The concert was great! Then the big moment. I was unusually calm. I think I as wondering what nanab (Diane) was going to do and how I could keep her calm. We spoke over the phone a few days before and she was jazzed. We hadn’t been able to connect before the concert that day.


The moment Elliott walked in was so quiet and understated it almost took you back a little. My first impressions is he has such a large voice for a small stature and then I looked at him and he seemed tired. I waited for a while and slowly scooted up to him with the album open to Rachel and his picture in Minnesota. I asked, “Does this young lady look familiar?” “It’s Rachel in Israel.” I told him about the album and people in it and asked if he would like me to mail it so he wouldn’t have to carry it on the bus. “NO, I want to look at it.” Smiles, pictures, and time for others with him. So quick but so nice. No tears.






OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF ELLIOTT






PHYLLIS AKA GOGO and THE MAN OF THE HOUR ELLIOTT


Elliott was gracious with everyone he met. I particularly liked his easy manner with the children who asked for his autograph. He would get down to their level and look them in the eye and talk to them and sign what they wanted. He was the same with the handicapped young lady. OH THOSE BLUE EYES. Whether our young Etrainers think of him as a Thudmuffin, we older ones think of him as son, and we all, especially the vocalists, and muscians, know he is the next talent to come and stay for a long time, Elliott doesn't disappoint. For me, it was as Claudette says, "the talent is a given, he is just a good soul." I agree!

Ace was just as sweet. He looked you in the eye, listen to what you had to say or ask. Then when the time for a picture came, you know your being hugged. He has a good hold on you. OH THOSE EYES! I should just print a copy of his smile to look at on bad days.

Mandisa is a gracious, bubbly woman. Lisa is more reserved yet so sweet and kind, and appreciative of your applause. My only regret was not seeing Chris because I had a special message for him which I won’t discuss here.

I hope you will pardon my indulgence in the more personal review. I felt that perhaps you would like to know some of the CA Etrainers as I’ve gotten to know them. They are a fine bunch of loyal fans to Elliott. Some are hard working moderators. Some are hard working Elliott fans with a zeal to help this young man, some of us call our “emotionally adopted son”, succeed, flourish and prosper. That’s what we all want. I wanted to represent all of you in the best way for you deserve it. :grouphug:

My hope is some day when Elliott is soloing in CA we can all someday meet .

Sorry about the picture size. It's been reduced and is smaller than Elliott above. I've contacted mcorneilo to help. Maybe he can show what is wrong????? :blink:

Turn about fair play. Here is a fantastic picture of GoGo and Felisha, our beloved banner captain, at the pre-concert get together last night in San Jose.

I can't wait until Elliott goes solo and we can all meet again!!

Sk8888

I'm with Shelly, bring on the solo concert NOW.

Thanks for the turn about, at least you got me before the humidity made
my hair look like I'd been mopping floors with my head. :rotfl:

Isn't Felisha darling? So is our Elliott. :grouphug:

Sounds like you guys had a wonderful time! I'm so excited for all of you. What a week for the CA E-Trainers. I really hope that next time he is here I can meet all of you! :glomp: Thank you for the wonderful recap and great pictures Gogo!

Wow! There are no words! Gogo, I'm so glad you got to meet Elliott and give him the album!!. :woohoo: What a great recap!!

Gogo, thanks for the great recap and letting us experience it through your eyes and words. I'm so happy Elliott got the album and can see the faces of more of his fans. I'm sure he was really happy to see Rachel's pic and the one of them both!

I'm sure he's tired - it must be really tough going for them all, but it's an amazing experience for them.

I'm glad you met Ace, Mandisa and Lisa, too. What you wrote about each of them is more or less what I imagined they'd be like. Wonderful!!

Thanks so much! I am so happy for you!!

Thanks for that wonderful review, Gogo :) I really enjoyed reading it. I'm so happy you were able to meet him and glad you could deliver the album to him personally.

Love the picture of you and Elliott!

To my sister in the Secret Society....I thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures and your wonderful three part "different perspective" recap!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for putting together the beautiful album and for just BEING who you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:glomp:

Edited working on photo.

I give its too small. It looks great on my screen but you can't see anything.

I've edited the others several times and the size differences are very different but it stays the same. ???? I used photobucket as before but I don't know. I guess 4 hours of sleep isn't enough. Sorry friends. :grouphug:

Gogo

I am so glad you had a great time at the concert and were successful in giving him the album in person. I am even more happy that he showed how appreciative he was of your hard work - wanting to keep it and look at it. You worked so hard to make it special and I'm sure he loves it.

I had the honor of looking at the album before Gogo gave it to Elliott.

I took a few pictures of some of the pages that are posted in my recap thread. (Sorry.)

It was truly a labor of love.

Gogo, you're what I call a "keeper."

Sk8888

This is great! I wish I could have been there. It's wonderful how many people love Elliott.

:thumbsup: Love the recap, Gogo! You are very good at remembering details. Ever thought about being a journalist? The pictures came out great too. I'll bet you're glad you decided to go after all.

