Good Vibrations, Vassar College Powerhouse Theater
By JsHanes
July 30-August 1, 2004

Be warned!!! It’s a novel and I am feeling very emotional ….ok, here goes……

First I must say that I feel so blessed in so many ways. As most of you know the past several  months have not been the best for me health wise so this fantastic weekend was an incredibly joyous occasion for me made possible by an amazing woman who does not like to be in the ‘spotlight’…..I dare not go on and on for fear she will be angry with me (lol) but we all know who she is and yes, she is a ‘giver’ in the purest sense of the word…….thank you dear friend….this past weekend was the best ‘medicine’ I could ever have and provided me with memories that will forever bring a smile to my face and to my heart….

Second let me say to all the fans (from both boards) that I met for the first time or second time!…you are an amazing group of women!!! To be greeted with huge hugs was such a delight for me!!!! I will not list all the names, because I will surely forget someone…but it was a joy to put faces with the ‘names’ and to share all the excitement together!! I will never forget the feeling of ‘sisterhood’ I felt with you all….all ages, from all over the country and yet we ‘knew’ each other because of Justin…. One of the many things that I am thankful to Justin for!

The show…..what can I add??? The man, as a friend so eloquently said to me, is the most sensual man in the world…he simply exudes it like no other!!!

He was born for the stage, he was born to entertain the masses!!!…when he appears everyone else is ‘gone’…it is just Justin you see….you have no choice….it is beyond anyone's control.

Seeing him walk around the stage before the show began, hugging his cast mates and stretching and bouncing up and down...wowza, if that is all I had seen I swear I would still die happy…but then it begins and there is Justin ‘bumping and grinding’ right in front of my face, lol!….Mary has a huge bruise on her arm from my elbowing her!!! Truly!!! Sorry Mary!! the man can dance like no one else……the wetsuit?? Well, I knew it was coming but I was not prepared, no way could one be prepared for that!!! …another bruisie for Mary…or was that you 2&fro??? I guess I hurt them both!!!! Oops...

My memories, so many….but when Justin sings ‘Darlin’ to Caroline I swear I just about cried….it was like a star lit in the sky…he was a star at that very moment, we always knew, but now it was confirmed for all to witness…I felt it and I knew others did as well, it was almost palpable... The audience was hushed, not wanting to miss a note, miss a look, miss a movement….his voice is simply amazing on this performance….and his acting superb…he looks like a seasoned pro....outstanding performance!!..and at the end of the number he and ‘Caroline’ do a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers sort of dance routine and dear lord Justin was incredible!!!! I was blown away at the finesse of his dance moves...give him a dance number and he will put all others to shame….matter of fact just give him the stage and he will shine!!!

There is another dance sequence (forgive me as I forget the context at this point...my brain is nearly fried)…and the guys are doing a kind of modern Twyla Tharp sort of dance and Justin once again outshines the entire cast….I am once again stunned at his endless talent!!!! His ability to use his body, every muscle to interpret the music is a joy to behold….many a dance major could not hold a candle to Justin…he is a born dancer (hear me Simon and Randy??????)

And speaking of dancing, the rumor is true!!…lol, yes, me Jshanes danced in the aisle with a very cute young thing while he sang ‘Help me Rhonda"!!! I still cannot believe I did that!! but I was having the time of my life!!!!!!!! (plus look where it took Courtney Cox!!! lol!!) And on Sunday I spoke with that young man, got a hug, and told him he had given an ‘old lady’ a thrill of a lifetime and that forever more when I heard "Help me Rhonda" I would think of him!!!

Ok, back to the ‘star’ of the show…..Justin gives everything he has to every second he is on that stage…..and you know he is loving every moment of it….and as a result it translates to the audience in the most amazing way…..the man is simply a human magnet!!!!!!! So many woman caught justinitis this past weekend,…as one woman said after seeing him after the show…."dear lord, what am I going to tell my husband?" and while many a guy might deny it, they too were impressed!!

He sings, he dances, he acts...he fights!!! LOL, the fight sequence was amazing, he was so good i actually thought he really nailed the other guy!!! LOL!!! And our guy can handle the comedy with the same ease as the rest of it...the "throwing the baseball" pantomime was priceless,, especially on the last performance...there were other ‘bits’ going on at the same time, but Justin was getting all the laughs from the audience!!

