First of all, can some one tell me why we call it 'Synergy' instead of Ten Club or something?

Anyway, I don't know how many people on here check their board but I thought this was pretty touching and wanted to spread the love. It's the experience of a 16 YO girl named Lindsay who made an impression on Ed a couple of nights ago. This is a direct quote from her post:

"Well I just returned from the single greatest night of my life.. here it goes:

Before the second Boston show, I hung out outside the venue hoping to meet Eddie for the first time. There were about 10 other fans also waiting. At around 3:30, his security guard came and told us Eddie was coming and that he would sign one item each, not to take pictures, etc. About 10 or 15 minutes later Eddie came by. He went down the line and signed everybody's things. I was the last person in the line. I told him I didn't need him to sign anything and I just wanted to say hello and thank him. (I figure, I may only get 30 seconds with Eddie in my entire life, I don't want to waste it watching him write his name on a piece of paper. I'd rather let him know how I feel.) I also handed him a note I wrote a couple days ago. He shook my hand, thanked me and told me he liked my shirt (EV pick shirt from wishlist foundation). Even though I heard the compliment I was in such awe that I don't think I responded so he repeated himself and pointed at the shirt smiling.

I was COMPLETELY unsure about giving him the letter. I thought he might think it was weird or just throw it away. Earlier in the day I decided not to do it but while I was waiting for him I read it again and decided I'd go for it anyway. I was just hoping that he would MAYBE read it.

Fast forward a few hours, towards the end of the show, Eddie took a piece of yellow paper out (like mine) and says "I got a note today.." I immediately knew what was going on but I couldn't believe it. He talked about me and my letter for about 30 seconds and even read a couple parts out loud. He said he wanted to dedicate the next song to me. I can't even begin to describe what was going on in my head. Just hearing him say my name gave me shivers. I started crying and my knees were shaking. Just the thought of Eddie knowing that I exist amazes me, but the fact that he was actually moved by something I wrote and dedicated a song to me is absolutely unreal. It feels like a dream.

By the time he started the song, everyone around me could tell by my reaction that the song was for me and told me to stand up. So i spent the entire song standing up, so happy and still crying. I totally apologize to anyone whose view I obstructed. I was going to sit down halfway through, but this really cool couple behind me told me to stay up, so I didn't object

The whole rest of the show was a blur, it still is. I can't believe something like this happened to me. I can't count how many times I've been jealous of other people's stories and now this happens. I just can't stop saying it- I can't believe this was real. I'm fully expecting to wake up any minute now. Eddie is an amazing person

Everyone has asked me what the note said.. Unfortunately I didn't save a copy for myself because I was not expecting him to even read it. In a nutshell, I explained that I just graduated high school and in general I am disgusted by the amount of materialism and conformity in most other teenagers. I told him that his music saved me from this. I wrote that at the end of middle school I was headed down the same path- listening to pop music and obsessing over brand name clothes. I told him about the first time I ever heard Pearl Jam and how I stayed up all night listening, completely blown away. Then I used the phrase (which he read out loud) "4 years and 11 pearl jam concerts later.. I am a completely different person" I explained a couple other ways he changed my life that he read out loud. It was something like "Instead of listening to pop music on my ipod, I'm listening to albums like Quadraphenia on vinyl. Instead of watching tasteless reality TV, I'm playing guitar and writing music. Instead of voting for the next American Idol, I'm making sure everyone my age is registered to vote for the next president" (the wording on that last one might be a little off, but you get the idea)

This post is already the longest one I've ever written. To wrap it up, I have a quick plea. If anyone was there and remembers any of the exact wording Eddie used when he was talking about me, I would LOVE to know. So much was going through my head that I can't remember it exactly. And if anybody has a recording of this, I would love you even more."

i just read about this on tft, awesome story

Awesome

Not awesome; slightly creepy.

no it was awesome. what is creepy is the amount of people that are gonna start handing mr. vedder hand written notes

What's creepy? The degree of her obsession with Vedder?

I'm not gonna dissect it, but being "saved" from conformity and pop music is pretty hilarious.

The girl who wrote that letter posted in one of the other threads, just so you know...

Oh! I didn't see that-- only saw it on the other site. Sorry

you said it.

Oh no, sorry, I was referring to people who think it was creepy. I mean, to each their own, but I thought it was a really nice story...

You know, we are talking about a teenage girl here. It is no less creepy for her to write a letter to someone she admires and who inspired her than it is creepy for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to come on this board every day and obsess about this band.

People have been writing Eddie letters since Ten came out. In fact, it is pretty well documented that he used to not only write back, but actually called some fans at home to respond to what they had written him.

I agree that it would suck if people started bombarding EV with letters at shows. But you have to think, the only people who would do that are the mega nerds who are already spending hours each day scouring the PJ message boards.

In her defense (besides, like you said, she's 16!), he knew what he was getting into by reading the letter - that it means he will get 1000 more letters. It's cool she didn't care about an autograph...I've met all of them at different times (actually only Jeff, Eddie, and Mike) and just chatted briefly...

Yeah, and to be honest, I've always wanted to do something like that and was too scared, thinking it was really stupid and no one would care. I commend her on doing that, and maybe someday I'll do the same, just in the hopes that maybe he'd read it himself. I really don't think it's creepy at all--I mean, everyone has their role models and influences. Plus, it was just really heartwarming to see how much it affected him. I don't know, I just thought it was great... but once again, to each their own.

you never felt like that when you were 16?

give the girl a break, she's 16.


it would be creepy if this concerned a 25-plus that needed saving from pop music

there's people in their 20s that still feel that way (looks at OB)

By the way, I think I totally made up the idea that she's 16. She says she just graduated from high school and I can't recall where I got 16. More likely 18. Not that it matters. Just thought I should correct my error.

i was actually about to post that this chick must be smart graduating at 16