And Then There Was That Time We Met Mraz.

So, something fairly extraordinary happened yesterday.

First, a recap.

My friend Jen told me that Jason Mraz would be on the Today Show on February 16th. He would then be going to Z100 and the Late Show with David Letterman, and would I want to take off of work and go with her to try and find him? I told her that I wasn’t sure and that I’d let her know in a few days. I thought about it a long while and figured, if nothing else, I’d have a day off from work and I’d get to spend it with a newly formed friend. I told her that I’d go and that I’d put in for the day off. This was about a month ago.

We hammered out the details as the day drew closer. We’d go in the night before and stay with my dad. Then we’d get up before the sun the following morning and drag ourselves to Rockefeller Center and wait outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man. Then we’d casually follow him (read: stalk .. innocently) for the rest of the day, hopefully having a moment to speak with him.

Everything pretty much followed the plan Wednesday night. We each took our own train into the city and met up at Penn Station. I took her to my dad’s apartment and we went out to dinner in Brooklyn, his old stomping ground. We nestled under the covers at about 10:30, dreading the sound of the alarm in only a few hours’ time. Well, at least I was. Sleep is probably one of the most important aspects of my life, and it takes a lot for me to get up at such an early hour. I was skeptical about our plan the following day. Deep down, I was hopeful, but the pessimist in me kept whispering her ugly, down-trodded words, and it was hard for me not to doubt our excursion’s goals.

My dad drove us to Rockefeller Center as the city was waking up. Business men and women were scurrying to and from every sidewalk, cars and cabs were whizzing and darting in and out of lanes. I told my dad that I was thankful he knew how to drive there since there was no way in heck I’d be doing it. He dropped us off and wished us luck. We stepped out into the cold of the early morning and made our way to the Today Show window, barricaded off and manned by security guards.

We made a stop at Starbucks first, naturally. Warm drink in hand, we went through the barricade and stood with the handful of other people who were all hoping for a few seconds on camera. Sure, that was enticing, but it wasn’t our goal. We came there to see the one and only Jason Mraz, to hear him sing, and to maybe have a chance of meeting him (though the pessimist in me was still skeptical). We were waiting outside for about an hour – and managed to actually get on camera twice – without a word from the news anchors about his appearance. I started worrying that maybe he wasn’t even there, maybe he wasn’t even going to show up. Jen then saw that he’d be coming out at about 8:35, so about ten minutes earlier, shivering and cold, I told her we should run back in and get more Starbucks. So off we went back inside.

As we walked through the doors, I muttered, “I hope we get to meet him later,” as I checked my phone. Jen replied, “Or .. we could just meet him right now.” I lifted my eyes and – BAM. There he was. Strumming his guitar, an entourage behind him, looking peaceful and calm. Jen managed to say, “Hi Jason ..” and I think I may have squeaked a “hi,” as well. We said hello to Mona, his percussionist, who seemed surprised that we knew her name. He waved and walked off into the studio since he was about to perform.

I was stunned. Jen and I looked at each other with the same thought: “Did that really just happen?” We managed to get our legs to move again and went downstairs to get the Starbucks we originally went in for.

After his performance, we knew that he’d have to walk back down the stairs he had walked up when we had our chance encounter. So we bolted back inside and waited patiently, trying our hardest not to scream. I was trying my hardest not to wet my pants.

And then .. there he was. No longer holding his guitar and quietly singing, but looking just as peaceful as before. I had my phone out, Jen had her camera out. He approached us and said, “I see you have your cameras out .. You guys want a picture with Mona, right?” And then we started chatting. He went to each of us, shook our hands, and asked our names. He listened when we spoke. Jen asked about his trip to Antarctica and listened to them talk about penguins. We talked about global warming and saving the environment. A third girl, also a huge fan and wearing a Jason Mraz shirt, had found her way in and was staring at him, wide-eyed and bashful. He talked to her about what she was studying in school and took the time out to really listen to what she said.

We even got our sought-after picture.

