A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Have you ever had a dream come true? An honest-to-goodness “I can’t believe this really happened to me” moment? Do you recall that feeling? It has happened to me, and while realizing a dream is an incredible feeling, what it taught me about living is even more valuable.

“I woke up at the moment when the miracle occurred. Heard a song that made some sense out of the world.”  The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) – U2

In 1986, a family member introduced me to the music of U2. It was like there had been a fuse inside me waiting for the right spark to light it. I didn’t even know it was there, but boy, did I know when it was lit. The songs of U2’s War and The Unforgettable Fire woke up a part of me that had been lying dormant all my life. The part that was interested in spirituality and social activism.  I suddenly felt alive in a way I never had before. When The Joshua Tree was released in April of 1987, I couldn’t get to the record store fast enough. I clearly remember putting that album on my turntable for the first time and listening as the sounds of a church organ swelled and morphed into the epiphany that is the Edge’s guitar riff on “Where the Streets Have No Name,” a song about transcendence. Then came “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “With or Without You,” “Bullet the Blue Sky,” and “Running to Stand Still.” I was in heaven! I listened to that album every day for months. Something about it just resonated with me. I have since come to understand that everything is frequency and that we resonate with people and experiences that carry the same vibration we are carrying. Like a tuning fork. This is one reason why music can affect us in such a profound way.

I made up my mind that I was going to find a way to see U2 in concert. This was no easy feat as I was living in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the time, far, far away from any major music venue. But I felt it in my bones that I had to do this, and nothing was going to stop me. The closest they were going to come to us was Fort Worth, Texas, six hours away. I was not going to let that nor the fact that we didn’t have much money at the time deter me. U2 had just been on the cover of Time magazine as “Rock’s Hottest Ticket,” so tickets were selling fast. Out of the blue, we received some unexpected money, and I used it to buy two tickets on the resale market.

On November 23, we were on the road to Ft. Worth. I had heard that the band often came out to greet their fans. I convinced my husband that we had to try and meet them since we had come all this way. He was a good sport. We waited with a large group of fans for quite some time outside the venue, many of whom told us stories of having met the band the day before. We waited as long as we could, but eventually had to leave to get some dinner before the concert. I was so happy to be there and yet disappointed that we had come so close. As it turned out, U2 had been busy rehearsing that day with BB King for a song called “When Love Comes to Town” that they were debuting with him at the end of the show. And what a fabulous show it was! No one sat down the whole time, the crowd sang along to every song, and we got to see U2 and the great BB King perform together. It was a night to remember. A dream come true.

“I’m ready. I’m ready for the laughing gas. I’m ready. I’m ready for what’s next.”  Zoo Station – U2

Flash forward to 1992. By this time, I was living in Yakima, Washington, still far away from a major music venue. I bought U2’s album, Achtung Baby, the one that had been recorded after Bono had announced in 1988 that U2 had to go away for awhile and “dream it all up again.” I wasn’t sure just what that meant, but it had been a long wait. I popped in the CD (yes, CD had replaced vinyl) and heard what sounded like static emanating from my speakers. I checked the stereo to see what the problem was. There was no problem. What I was hearing was the opening chords to “Zoo Station,” U2’s experiment with European-inspired industrial music. I was shocked. This sounded nothing like The Joshua Tree. To top it off, they had traded their folk-inspired clothing for leather and sunglasses. For cool. Oh dear. 

After listening to the entire album, my reaction was, “I don’t think I like this.” But this was U2, and some part of me knew that there was more to this than met the ear at first listen and that I should give it a chance. Every time I listened to the album, it grew on me until the light bulb finally went off, and I got it. This album had depth and innovation, truth and irony. It has become a favorite of mine right up alongside The Joshua Tree. Equally good, but in a different way. And the new look was the band’s attempt at using a little judo to counter the image that had been built of them and had begun to box them in. “You want a rock star? OK. We’ll give you a rock star. Let’s have some fun with this.” They took Lou Reed’s glasses, Elvis’ jacket, and Jim Morrison’s pants, a build-your-own-rock-star Identa-Kit. This outer “armor” allowed them to inhabit a different space that was much more freeing and allowed them to experiment. Smart. The message in the music hadn’t changed. It was as thought-provoking and spiritual as ever.

