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Just another Manic Monday

By: Jim Scannell (Scottsdale, AZ)

Although I am an avid hiker of both Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail and have been for over 20 years, I do recall one hike that ended with quite a surprise.  After taking my high school age daughters to a Madonna concert several years ago on a Saturday night  (we had front row seats) I woke up relatively early the next morning and hiked Cholla trail.  As was my custom back then, I would end my hike we a hearty breakfast on the patio at the 19th Hole Grill at the Phoencian Resort Gold Course.
 
As I was eating my breakfast and reading the paper on a gorgeous Sunday morning I noticed this man facing me sitting at the table across from me and there was a woman with her back to me eating breakfast with him.  I keep glancing at this man and was trying to figure out where I recognized him from.  It finally dawned on me that he was the bass player at the Madonna concert the night before and I had been 25 feet from him for entire concert.  With a little more than awkward enthusiasm, I looked at him and said “that was a great concert last night…..I had front row seats and was sitting right in front of you with one of my daughters”.  He looked at me and he said  “glad you liked it….what did you think of Madonna? 
 
I replied “she has a lot of energy but I didn’t realize how short she was” at which point the woman whose back was to me this entire time turned around and said “well thanks for the compliment”.  Of course the woman was Madonna, wearing a hat and a large pair of sunglasses.  
 
Anyhow, I thought it was a pretty cool experience overall.  Getting the hike in early and seeing Madonna and one her band members having breakfast out on the patio.