We chatted with Mona and I relayed a quote that a social work professor had told me in college: “You may feel like what you’re doing is pointless, because how can one person change the world? But everyone has a light that shines, and it may seem dim on its own, but imagine how bright it would be if we all came together to do something good?” She gave me a high-five and thanked me for sharing.

If it wasn’t for the security guards who asked us to leave the lobby, I have absolutely no doubt that they would have kept talking with us.

After it was all over, it took everything in me not to start crying. But it hadn’t even really hit me at that point. I was still in shock, completely stunned by the fact that I had just met and spoke with the man who was the inspiration behind turning my life around. It’s very cliche, but honestly .. his music, his outlook, his message .. they all saved me from the destructive path I was on. He helped me find gratitude and happiness in every aspect of my life. I don’t think I can even adequately express how he changed me for the better, without ever knowing me.

On the way home, I started thinking about it more and started crying on the train. With the melody and words of “I Won’t Give Up” filling my body and my soul, I was suddenly overcome with this unbelievable humility and gratitude for everything. Everything. That day, every day, my life, every decision, everyone, the man sitting next to me, all of it.

Life is such an extraordinary creature. It truly, sincerely is. I refused to see it for most of my life. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready to. Maybe I couldn’t accept the beauty of life. And, sometimes, it’s easier to just look around and complain about the bad things. I had always found excuses as to why my life wasn’t good enough – or why I wasn’t good enough – but I get it now. We are beautiful, as we are. We have such power to make this world magnificent just by being in it. It all makes sense.

And it’s all thanks to a man in a hat (which, funnily enough, he no longer wears).

I know, for sure, that 2012 is going to be the best year ever. I’m going to make sure of that.

L to R: Jen, Jason, Me, Mona!

Oh, did I also mention that Jen and I also won tickets to the taping of the Late Show with David Letterman where - surprise! – the musical guest was Jason Mraz?

My Mraz Adventure!

My first year of college, five years ago, my best friend Erin introduced me to the wonderful music of Jason Mraz. It did not take long before I became completely and utterly obsessed, not just with his music, but with Mr. AZ himself. Jason Mraz is an inspiration to me as a person. Everything he stands for is incredible and his music never ceases to put me in a good mood. Some artists fade in and out of peoples lives and others seem to really "stick". I have never gone through a period where Jason Mraz has faded. And at the rate I'm going, it probably never will.

In 2009, when I heard that tickets for Jason Mraz were going on sale for a show at Jones Beach, (THE place to see a concert on Long Island), I was thrilled. I got up early and landed Erin and I some awesome seats. Floor level, center stage. I gave Erin her ticket for her birthday and the Mraz countdown began. About a week after I purchased the tickets I realized that with all of my excitement, I didn't notice that August 7th, the date of the concert, was also the date of my boyfriend's, at the time, sister's wedding. Let me just say, I had to do the right thing. His sister was like a sister to me and even though missing the concert was going to be devastating, I handed over my ticket to Erin's little sister Kim. Well, obviously they enjoyed the concert. They got me a t-shirt and from then on I got to hear stories about how amazing it was. They tried not to rub it in but it was a bit of a sore subject. I was pretty jealous.

My Jason obsession never lessened. After that concert I was determined that the next time he came even somewhat close to New York I would be there.

In 2010 my boyfriend and I broke up. This hit me hard. We had been together for a while and I didn't see it coming. (I tried to refrain from telling him that I wish it had happened a year earlier so that I didn't miss that concert.) And, as cheesy as it sounds (well, maybe not to you gals) It seemed as though no matter what my mood was, whether I was at a high point or a low point, there was a Jason song to get me through that moment. His blog always provided inspiration to move forward and even though he will probably never know, Jason Mraz helped me more than he could have imagined.

Erin's sister Kim called me one day at the end of July 2011 when she saw that Jason and Toca would be doing 3 shows at Carnegie Hall. One show on November 23rd and two shows on November 25th, the day before and the day after Thanksgiving. Tickets for all three shows had sold out in less than a day but I was not going to let this concert pass me by. Erin wouldn't go. Kim didn't have the money. I tried and tried but I couldn't get Erin to come. So, I did what any other crazy Mraz Woman would have done. I bought two crazy expensive tickets off of stubhub for mediocre seats for the Wednesday night show and gave one to Kim for her birthday. She was happy. I was beyond happy. The countdown began. I bought the tickets on August 27th and the three month countdown seemed to take forever.

