I got goosebumps all over my body thinking about the evening that I just had. There were so many perfect moments that I will cherish forever. I got to meet Meat Loaf and see him perform live on his last tour. My love of Meat Loaf and his music started when I was a child. I used to say that I listened to him all my life. That is probably not true, but it feels like he has always been a part of my life. His music has always been there, making me laugh and cry. He has a way of expressing the feelings I feel into words and music, and now I was going to hear it live. I had gotten tickets to meet him at the "meet and greet" and I was really excited about it. I went to the arena early just in case there would be any problems with the trains and buses because I didn't want to miss a second of this amazing night!

When I got there I met some nice people from Norway who were going to meet him, too. It was nice having someone to talk to about our expectations of the event. I told them that I really wanted to meet guitar player Paul Crook and that I sent him a note asking for a hug. I just love Paul and think he is a great guitar player, and to meet both him and Meat would be perfect!  However, I knew that I shouldn't get my hopes up for a thing like that, as he probably gets mail all the time from people who want to meet and hug him. At 5:00pm, the door backstage opened and we met our host, Emma. She handed us our backstage passes and checked us in. She took us to the "meet and greet" room where we sat down to wait for Meat Loaf. I was really nervous and I could feel my heart beating in my chest. I was seconds away from being in the same room as my favorite rock star. Then he walked in with a smile on his face, greeting us with, “Hi kids!” And right next to him was guitarist Paul Crook. I think my heart stopped for a minute and I didn't know how to react. I looked at Paul and saw that he was looking at us like he was searching for someone and I just knew that he was looking for me. I wanted to run up to him and get my hug, but I didn't dare and figured that I would probably have the time to talk to him later.

Everybody sat down and Meat started the "meet and greet" with a show and tell. Meat is one of the funniest men that I've ever met, and seeing him do a show and tell about his knee surgery and showing us his scar was hilarious. He could talk your ears off and you’d just sit there and laugh at his stories. Then he started to ask questions about us and we got a chance to talk to him. He was really funny and asked me if I had a boyfriend. I said no and Meat told me that if Paul hadn't already been married he would hook me up with him.

Then Paul walked over to me and gave me a hug. He said that he had to come and say hello personally to me when I sent him a message and I was in heaven. It was the most perfect "meet and greet" ever and I felt so lucky to be able to meet them and talk to them. I didn't want the "meet and greet" to end, but it was time for them to get ready for the concert. The concert was amazing! They started it by playing some of Meat’s hits from over the years and in the second act he played “Bat Out of Hell” from start to end. Meat sounded great and it was amazing to see him give it his all onstage.  He really delivered, both vocally and performance-wise. The whole band delivered in every single song and to see them play “Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are” and “Los Angeloser” was more than amazing. To hear Randy Flowers and Paul Crook on guitars together with Justin Avery on piano play all my favorite songs live gave me goosebumps all over my body. When Patti Russo joined Meat on the duets “Dead Ringer for Love,” “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” and “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That),” I was filled with joy.

All the songs went straight to my heart.  I could stand there with joy in my body one minute and cry the next. When Meat sat onstage telling us that he couldn't sing “For Crying Out Loud” without crying I couldn't hold my tears back. I always felt that “For Crying Out Loud” was one of the best love songs ever and it will forever have a special place in my heart.  It saddens me to know that this is his last tour. I have listened to him all my life and always imagined that he would be around for the rest of my life. That is a silly thought, but I just can't imagine a life without his music. I am happy that I was able to express all my feelings about the concert, standing there in front of the stage, laughing and crying and singing along to the music I love with all my heart.