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Hi lunies, I wanted to share this one particular story with you and although I plan to create some story-telling threads for us to share our back to front stories, I thought this would make for a good start, so here it goes... I had the pleasure of seeing a few shows on this tour, including the last show in Fairfax, VA. Several of us lunies traveled and stayed together, including the Ruggieri family, with whom we met up with after the show. Yellow lunatic deb and Laura (Ela) and I stayed together in Fairfax and we had a very nice mini lunie vacation together, culminating in a fabulous show! We had wanted to do something for pg and band and crew, so we decided to make up a gift basket, filled with chocolates and a monkey whose name happened to be "Shock" . We wanted it to be from us all, so I made a little sign that read, "Thank You! Lots of Lunatic Love!" And listed all the towns on the tour -- it was meant from everyone without having to list specific names. Before the show after the sound check, we were able to give the basket to Dickie so he could give it to Peter and the band/crew. We asked if it would be possible to have monkey sit on the stage somewhere, but we were okay if it couldn't happen. (Many people are particular about their workspace so I'd understand if pg didn't want it to be in his workspace) During the first part of the show, PG is seated at stage left at the grand piano, doing the first few songs there. As he finished a song, I noticed that he suddenly had the monkey handed to him and he sat him on the piano. PG introduced the next song, holding up the monkey, saying something like this: "this is the last show of the tour and we plan to have a good time tonight. This is a gift from some of our friends out there. You probably know what the next song is...." (Or something like that). PG then sat Shock on the piano and played Shock the Monkey. Just wanted to share that story with you so that you know that you were all there last weekend, stuffed into that little monkey called, Shock! No wonder he had such a grin on his face. Hopefully well get some photos on here to show you the monkey. He was really quite cute

And I forgot to mention that the proceeds from the purchase of the monkey went to a children's charity.

Bumping this to the top. Being obnoxious -- seems to be my theme today; might as well keep at it. Pissing people off everywhere I go today . . . who'd have thought my carefree Saturday could be so productive! So, yes, I'm gonna keep bumping up the story for anyone to read ... feel free to comment . . . even negative comments are welcomed . . . can't ruin the memories I have, that's for sure!

Wow, that is so cool Pat! How fun that Peter held UP that monkey! Great story.

Thanks for acknowledging the story and the intentions behind it, Lori! I must say that it felt good to see "Shock" sitting up there and when Peter mentioned him, well, it was a very happy moment indeed. As many of you know, I am a storyteller at heart -- always have been. I can make a dentist appointment seem like an adventure (although I usually have more fun stories to tell ). I like stories. I like to hear them; I like to tell them. I think it's fun to go along on the ride with the story and that's always my intention when sharing a story. So, for the record, please know that when I share a story about this or that, it's simply to do just that . . . share the experience. It's not ever meant to be taken in any other way, so if anyone takes it in a wrong way, that would be your own personal view, one which is incorrect. I just want to clarify that with some folks here, just so there's no misunderstanding. Well, there are lots of stories to tell about our fun times and gatherings at shows, so please feel free to add yours here. I love a good story!

I thought you gals did a very nice and creative thing and PG must have thought so as well since he used Shock during the concert. As I said on FB, I bet the monkey belongs to Luc now but I'll add that I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the chocolates ended up in PG's tummy

Don't know , what's so funny about PG's monkey!!?? She has no education, is very selfish and does only, what she wants. I bet, most of the chocolates went into her belly! Poor PG!

r.i.s.e. -- ?? ?? -- humor? Don't understand your comment, really, so I'm just asking. For the record, the monkey is a "he", named "Shock", by the way.

Read this today, Pat. Yes, my kind of humor and also my personal associations. I like that concert story with the monkey gift. Well done! On some YT videos Peter sings the Shock the Monkey in a funny way, with shoulders shrugging, perhaps that was the special concert.

Hi r.i.s.e. -- Thought it was meant to be funny and had meaning with your personal associations -- just wanted to be sure. As far as the concert itself was concerned -- yes, it was one of the best of the ones I attended and having Shock sit on the piano for the song -- well, that was an extra treat too. Shock represented us all, so that everyone could feel as if they were there Kind regards to all.