Letters

Dear KISS, I have been a devoted KISS fan for 35+ years but had never seen the band live. When I turned 60 in September (just one week after Gene!), my only wish was to see your Alive 35 concert in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on November 12, 2009. Well, my husband surprised me with two tickets so I could also take my girlfriend along, too!! I live in Lethbridge, which is about 120 miles from Calgary, so the 24 of us who had tickets to attend the concert rented a limo bus for the trip up and back. Everything was set... However, on the evening of November 11, I fell down a flight of stairs at our house. I was rushed to the ER where they did X-rays and found out that I broke not only my elbow but my scapula (shoulder blade), as well. A cast was put on my arm and, as the male nurse was putting on a sling, I was in tears because your concert was the following night and I could not imagine how I was going to be able to make the trip to Calgary while in so much pain. This nurse assured me that, if I took the painkillers they were giving me, I would definitely be able to go! So, after only three hours sleep (sitting up), my husband and girlfriend helped me get ready for the trip to Calgary. They both came with me and, with one one on each side, we managed to make it in and out of the Saddledome without anyone running into my arm. The concert was absolutely fantastic and I was literally in tears as I watched my favorite band perform live!!! We boarded the limo bus after the concert and, after making me comfortable with mounds of pillows, we were ready to make the 2 1/2 hour trip back home. All of a sudden, I looked up and a man dressed like Gene Simmons walked up the steps and was standing right in front of me! He carefully leaned toward me so my girlfriend could take a picture (attached). Although I felt pretty miserable at that point, this certainly gave me reason to smile! Anyway, I just want to thank all of you for the fantastic concert that night and for fulfilling my dream of seeing you perform live! You are the absolute BEST and I am so glad I was able to attend. (By the way, still in physio-therapy and, since there is muscle damage, may end up having surgery on my shoulder.) Sincerely, Donna Lien