As the time grew near, I was becoming more and more excited. When we finally boarded the train for the city it felt surreal. And I was determined to think like Jason and find him in the city at some point. Kim was excited too, but she must have called me nuts twenty times throughout the day. I didn't argue though, she was right, and I was okay with that. We spent a good amount of time walking around near central park, we grabbed some lunch and walked around some more. By 6:00 we were exhausted and cold from walking in the rain since 11 am. We made our way over to Carnegie Hall and waited for the doors to open. We made our way to our seats which were in the second row on the left side of the balcony and when I saw the stage I didn't know what to do. I was finally here, soon to be in the same room as Jason Mraz. And Toca Rivera. This was going to be incredible.

The concert was beyond incredible. When Jason and Toca first came out, I nearly lost my mind. The fact that they played all types of songs, especially the Jason Mraz classics made the concert so special. I mean 0% Interest and RKOP!? That's unheard of! I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time and even though I didn't think it was possible, when I left my seat, I loved Jason Mraz even more than I had when I walked in. Before I left, I checked the ticket counter for tickets to the Friday show. It was sold out, but I was again determined.

We waited by the stage door for about 45 minutes for Jason to come out after the show. The whole time someone had a Ukelele and the whole crowd sang along to Jason's songs. It was a great way to end the night. Unfortunately, we had to catch a train home and left before Jason came out. When I got home, I texted Erin to see if she would come to the Friday show if I could get tickets because Kim had her fill of the city for a while. After some persuasion, Erin agreed to come to the Friday show IF I got tickets. I spent a good portion of the next day, Thanksgiving, searching high and low to tickets to either of the Friday shows. I found one pair of tickets and leaped on the opportunity immediately. It was for the 3:00 matinee show where The Fresh Beat Band would perform with him. Yes! I was making my way back to the city to see Jason Mraz again, this time with my best friend!

Only, at 10:00 Thanksgiving night, the night before the concert, Erin bailed. I was left with two tickets and I was NOT going to give up going again. I picked up the phone and called my aunt, who is a music lover but not particularly familiar with Jason Mraz. Because she's the best EVER, she agreed to come in and see the show with me. Little did she know what she was getting herself into.

We drove into the city this time, and I introduced her to Jason's music beyond "I'm Yours." She was excited, I was elated, it was going to be a great day. When we got to Carnegie Hall, it was flooded with small children. The woman next to me was complaining, "I don't know who this Jason Mraz is but my kids came here to see the Fresh Beat Band and he better not take up too much time or bore my kids. These tickets were expensive." I screamed a little inside. SERIOUSLY!? YOU SHOULD HAVE LET A REAL MRAZ FAN HAVE THAT TICKET!

Our seats for this show were awesome. Tier 1 in a box. AMAZING. Much to my surprise, the Fresh Beat Band didn't open for Mraz, they actually played most of the show with him. It was great, obviously because all of Jason's work is, but not exactly what I had hyped the show up to my Aunt as. He sang his usual hits, plus "Merry Holidays," "Outdoors (from sesame street)" and "Rainbow Connection." He also sang about the number five and the song he sang with Bushwalla a few times, "Spiders Doing Push-Ups On a Mirror." It was a great show, only an hour and fifteen minutes, but not at all like the night before, which lasted almost three hours.

Afterwards, I led my poor Aunt to the stage door with me. Hundreds of small screaming children were chanting "F-B-B" for the Fresh Beat Band to come out. About twenty minutes of "FBB" chanting in, Toca walked out the door and made his way through the crowd. Nobody acknowledged him so I yelled "Hey TOCA!" and he turned around and goes "Oh my goodness! A REAL fan who actually knows who I am!" When he came back, he took a picture with me and thanked me for coming to the show. Once all of the kids cleared he actually came out again and hung out with us for a little while. He was so awesome to talk to and was very down to earth. It was like he was happy to sign my ticket. By the time he went back in it was just me, my aunt and another Jason fan still waiting by the door. The head of security came down and told us that Jason was meditating and that he wouldn't be coming down before his next show. I was disappointed, but then he told us that after the Wednesday night show it was so packed by the stage door that they couldn't bring him out and had to sneak him out the front. He also said that he MIGHT have to do the same thing tonight, around11:45 ,"if you know what I mean." Too bad I didn't have tickets for that show.