The tour was called Zoo TV, which is still the best rock show I have ever attended. In a world where cable tv and its myriad of mind-numbing channels was taking over popular culture, and MTV videos dominated music culture, U2 created a show that reflected the information overload of the age. Video screens and tv’s all over the stage, each playing a different channel mixed with live footage of the band along with messages they wanted to communicate to the audience. At that time, video support in a concert was relatively new. The audience was taken on a wild ride that was fun and relevant all at once. It was wildly successful.

Once again, I set about finding a way to go to a show, and my dormant dream of meeting U2 was rekindled. It turned out that the closest show was going to be in Vancouver, Canada, a five-hour drive from Yakima. I hatched a plan with my sister, Bev, who lived in Portland, Oregon, and also loved the band. The show was going to be on a Tuesday night, the same night as the US presidential election, so we voted early and got our tickets through the fan club – floor tickets about five rows back from the stage. Yes. The rock gods were smiling on us. We were able to make arrangements to take off work for a couple of days. The plan was to meet up in Seattle and drive together from there. We made reservations at a Vancouver hotel that fit our budget. I could feel the energy building. We were going to have an adventure! Then, shortly before we left, Bev won a radio station contest in Portland, and we ended up with some unexpected cash to put into our trip. 

As soon as we drove across the bridge into Vancouver, a series of events happened that I can best describe as the feeling of a movie unfolding, and we were part of the movie. It felt like we got swept up into something being orchestrated by a higher hand. I still clearly remember that feeling. A large limo passed us on the bridge, a window opened, and a hand appeared that looked as if it was waving us on. We both noticed it and joked that maybe it was a sign. It turned out that the limo was headed to the same area of town that our hotel was located. Bev, who is more adventurous than I am, suggested that we follow it. It ended up at a beautiful hotel on the waterfront, where Bev proceeded to get out and ask the limo driver if he knew whether U2 was staying there. I can’t remember what he told her, but her suggestion to me was that we go inside and inquire how much a room would cost. We both assumed it would be too expensive, but there was no harm in asking. The hotel was a busy place with an escalator that went up to the front desk on the second floor. As we went up the escalator, we looked at the adjacent escalator going down, and low and behold, there was U2’s drummer Larry Mullen Jr.!  Heading in opposite directions, there was no way were were going to catch up with him, but this was pretty darn cool! It turned out that with the extra cash Bev had won, we actually could afford to stay there. We were able to cancel our other reservation and book a room at the Pan Pacific Hotel, right on the waterfront – and U2 was there.

After settling into our room, we went down to the lobby to wait with the other fans in the hope that the band would make an appearance. The Edge came through the lobby, waved hello to the fans, and hopped in a car to the venue. We had already seen two of the four band members. What we really wanted was to meet them. We knew that might be a tall order, but we were having a fun time trying! We decided to grab some dinner and head to the venue, the enormous BC Place Stadium.

“We’re one, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other.” One – U2

It was a joyous concert. With a community 50,000 strong, we sang and danced our way through the Canadian night. The show was visual and sonic perfection mixed together with irony, sincerity, levity, seriousness, with a dash of Las Vegas-style kitsch. Midway through the show, the band launched into the strains of “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the whole stadium literally exploded with joy. A news reel was scrolling above the stage which reported the news of the US election along with other world events. We felt somewhat removed from what was happening back in our own country. At some point toward the end of the show, it announced that Bill Clinton was the new US president-elect. We ended the night singing “One” together. I have heard it said that you leave most concerts feeling good, but you leave a U2 concert feeling good about the person next to you. It’s true.

When it was all over, and we found ourselves walking back to our car, still high on the music and the roar of the crowd. We were hungry, and it began to rain, so we picked up our pace. We were crossing right behind where the tour buses were parked when out of nowhere, a man standing on the curb said, “Would you like to go to a party?” Was he talking to us? He was. He was wearing a U2 crew pass around his neck. He told us his name and that he was one of the driver’s on the tour. Tonight, the band was throwing an appreciation party for the crew, and they had been given passes to invite two guests. He explained that this was the band and crew’s night to relax, so the conditions were no pictures and no autographs. Was this legit? We asked a few more questions and were told that we would follow him into the venue where we would be seated while the band and crew took their official group photo for the tour. Then he would bring us to the area where the party was being held. Bev and I took a moment to talk privately and decided that we would go. If we didn’t feel comfortable, we could leave. We made it clear to our host that we were both married. A purple wristband (which I still have) was attached around our wrists, and off we went.

