So you go and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own.

I know about regretting missed opportunity and lost youth. It’s a weakness of mine. But I have my limits, you know. At a certain point I start to laugh at myself and go for a walk. And I could never have posted this craigslist ad. Even though I was at that concert. Pretty good show, by the way.

R.E.M. Concert — 19 years ago – m4w
Reply to: anon-92711710@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-08-22, 1:42PM PDT

I’m posting this in hopes of contacting the one that got away.
Romantic? maybe. Pathetic? probably.

The place is Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, California
The date is September 26, 1986
The show is R.E.M.

I was in the crowd going backstage after the concert, when suddenly a VERY cute asian girl yells from a couple of rows up, “Hey! I saw you at The Smiths show last month!”. I said, “Who, me?!?” (for I was at The Smiths show the previous month). She says, “Yes, I remember seeing you there!”

The crowd was pushing me on. I had an extra backstage pass, but I gave it to a girl who I sorta liked, but she OBVIOUSLY didn’t like me (except as a friend – gag) and it was clear that nothing was going to happen between us. My mind was spinning. This has never happened to me before (or since). An attractive young woman actually noticed me! Is she lying? Is she crazy? Am I crazy? What could I do? Take back the pass and give it to her? Not go backstage, and see where this moment takes us?

I froze. The moment passed. I was suddenly backstage and I didn’t know what happened. I was meeting Michael Stipe and Peter Buck and I was feeling awful.

I know I was young and stupid, but I still feel bad and often wonder what could have been.

So anyway, if you to saw these shows at the Universal Amphitheater:
REM 9/30/86
The Smiths 8/26/86
and you remember a tall, dorky, blond, white guy, let me know.

* no — it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests