People who have gone to Tori shows always talk about how amazing the other 'ears with feet' are, and it is because they are. I was nervous before going to this show for all the usual reasons, but I also had some new worries. I had been to 5 other shows over the years, but I had never gone alone. This time I was on my own, and I had arranged to meet some people from the forum. Which for me was a double Yikes. Would I feel awkward and left out all day, would MistyLeighToo and Lilyscloak not like me in person, etc.. It turned out I needn't have been concerned. I got there at around 11:00 and there were already 5 people who had been there for a while waiting to do the meet and greet. I grabbed my tons of stuff, (rings, signs, bag, chair, etc.) and asked if they were there for meet and greet and they said yes, so I positioned myself behind them. They were nice, but a little lukewarm at first. After seeing me set up my signs, they asked about them, and after explaining and showing the rings they warmed up, and I even sold a couple. Then I saw Lilyscloak show up. She was far ahead of us on the pavement and looked like she was unsure of herself and about to set up camp there. So I called out a hello, and ask if she was there for M&G, and told her we were also waiting. As she walked over I recognized the RAINN jar she had made and realized who she was. We got along well right away. Then a bit later MistyLeighToo, showed up. And it was surprising how easy it was to talk to both of them. While waiting for what felt like forever we talked and found out what each other did, talked about our families, and got comfortable. Over the course of the day Lilyscloak and I realised we were in the same section and same row, and marveled at the irony. Lilyscloak had friends that showed up a bit later than she did, and MistyLeighToo had a friend who joined her too; but neither turned their backs or ignored me. Which made me feel like I belonged right where I was, and was really sweet of them. MistyLeighToo was one of the lucky few who managed a gold ticket, so she waited with us up until nearly the last minute and then went to the box office. I hated that she lost her place in the M&G line, but later as I was collecting my things after my turn, (stunned and shaky as I was), I saw she was standing on the railing at the edge of the M&G. I wasn't able to see if she was able to get her "A Piano" box signed or not, I hope she did. Then I think MistyLeighToo went for sound check; and Lilyscloak and (Martha, Ian, & Sarah? I'm REALLY bad at names - sorry if I'm wrong on those) her friends were ready to have our dinner break. So we fought traffic on one of the most difficult roads in town to drive a mile and and have dinner. We had some really yummy nibbles and swooned about our one on one time with Tori. - I still can't believe Tori said I was wonderful. I'm not sure if she meant, 'wonderful that I made something for charity', 'wonderful that we were making our event part of our concert experience', 'a wonderful beader/jewelry maker/artist type', or what. What I do know is that I am incredibly thankful I heard her say it (hearing can be tough when you're feeling overwhelmed). Having someone who's work and talent I respect so deeply tell me that they appreciate me was one of the most amazing things that I could have ever dreamed of. People who were nearby when we were talking later said she seemed really touched by our conversation. Which I was thankful that they told me; I had thought she seemed to be, but Tori has a way that makes everyone she talks to feel special, so I wasn't sure if my mind was just filling in its own blanks. People also said they really liked the rings, and some came back and bought a few more after they'd had theirs a bit. That was also really gratifying, strangers don't have to like your work, when they do it can be very affirming that it was worth while. After we returned from dinner it was time to go into the auditorium. I went straight to the merchandise table and spent more than I ever have at a show before. I got 3 shirts, a necklace, a Yoav CD, and a program. Then I went to my seat to get comfortable and look over my goodies. A girl in a cute hat a few rows back started talking to me about my shirts and which things I had bought. And I kept thinking I ought to remembering something. Then, as it wildly turned out, Lilyscloak walked up and sat beside me. How we wound up with side by side seats I have no idea. Speaking of which, remember the girl in the cute hat? Two rows back one seat over; Prudence. And Lilyscloak was the one to recognize her, and then we realized who each other were. She wound up buying 8 (yes 8!) rings from me for RAINN. I think she has all the colors in both styles. She was one of our 'chip' girls. Which is how I started thinking of people kept coming back. For them the rings became like potato chips, they couldn't stop at just one! But she was the biggest buyer of the day; and although we almost didn't know each other, we still had wound up connecting over Tori stuff. I scanned the crowd for MistyLeighToo, but only knew approximately where she was supposed to be. I never did spot her. The show was amazing, and unique even beyond all Tori shows. So I have to make the review its own entry. The fact that there won't be an official bootleg of it a crime, and you guys are being deprived.