Within a few minutes, we found ourselves sitting in front of the stage. It felt pretty weird to be sitting in an empty stadium that had been filled with 50,000 cheering fans just moments earlier. There were a few people sitting around us, maybe ten or so. The crew was gathering on stage. Just then, a golf cart entered from the back of the stadium and pulled up a few feet away from us – with U2 in it. The band jumped out to the cheers of the crew, walked onto the stage, and the photo session began. Bev and I kept looking at each other in disbelief. I might have actually pinched myself.

Our host turned out to be a really nice guy. He got us both a beer and we chatted about the tour and life on the road. He had worked in the music business for a long time for acts like Prince and Paul McCartney. We asked it it was alright for us to approach the band, and he told us that was fine but that we should treat them like anyone else. They didn’t want to be treated like celebrities. There was a bar set up in front of the room, and the next thing we knew, the members of U2 were standing behind the bar, mixing and serving drinks for the crew. They did this for most of the night. It was their chance to show their appreciation for the people who kept the tour running. I was impressed. And yes, I marched right up to that bar and asked Bono for a beer, who served it with an Irish wink and a smile. We talked about our mutual fandom of Stevie Ray Vaughn, whose music was playing on the sound system. We discussed the outcome of the US presidential election. Most meaningful to me was that I had the opportunity to tell him how thankful I was for U2’s music which had become like a tapestry weaving in and out of the soundtrack of my life. He looked me right in the eye, said, “Thank you, Cindye” and gave me a hug. And with that, he was off to engage with the other guests. I had the opportunity to speak with The Edge briefly, who was also gracious. The more I looked around the room, the more I realized that almost everyone there was part of the inner circle of U2, who was number one on the charts just about everywhere in the world at that moment. They were at the top of their game. I realized that there were only a few other people at this party who were “outsiders” like us. I realized it was a privilege – and a miracle – that we were there. I decided to just sit back and appreciate the moment so that I would always remember it. It felt so surreal. It still does. A dream come true. It’s quite a gift when you meet your heroes, and they turn out to be as nice as you imagined they would be.

“I’m getting ready to leave the ground. Oh you look so beautiful tonight in the city of blinding lights.” City of Blinding Lights – U2

Fast forward to November 2018. Bev and I were on a plane touching down in Dublin, Ireland, where U2 was wrapping up their Experience and Innocence Tour. It had been our lifelong dream to see them perform in their hometown and to explore the birthplace of their music. If not now, when? Four sold-out shows were scheduled in Dublin, and we had tickets to two of them. These would be my 21st and 22nd U2 shows, which sounds like a lot, but I kid you not, there are fans who have been to over a hundred.

U2 had been coming out to visit with the fans before the shows during the tour, so we decided to give it a go. It had been 26 years since I had met them in Vancouver. I had created a collage for each of my twin daughters that featured some of our favorite U2 lyrics. The girls’ first U2 concert was in utero back in 1997, so I joke that they didn’t really have a choice not to be a fan. They have been to two U2 concerts with me since then. Great times and great memories! I brought the collages with me all the way across the Atlantic thinking that the icing on the cake would be to have U2’s signatures on them. 

We showed up early the day of the first show. It was a beautiful Dublin day, sunny and cold. We immediately met other fans and struck up conversations with each other. One of the best things about a U2 show is that it draws people from all over the world. We are an international family of fans who travel far and wide to see our favorite band. There were people from the States: Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, California, New York, Alabama, and Florida. We also met fans who had traveled from Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Mexico, Iceland, England, and Russia. We waited together in the sunny cold, but the band didn’t come out. We figured they had a lot to do preparing for their big homecoming.

The next two days, we got a taste of that famous Irish rainy, cold, and blustery weather – the kind that makes those warm, cozy pubs and a pint of Guinness so inviting. No way the band was going to be coming out in that. We did some indoor sight seeing around the city and saw our first show that night at the 3 Arena. I’ve always preferred the more intimate setting of the arena shows, and this one was incredible! The video screen ran the length of the arena from front to back with the main stage running perpendicular to it on one end, and a circular B-stage connected to the other end. The band could also perform on the catwalk under the huge screen or even climb up into it and play inside the screen and interact with the video elements. U2 albums are great, but this band lives to perform live. Their shows have an incredible energy and  a trajectory: rock out, get reflective, party, go to the dark side, come out the other side, and finish in joyous celebration and community. They took us through it all, and it was fun to get to witness the love and pride that the Irish have for their famous sons. We got swept up into a raucous post show sing-a-long of “Where the Streets Have No Name” at a bar. On the way home, the entire car of our DART metro train broke out into U2 songs. I have never been on a train anywhere where people spontaneously broke into song. I love the Irish!