Too bad I'm an obsessive nut who was NOT going to miss the last show. I turned to my Aunt and asked her if we could go check for tickets for the later show. Now, don't be fooled, I just graduated college and have a ton to pay for, including loans and a horse. The last thing I NEEDED was to spend more money on tickets to another Jason Mraz concert. Yet, I was in such a zone at this point, I would have probably dipped into my life savings if it meant spending another few hours being in the presence of Mr. AZ. And I was yet again determined, this time I was going to show my Aunt what Jason Mraz really is. We headed back into Carnegie Hall and checked for tickets, so far none had been returned but we started a cancellation line. As people came in with extra tickets, the usher would walk them to us to be sold at face value. It was packed though and there really were no tickets to be found. The show started at 8:00 and buy 7:30 all we had was one balcony seat. We were willing to split up, but not one of us goes to the show and the other doesn't. That wasn't going to fly. Just as we got ready to sell back the single ticket, three young guys walked in looking quite confused. The told the usher that they had an extra ticket and didn't know what to. The usher and I were buddies at this point and upon looking at the ticket walked quickly over to me. "Look at this ticket. Take it. Front row, seat 12." FACE VALUE! AHHHHHH!

So I did it! I accomplished all three Jason Mraz shows, the last one I sat in the front row. Talk about dreams coming true. My Aunt didn't mind sitting up in the balcony, she was happy I wound up in the front row. According to her, my feet didn't touch the ground all day. This was by far the BEST of the three concerts and I honestly could have died each time I made eye-contact with Jason. I met back up with my Aunt after the show and she already knew the next move. We would wait. By the front, because that's what we were advised to do earlier. We grabbed hot chocolate quick and then stood our post and waited. And waited. And waited. Toca came out and we thanked him for being awesome. He remembered us from before. Even more awesome. After Toca walked away, I told my Aunt that when Jason came out, I was going to ask him what it means to have a road unencumbered by cats. Because seriously, I know he's all about the wordplay, but that line has been making me nuts for five years now. And who better to explain it than Mraz himself.

At this point, it was me, my Aunt and the Ukelele kid from Wednesday night waiting by the front. And then, BAM! A secret door opened and out came the security guard, who winked at us upon seeing us, and then JASON MRAZ. I should his name and he came right over and greeted us. The kid with the Ukelele spoke to him first as I just stood there completely star-stuck. Then it was my turn. My heart pounded and I muttered "Hi Jason, Uh I'm a HUGE fan." Then he asked me my name and asked if I made it to any of the shows. I told him I made all three and he looked at me thanked me quite sincerely, pressed his hands together and bowed to me calling me a "most loyal fan." He took a picture with me and I could have died. At that very moment. He thanked me again and walked away. Best Day Ever. With the Best Aunt Ever. And the Greatest Man Ever. And The Coolest Toca Ever.

I was convinced that I was going to be hit by a bus or something while we walked to the car. There was just no way that my week could go that good without it being the end. (That sounds morbid but you know what I mean.) I couldn't even form complete thoughts. Jason Mraz is Love.

My mother called me a stalker, so did Erin. But when it comes down to it, I look at myself as someone with passion. Jason Mraz is an inspiration to put my heart into everything that I do. And seeing him in person and then actually meeting him proved everything that I thought about him as true. So, no, I'm not a stalker. I prefer the term Dedicated Super-Fan. And now, even better, a Mraz Woman. <3

And guys, if you are with me the next time I meet Mr. Mraz. Please remind me to ask him about the roads being unencumbered by cats. Please, I've gotta hear it from him. :)

You are Loved,
Jen
The Dedicated Super-Fan