First I saw Simon. I kinda waved my ARCADIA CD slightly but didn't make a thing of it - enough to get his attention. He looked non-expressive, tired, and placed his finger over his mouth as to signal "Be quiet." Then he pointed me to an area to sign my ARCADIA. Why that CD? I didn't want a damn thing in my hand that screamed Duran Duran in fear of others realizing who he is. I didn't wanna make a scene in respect to them.

Plus, that is my fave "DD" CD. When he signed the CD itself - I said, "Won't that ruin the CD?" "No, actually, it's a good place for it." I expressed how I will be quiet and that I do respect his space - just nervous.

Simon just looked at me as to say something then the geek in me said, "Oh, my name is Jessica" which he signed on the CD. I then asked Simon as I had my SAINT NICK FANZINE in my hand, "Where's my FAVORITE one?" Simon replied, "You mean NICK? He's over there?" and pointed him out who walking along.

I grabbed the Arcadia CD out of his hands and walked quickly up to Nick behind. Bye Simon. I lightly tapped Nick's shoulder with the fanzine in my hand and whispered to him if he could sign Arcadia. We got a little way out of the crowd, and then he signed it. He saw my birthday June 1998 issue SAINT NICK fanzine which was below my CD.

He quickly he took it from me, and giggled. "I don't think I've seen this one!" He flipped through it, and I showed him pictures of my mother and friend who's in it. He laughed 'cos he thought it was cute obviously.

Then I gave him a flashing toy strobe-light ring that I sell in my office to give to his daughter. (Feel free to inquire on my web site that has a pic of the rings!) "Did your daughter just turn 13?" (Yes, play stupid - don't know why I asked in that way).

"Yes, she just turned 13, now" he said quietly and I gave him the ring that he played with on his finger. I showed him how it lights up, his staff person said he's seen the rings somewhere, and I said I will be wearing them at the show and he should be able to see me - like he cared. He laughed at it, as well.

"So what does Jessica do in this office?" he asked in the gist of. Training coordination for a computer consultant company. But considering I might lose my job after ditching our clients and driving for almost 2 hours in traffic in heat in POLYESTER, I told him I might lose my job. In fact, I gave him my fan letter with my *job resume.* He kinda laughed, "Polyesther?!"

There's more to the Nick dialogue but I wil have cramps if I continue what we talked about and its nothing anyone would care about.

By then, the band was moving fast and no time for conversation. Oh --- I actually chatted with Nick and requested they play Ordinary World for the Colubine High School students (I feel he was not sure about doing it'cos possibly its so touchy but he knew about the story), and some other things. "I don't know if we can ... don't know ... " he said. I have a feeling they might have dedicated to Princess Diana's 2nd anniversary death had I not say anything.

I held it together - didn't cry, remained low-key, and gave them their space. I remained calm and chatty with Nick until the I had Warren sign my Missing Persons LP.

I dressed extremely NICE - like right out of the office. I knew security would figure what I was up to - regardless of how dressed I was. Plus, i had just left work. No time for shorts.

I didn't want to look like a cheesey fan with pins and crap like that. I've known of fans to make the rest of look like we're right out of the trailer trash county fair. Out of more respect to DD's privacy,.I didn't bring anything that said Duran Duran in case security would pick up on what I was doing and I didn't want others knowing why they were signing for me.

I only got ONE pic- a polaroid from the disposable "Pop Shots." I've never wanted to meet DD around fans, and finally it happened that way. There was no one there to embarrass me, make me more nervous, or do anything to cause me to lose my temper out of one's silliness. Also, NO STUPID comments that nervous fans can add to a conversation.

My cousin - who was visiting from NY wanted to go. "I'll have NO ONE slow me down and I want my space!" Damn it, after never being to a DD concert in 17 years nor meeting them - its MY TURN.

I also saw the band walking past me several more times, but I didn't want to draw negative attention to myself by appearing like I was following them. I let groups of people get between us so that it didn't look like I was following them - although they were going my way.

I stood there and kinda "spied" on them for a bit when they stopped and had something to do. I had this impulse to pull out my 70mm camera and take shots of them talking. Then I realize how paparaazi it was and one of the reason Princess Diana died. Within moments of letting the sight of DD absorb itself, I realize that they are no longer a part of this "digital media fantasy" or anything flat like a record ... they're people (duh) - time to honor their privacy. And I did. I just wanted to feel like I was in their bubble as long as I could hold onto the moment. Especially after 17 years!

	I walked away with a big grin and then I cried in my car on the way home. As a result of seeing them as average Joes, I didn't even buy DD merchandise at the show 'cos after Nick had signed 3 autographs for me, a pic with me, and had the others sign for me (also spent $12 on parking), screw the merchandise. As for the Denver concert! Nick gave me that special grin 3/4th into the show 'cos I was in front of him with my flashing rings. I look like a X-Mas tree and couldn't figure out why Nick didn't look in MY direction until I saw him being cheeky. And Ordinary World was dedicated to Colubine High School. I still can't get such a perfect day out of my mind.
The pic you see if of Nick and I is cropped. The original polaroid has his autograph all over it and you see more of the background.