One of my best memories was seeing and talking to Justin after the first show…it was so clear that he was "happy"...you could see it in his eyes, in his face...you could hear it in his words….and I took such joy in that…and meeting his family was such a pleasure….such warm and wonderful people who are so very proud of Justin.  Mrs Guarini made such a point of telling us how appreciative the entire family was of all his fans…that it meant so much to them and to Justin and that she wanted us all to know that…she said this with much emotion and i was very touched by her warmth and kindness.  Mr Guarini loves to talk and will just stand and talk with you forever!! And Justin’s brother and sister-in-law and their son were so sweet and proud of Justin and also made a point of thanking all the Justin fans….after meeting them you realize more clearly where Justin got his charm, his grace, his warmth, his wit……he grew up with it all around him!!

I was blessed to see four of the shows, the last being Sunday afternoon with seats in the front row, so close you had to just about put your feet up on the edge of the stage in order to fit in the seat!!!!...and friends, it was spectacular!!!!!!!!…….the cast really took it to the limit...but again Justin shined…..he was simply...well I have run out of superlatives….insert your own!!!! The audience was hooked from the first song….they laughed , they clapped, they tapped their feet., they danced in their seats…they were having the best time….!!!! And when the finale began the audience was already standing…everyone up cheering, clapping, dancing, whistling, singing along!!! They did not want it to end…I did not want it to end!!!!!!...the cast was very emotional…many tears shed….I still have a clear visual of Justin brushing the tears from his cheeks….but they continued to dance and sing, still joyous and pulling us all along with them…the director joined them on the stage dancing along with them all...the audience still wildly applauding, cheering, dancing, throwing the beach balls around (one hit J in the crotch and he did the funniest bit, wincing and biting his fist and dancing ’funny’...lol!!) It was like a big huge party!!!

And then... When I thought my head and heart were filled to the brim..... Justin leaned down towards us, looked at each of us directly and blew us kisses, then he looked to other areas in the room where he knew his fans were and blew kisses, not in a goofy way, but in a loving, thankful and emotion filled way…and at that point I looked at Mary and we both had tears in our eyes...and I’m sure all his fans did as well...he was thanking us!!!? He, who had just had just given us the most amazing gift and he was thanking us….the man’s heart is as huge as his talent.

After the show the number of fans waiting to see him was even bigger than the previous times….most of the other cast members walked out prior to Justin and we all cheered for them and they looked so stunned...it was so wonderful to see their pleasure at our acknowledgment of the wonderful performances they had given...some began to cry again and thanked everyone so much…and then came Justin….

Breathtakingly handsome as always, and willing as always to give his all to each and every fan….many have posted about these wonderful moments  ..and it is a joy interested….making the ‘shy ones’ feel comfortable...drawing them out (yes he did...in itself to simply watch him with his fans….so attentive, so warm and Curleey!!)….loving and funny with the little ones…willing to sing ‘happy birthday’ (Kathy and Jill…yes it did happen!!) Willing to check out a 'healing toe', lol! (yes Cin i saw that!!!)

I think I was one of the last to have a moment with him…I walked toward him, hugged him and told him how wonderful he was in the show….he thanked me and then asked me about the necklace I was wearing!!  My sons had given me a sterling silver necklace for my birthday that had a silver disc with a Japanese symbol on it…Justin asked what the symbol said and I turned it over so he could read the back…."love" I said, and he looked at me smiled and said "The best"…..he then signed a program for a friend who could not be there, and then i took a moment to remind him that he had been so gracious when i met him in Ohio to make a personal video message for a board member who was ill and going through a very scary time in her life. I conveyed to him how much joy that had given her…he said yes he remembered and asked me how she was with much concern….and then he signed a program for her and wished her well, one more reason to adore this man (as if there weren't enough!!)…..he then put his arm around me as we turned for a picture and I laughed out loud because I actually forgot that there were other people around and I think I actually said out loud "Oh, and I thought we were all alone!" (lol!!!, I am a dork) but that is how he makes us each feel!!!….....

Ok, I will end with one final thought…I have always loved Justin’s eyes, so soulful, they simply draw you in…..but I realized this past weekend why I cannot look into them for too long….his eyes are like the sun…warm, bright, intense….but you cannot look to long lest you go blind!!!!!!!!!!! So from now on I will be wearing sunglasses when and if I am again blessed to look into those amazing brown eyes....the eyes of a truly bright and shining star!!!!!!

Thank you Justin, Mary and all the J-fans for giving me  'good vibrations' and the time of my life……