The next day was an off day for the band before the last two shows, so we decided it was a good day to take a bus tour to the west coast of Ireland, about three hours from Dublin. The weather was clearing and treated us to spectacular views of the Cliffs of Moher (which doubled as the Cliffs of Insanity in the movie The Princess Bride). Our bus traveled down impossibly narrow and winding roads to the lovely seaside town of Galway, where we enjoyed lunch and shopping. It was a great day of experiencing the Irish countryside. 

The following morning, we met up with Ed Dunne, an Irish taxicab driver/U2 fan who tours fellow fans around the city, showing them all things U2. Ed has the Irish gift of gab. He regaled us with local U2 stories and history while he drove us to Mount Temple High School where the boys were students and played their first gig. Then we drove by Bono’s boyhood home on Cedarwood Road and Larry’s boyhood home on Rosemount Avenue, the place where the lads first gathered in the kitchen after answering a note Larry had put on the school bulletin board. The rest is history. 

We saw our second and last show that night, and it was even better than the first. This time we were on the floor, standing a few feet from the video screen, with the Edge and Adam playing right in front of us and Bono woking the length of the catwalk and letting loose with that soaring voice. I could see the expression on their faces, and they were having fun, appreciating every moment. I felt so fortunate to be in Dublin, watching these four lifelong friends bring so much joy to so many people.

“It’s a beautiful day. Don’t let it get away.” Beautiful Day – U2

We woke up to blue skies the next day, and I knew this was it. It was a beautiful day. The band had not been out to greet the fans yet. Tonight was the last show. This was the day. We made plans to get to the venue early as we knew there would probably be a lot of fans with the same idea. I packed up my collages, wrapping them up just in case the weather changed. We spent most of the afternoon chatting with other fans, some of whom we had met over the past few days. It was cold, but we weren’t going anywhere. We were all there for the duration. Finally, a security person came out and told us that the band would be coming out, but first they wanted to order some food for everyone. Are you kidding? Bev and I were toward the front of the line, but I think there must have been close to 200 fans there. More waiting….until eventually, to the cheers of the crowd, some personnel emerged pushing carts of pizza and bottled water and started distributing it. All that waiting in the cold had made us hungry and thirsty. We scarfed it down. Then more waiting….until security came out and explained to us how everything would work.

I felt a sense of calm. I knew in my bones (like back in 1987) that this was going to work out. I was in the front row of people behind the ropes. More waiting…then Adam appeared, wearing a super-cool jacket with dragonflies embroidered all over it. Cheers from the crowd. He walked to the opposite end and steadily worked his way down the long line, chatting about bass guitars, the set list, and signing autographs. Adam has such a calm presence about him. He graciously signed the collages I had made, and I felt like I had already hit the jackpot. More waiting….then Bono appeared with an exuberant, “How did you like the pizza? Did you save me a slice?” 

It is really something to watch Bono work a line of fans. Rows of people asking for autographs, photos, shouting out questions and comments, giving him gifts, and thanking him for the music. In the middle of all this commotion, he does his level best to engage with people and be present. He listens and looks people in the eye. He pays attention. Sometimes he knows their names. I could hear him discussing HIV aid to Africa with one fan and the poetry of Yeats with another. He thanks people for their support through the years. Always grateful. Always kind. Always makes a point to greet young fans and those with a disability.

When he reached me, I showed him the collages I had made for my daughters and explained that the lyrics were things I wanted them to remember in life. He looked at them, flashed a big smile, and exclaimed, “Wow, beautiful!” I mentioned that the the Irish weather had been a bit hard on them, and he responded, “Yes, it has been a bit rough, but still wildly exciting!” Then, to my amazement, he proceeded to turn over each collage and drew a self-portrait on the back and signed his name. Bono has a drawing style that combines street art and caricature. He drew one version of himself wearing a cowboy hat and another version as a devilish showman wearing a top hat. Both versions had a wink in their eye. My daughters and I are members of the ONE campaign, a global activist organization with over seven million members whose goal is to end extreme poverty by 2030. Rather than asking for money, ONE asks people to use their voice by signing petitions and writing to world leaders. Bono is one of the founders. The girls wanted me to thank him for the work he has done with ONE to raise awareness of how poverty disproportionately affects women around the world. His humble response was, “Well, I’m a student.” I thanked him for the drawings – my heart was bursting – and as he stepped away, he apologized for having to move fast and looked back at me. I think he truly would have liked to stay and chat with everyone, but it was the last night, and there was likely a slew of family and VIP’s to greet before the show. I was grateful that he and Adam took the time to come out. They made a lot of people very happy. JC Correa, a filmmaker and musician from Barcelona, whom I had met on our travels, was standing behind me and got the whole thing on video. What a gift. Thanks, JC.