You mentioned About Ace's hugs.. Whoa mama :dizzy: .. are you ever right about those! I think he would make the best dance partner with that physique.

Well, glad to see you enjoyed yourself w/Elliott and the other E-trainers!

:grouphug:

Thanks stazzie. You're whoa mama statement has me :rotfl:. Well I use to dance. Hey, maybe he could be the star and I could be his partner on "Dancing with The Stars" He could twirl me anytime. Maybe I could even be motived to go back to my size 6. :rotfl:

I did think about journalism for a short time. In fact, a teacher told me I should think about it. But in retrospect I wished I had gone for forensic science like I wanted or law. I love CSI Las Vegas and I have two friends who are forensic scientists. OH WELL, life's shoulda, coulda, woulda's.

I enjoyed reading your experiences with meeting fellow fans, the concert and meeting Elliott. Very entertaining. Great pictures also. Thanks for posting.

It's nice to read such wonderful things about Elliott and how warm he is and how concerned he is about other people. In addition to his talent, he is a good guy and a great Idol.

I agree Georgiafan1. It seems sometimes people want to dwell on negative things. When we see kindness, gentleness, respect and love for others its needs to be put front and center. Elliott will get both in his career but I think we are getting to know the young man that his mother knows. He is special. No pedestal here just recognition for the real person.

A VIEW FROM MY SEAT. IT LOOKS FURTHER THAN IT IS BUT I LIKE TO FEEL OF SEEING THE AUDIENCE AS IT LOOKED DURING THE CONCERT.





Click on picture to englarge.

Gogo,

What a great recap of your day. Your pictures and the way you presented them here was so nice. It's the next best thing to going to the concert for some of us that haven't been able to go.

Elliott sure has pulled us fans together here on this board. It makes it extra special when you can meet fellow fans in person.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your pictures and story.

WOW , ELLIOTT LOOKS SO GOOD IN YOUR PICTURES. GLAD YOU GOT TO MEET HIM. IS HE AWESOME OR WHAT? :drool: :etrain: 4LIFE

Thanks for posting about your concert! I'm glad you had a great time!

Words cannot describe how much I have enjoyed the Calif Etainers recaps! You guys had such an AWESOME TIME! I love reading all this from all of you!

and I touched that album that same night!!

Gypsy you are so right. Elliott is bringing together, people from all over as if we are becoming, in a way, an extended family.

Atlantis there is no OR WHAT, HE'S AWESOME GUY.

Thanks Doxie and Augustgurl we did have a great time. I found it wasn't just about Elliott it's about the friends we have met who love Elliott too.

OH YA Mary, your epithelials are mixing with Elliott's um hum. :thud: :rotfl:
Come to think about it so are mine. :thud:

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

:etrain: :allaboard: :allaboard: :allaboard: :allaboard: :allaboard:

The moment Elliott walked in was so quiet and understated it almost took you back a little. My first impressions is he has such a large voice for a small stature and then I looked at him and he seemed tired.

Gogo that first pic you posted of E you can even see in that he was tired. poor guy!

I agree that this whole E fandom thing is not ONLY aobut meeting E or seeing E in a show or being his fan, it is about bringing people together from so far all over the country and even OTHER countries.

IT has been an enjoyable ride for sure! And will continue to be!

One question, who is the lady in your bucketstrip with the hat on and doing the dance move? Is that pilatesmom (looks like it could be her comparing it to her avatar) I dont know if i read who that was, i recognized everyone else.

GOGO..HOW'S YOUR HEART? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Yes, Doxie that is our sweet, petite Mary (Pilatesmom). She is darling and her son Patrick is THE cutest thing. I could spoil him rotten.

I'm glad you saw that in the photo. Some of are getting a little concerned for him. He's bright. He'll take care of himself. I hope he gets some time off to kick back. He deserves it. :grouphug:

Okay I updated my signature. I put it in there. It's still there healing. I may have a permanent scar. The things Elliott does to us. :rotfl:

NO its not a tatoo for those who don't know. My sandals rubbed the skin off of my foot and by the time I got back to where I was staying I looked at it and I couldn't believe it. It was a perfect heart shape. :rotfl:

:noway:

That heart is CRAZY COOL!! If that isn't a permament momento of your love for Elliott coming from the inside out I dunno what is! :D

LOVE the pictures & the recap! I agree, poor E is lookin a bit run down. Hopefully he can rest up once the tour ends, at least for a couple days of nothing else.

ETrain is the BEST!! :grouphug: :ilikeit:

:etrain: :allaboard: :allaboard: :eisfree:

THANKS FOR THE GREAT RECAP AND PICTURES, GOGO! I KNOW YOU HAD A BLAST. YOU AND E LOOK GREAT IN YOUR PHOTO TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH HE DOES LOOK TIRED. I'LL BE KEEPING HIM IN MY PRAYERS! :pray:

I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND ALL THE E-TRAINERS YOU GOT TO MEET. :grouphug:

Thanks for the recap. Sounds like a great time and sounds like everyone is so nice. Thanks for posting your experience. :)