New Experiences...

Greetings. Tobin here. It has been a while since my last post, but I have had good reason for my lack of communication. This was the first Thanksgiving I spent in the United States of America and, as such, I celebrated with Teagan and her family. Of course, the others were unaware of what I am, as they still are.

It was fun, I must admit. However, I did discover something about myself I had not previously known. My body is far more susceptible to the effects of the drug Tryptophan than normal human bodies. I had never before consumed turkey and, after sleeping a full 65 hours, I contacted Teagan again to let her know I still lived. That was when she nearly died from laughter. (Teagan: I really did! He was still groggy sounding when he finally called me in response to all the messages I'd left him. I think he thought he'd been a victim of food poisoning!)

Teagan informed me of the chemical, Tryptophan, and how it affects humans. Apparently, it affects my kind much more. She has promised never to serve turkey to me again. But I must say it as well worth the extra sleep. All that food and such great comeraderie, I could not have asked for a better evening. I did not feel out of place and everyone treated me just like a normal human.

The Thanksgiving celebration was not the only new experience Teagan had in store for me. The reason she had called me after Thanksgiving was because she had purchased a ticket for me to a musical event, called a rock concert. At first, I declined her invitation. After all, I had been nervous enough just at the thought of sitting at a table with her small family. All seven of those individuals were cordial and welcoming to me, treating me as they would any other person. But I was on my guard the whole time. The whole time I was there, I still feared they would discover my secret.

Teagan is a very persuasive female, however, and she convinced me I had less to fear at a rock concert than I did with a small family gathering. That made sense and so I agreed to accompany her to the concert. It was not what I had expected it to be.

In my life, as you will have learned from earlier blog posts, I have been slow to engage with my fellow human beings. The fact that I only share half of my DNA with humans means at the very least that I look slightly different from normal humans. The differences in my appearance and mannerisms, among other things, often make me afraid of being discovered for what I really am whenever I am near humans. Teagan is helping me to overcome those fears - slowly, but surely.

After arriving downtown, Teagan took me to a restaurant named Pira Latin Fire next to the concert venue. There, we enjoyed drinks and a full buffet of tacos. The food was wonderful, but I found it difficult to hear anything other than the loud music the restaurant was playing throughout the entire time we were there. I enjoyed the music, but it was very loud. Teagan informed me the concert would be even louder. I found this difficult to believe, as I was already having to yell in order to converse with her inside the restaurant.

No one inside the restaurant paid even the slightest attention to me and the dinner passed without incident. Afterward, Teagan and I walked around the building where the concert was to be held, the American Airlines Center I believe it was called. (Teagan: Yes. That's where it was.) We found the appropriate line for our tickets and we waited there along with a large number of people of all ages and origins. I was surprised by how diverse the crowd was, for I had thought only younger humans attended such events. However, Teagan informed me many people of her generation greatly enjoyed the musical group we had all come to see.

I was glad there were older people there. I am not a young man. I know I call myself a Star Child, but I am far from childhood and I no longer look the part of a young man. Teagan and I look about the same age and many couples within the crowd appeared to be in their forties as well, so I felt more comfortable being sandwiched inside the building with thousands of humans. The music was as loud inside the center as it had been inside the restaurant, even though the concert had not yet started.

After purchasing drinks and tee shirts, we made our way through the crowd to the area we needed to be. There were many people standing down on the floor of the center, but Teagan had chosen seats for us. I was glad. I found it discomforting enough with humans sitting all around me. I would not have managed well standing in a crowd of them pressing up against my skin.

Due to technical difficulties, the performance was delayed and I enjoyed watching the humans and discussing different aspects about them with Teagan. She explained about the stage hands and the groups of people who were allowed in certain restricted areas while all others were kept at bay. It was very enlightening and I enjoyed learning all that I did while watching the scene.

Not long after 10:30 PM, the last of the technical crew exited the stage to an applauding crowd and the anticipation within the center became a palpaple thing. Minutes later, several individuals wearing strange, lighted costumes emerged to surround the stage. I thought these were the musicians. They were not.

Finally, the musicians emerged and took the stage. The roar of the crowd was deafening and I covered my ears. Eventually, I uncovered my ears and became involved in the music. Everytime the lead singer strummed his guitar, the floor of the building shook and that made my body shake. I had never before heard of this Muse, but I must admit I enjoyed their performance. The songs were thrilling and there was an energy coming from the crowd I found very appealing. I can understand why so many would flock to such a performance.

The stage itself spanned nearly the entire length of the floor of the center and the light show was spectacular. The images shown throughout the show brought on a fit of nostalgia in me with its images of stars and planets in space. During part of the show I simply lost myself in memories of my time off world. But the music kept bringing me back to my body and I would become involved in the beat and the words of the songs once more.

For a while, I felt wholly human, as if I truly did belong there among all those people and I forgot to be on guard and afraid. Even after the concert, the fear did not return for a long time. I could not hear anything, but I had experienced something incredible - all thanks to Ms. Teagan Brody and her eagerness to engage me more into the human side of this life.

I would like to say a hearty "Thank You" to #Muse. I cannot express to the members of this band the gift they have given me with their music and their incredible performance. Also, as my friend Teagan enjoyed the concert as well, I would like to thank you for making her evening so wonderful. I greatly enjoyed the lights and the sounds and the entire show and the thought and planning you put into it, along with your crew, made for the best first concert experience I could have wished for.

In summary, I apologize to all the turkey farmers out there, but I shall not be partaking of your product again anytime soon. I like life and being awake and aware is an essential part of my life. I fear your turkey would lead to me being discovered and that I cannot allow. Also, I would encourage anyone and everyone who has not yet enjoyed the pleasure of a Muse concert to do so at the earliest opportunity. It is well worth your time and effort, I assure you!  Please feel free to drop me a line if you have attended a Muse performance and you agree... or disagree... or if you simply wish to voice your opinion on some subject I have previously discussed, or even if you just want to leave a comment in general.  I would love to hear from humans.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my experiences.  Until next time, I shall continue gaining more experiences (with the help of my human friend, Teagan) and I look forward to your comments,

Tobin