People around me were asking to see the drawings. I couldn’t quite believe I what I was holding in my hands. Two pieces of art drawn by Bono on the back of art I had created for my daughters. It doesn’t get much better than that. And Adam’s signature was on the front. 

I was on Cloud 9 as we returned to the hotel and I texted Dawn and Sara back in the States. They had a freak-out moment when I sent them a photo of what Bono had drawn for them. Now those drawings are framed and hang in their rooms as a reminder to follow their dreams. 

“Maybe the world is more malleable than we think.” Bono

This is my favorite photo from that day, and the words above are one of my favorite Bono quotes. I love this photo because something I created out of inspiration from U2’s music made him smile. That smile was the best gift of the whole trip and made every moment waiting in the Irish cold worthwhile. The quote and the photo remind me to believe in possibility. 

So what have my experiences taught me about dreaming? How can we bring more of our dreams into being? For years, whenever I recalled my experience meeting U2 for the first time in Vancouver, I marveled at how that experience literally unfolded with ease. The most surreal event I have ever experienced, and I still recall the feeling of it to this day. It felt magic. Current teachings explain the power of pairing an intention with an elevated emotion when you want to bring something into being. The thought has an electric charge, and the feeling has a magnetic charge. It’s the feeling that draws the event to you. And where do we feel our feelings? In our heart – our creative center – which emits an electromagnetic field. I was living in the joy that this music brought me. It was the way I felt really free and alive at the time. I paired that with an intention that I was going to do whatever it took to go to a concert. Then I kept saying “yes” to whatever actions I needed to take to make it happen, one at at time. Like picking up breadcrumbs along the path. I followed my intuition. Then synchronicity happened.

Synchronicities are simply feedback from the universe about what we are putting out into the field. They let you know you are on the right track. Unexpected money. Meeting just the right person who can help you. And you have to be open about how the universe is going to answer you, like a complete stranger offering you an invitation to go to a U2 crew party or Bono drawing some art for you. You are in charge of setting the intent, energizing it with your feelings, and taking action, but you are not in control of how or when it happens. In my case, it was better than I could have imagined. That’s the magic. So the best thing about all this is not only that I met my heroes, but what that experience taught me about living and dreaming and taking chances. It taught me that my thoughts and feelings have power. I can play with them, create with them, and have fun! Now when a synchronicity happens, I just smile and know that I am on my path. Your vibe attracts your tribe – and more!

There is a well-known quote from the German writer, Goethe:

 “The moment when one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would have never otherwise occurred….A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would come his way! Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” 

Maybe the world is more malleable than we think.

www.one.org Check it out.

Thanks to U2 for the music. Thanks to Bev, my U2 concert buddy all these years. Thanks to JC for capturing that magic moment on video. Thanks to my family for indulging my love for U2 and supporting my dreams. Thanks to Tina, Linda, Ed, Eileen, JC, Erika, Jason, Josie, Rachel, Grace, Theresa and Tom for making Dublin so much fun! Slainte’!

I’d love to hear in the comments about your own experiences with synchronicity and dreams coming true. I invite you to play with setting an intention and energizing it with your feelings each day. Start by seeing if you can manifest something small. Get quiet. Imagine your breath flowing in and out of your heart. Bring your intention to mind and feel in your heart an elevated emotion connected to it. Gratitude is a great feeling to experiment with as it signals to your body that the event has already happened. Try doing this a couple of times a day for 10 minutes or so, but the longer you can linger in the emotion, the better. Doing it in the morning helps set the tone for your day, and doing it at bedtime helps your subconscious mind time work on your intention while you sleep. Try carrying the emotion through your day with your eyes open. If you find yourself getting pulled away from it, stop, breathe, and return to it. Act on your intuition. Then be on the lookout for synchronicities. You just might surprise yourself!

“If people are slagging you off or putting you down because you’re a dreamer, I would say….you’re wide awake.” Bono