a friend. However, if the text contains this one word...a tantrum of historical proportions or a depression that may last for a few days is likely to strike you.

Last Tuesday I worked hard until 8:30 pm, after which I was planning to pick up my bag, switch on my i-Pod at full volume and go home listening to Elton, slowly getting into the mood for the wonderful weekend that was soon to come.

When I suddenly heard my cell phone ring announcing a text message I wasn't prepared for what was coming...I read it, I read it again...was I dreaming? Sure, I would wake up any second, right? ...Wrong! A few more seconds went by and the text was still there....Vitoria has been cancelled, it read!

I considered throwing away this awful little cell phone of mine, but I realised the concert would still be cancelled...and I'd end up buying a new one that might end up receiving messages with another cursed word of mine....POSTPONED!

Zero Hour: 9 am

After months of speculation, buying flights and booking hotels before the BIG event was even confirmed, the long awaited day was finally here, and I didn't want the day to start because I knew once it was here it would be over too soon!

At 9 am sharp we met a few fans in the hotel lobby and went to have a breakfast that would give us enough energy to face the BIG day. On our way to the cafeteria we already met a few fans, and after breaksfast we met a few more from Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, and well, the USA, of course!

IT was time to leave for pier 81 in the Hudson River where a dreamboat would take us and some 200 more fans on a fundraising cruise, an event that was possible thanks to the joined efforts of 6 LATW organisers. After a few minutes of discussion it was agreed that we would meet at the boat...us Europeans decided pier 41 was at walking distance, so we took some time to visit the "good side" of Madison Square Garden to see the HUGE Elton banner we'd been told was hanging from there and which we hadn't noticed!!




After the photos (it took a while to get the perfect shot!) it was finally time to go to the Hudson and board the dreamboat!

We all signed a banner that had been made for Elton, there was a silent auction with incredible collectible items, and a big raffle.

After lunch, it was time for Elton's fans to have fun, and having a piano and a few pianists available in the house, the fun was guaranteed! We soon forgot about eating, despite the big choice of food, and we walked to the piano where we sang along to, first, Postcards from Richard Nixon and The Captain and the Kid and finally Rocket Man.

There was time for some sightseeing too as the boat approached Liberty Island and the Brooklyn Bridge, so the afternoon was complete, even the weather was good to us, and although it was a bit chilly in the Hudson River, the day was quite good and it didn't rain at all!

Almost 300 fans got together for the event, a lot of money was raised for the EJAF and we had fun and warmed up for the big evening that was still awaiting us in the World's Most Famous Arena!! Elton's 60th performance at Madison Square Garden on his 60th Birthday!!!