Paul McCartney

I was at Barnes & Noble killing time during my lunch break when I noticed a sign that Paul McCartney was going to be there on Monday, June 11th for a book signing.  A few day before I got Dan Rather to sign a book for me and the wait was only 30 minutes.  I knew Paul's wait would be a little longer but I still thought I had a chance.  The days that followed I emailed friends, told people in the office and chatted with Vanessa about how cool it would be to meet Paul McCartney.  The week past quickly as did the weekend because V and I went to the Belmont.  Monday I went to work thinking at 12:00 I am off to Barnes & Nobles to meet Paul McCartney and have him sign his book.  The book signing was to start at 12:30 so I thought I would have enough time to run inside and buy a book and jump in line.  When I got to Barnes & Nobles I didn't see any lines outside.  I was absolutely amazed and when I went inside there was nobody standing where I had stood before when waiting for Dan Rather.  At this point I figured they must be in the basement or upstairs.  I walked around and asked a guy where the line was for Paul McCartney.  He laughed and said it closed at 4:30 AM but if I wanted to see it they were lined up across 48th St.  

4:30 in the morning.  4:30 in the freaking morning.  And this was the time the line was Closed.  I have no idea what time people started getting in line.  I am sure it was probably the afternoon before.  Crazy.  Maybe if John rose from the dead and all the Beatles were together I might camp out, but no, not just for Paul.  I made my way out of Barnes & Noble and turned the corner of  5th and 48th and there it was, the line from hell.  I started walking west down 48th and the line of people went on and on all the way to 6th Avenue.  That is at least a quarter of a mile.  About half way down the line I over heard a security guard telling a women in line that she most likely won't get in.  I was thinking if she was halfway down the line she had probably been waiting since like 8 or 9 that morning.  The thing is the book signing is only for 1 hour.  If you figure each person will probably take 1 minute that means only 60 or 70 people will get in.  From my estimate there were like 700 or 800 people waiting in line.  Suckers.  

Since I was already there I thought I would wait around a little bit and to see him get out of the car to enter Barnes & Noble.  After being told to move several times by the cops I finally settled in against a wall near the entrance.  As I waited the crowds of people across the street and near the entrance started to grow and grow.  I could feel the anticipation not only in myself but everybody around.  Every time a limo would drive by people started yelling and necks started craning.  Finally around 12:35 I heard some yelling down the line and suddenly in just an ordinary Lincoln with clear windows I saw Paul McCartney waving at everyone.  The car pulled up to the entrance and the mad rush began.  People just went crazy.  The yelling and screaming and camera flashes.  It was quite a rush.  I don't know why but I just had to run up with the rest of the crowd to see him get out of the car and work his way inside.  It was great.  I saw Paul McCartney in person.  Whatever that is suppose to mean.