Hello folks! I originally wrote this nearly 4 years ago, back in April of 2017! I believe Lorna and I (and many others) had just returned from their “last” US concert for their Notte Magica tour in Atlanta. It was recently brought to my attention again and I reread it, personally amazed that I even wrote something this amazing! Haha! Hope you enjoy it again, or for some, for the first time! 🙂 With everything going on, I felt we all needed an extra innoculation to help with the current vaccine going around!
This post got a lot of nice comments the first time around – grazie mille! 🙂
(just a “word or two” of warning – this is quite long…. 🙂 )
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Definition of IVD: noun
- State of being sad when Il Volo leaves your country
Symptoms:
- Feeling of hopelessness of not knowing when they will return
- Excessive sleeping, hoping you will dream about them one more time
- Condition of feeling lost without their touch, hugs, or smiles
- Loneliness one is left with after seeing them too many times in a matter of a few months
- The desire to follow them to their next concert no matter where it is
- Your “no-limit” credit card is suddenly your best friend and you try to figure out how many mileage points you need for a free, or at least discounted trip to Italy – even if they won’t be there!
- Avoiding social media and looking at their pictures, or even listening to their music, because it just hurts too much (this is a very severe symptom, that must be dealt with ASAP!)
- If given the Rorschach test, no matter what blob you see, you say either Piero, Gianluca, Ignazio, or all three!
- There are likely more symptoms than those indicated above, however those stated are ones observed most often in recent concert-goers during the first leg of their Notte Magica tour in the United States.
Causes:
- Buying tickets with meet/greets for as many concerts you can afford
- Seeing them three or more times in a matter of a few weeks
- Tracking them down at their hotel, and hoping to catch a glimpse of them on the street
- Having awesome meet/greets, making you want to go back and have another and another!
- Knowing they have a new album coming out and just sitting there, frozen, until you hear their new music
- Some causes are unknown…as they may be personal to each individual, and have not yet been documented.
Cures:
There are no known cures for this, which is similar to Ilvoloitis. IVD is often a side-effect of Ilvoloitis, happening most often during their world tours. Ilvoloitis and IVD are especially dangerous for newbie Ilvolovers. Although Ilvoloitis and IVD are extremely contagious, no one really seems to want a real cure, however, there is the desire to learn to cope with the somewhat serious side-effects and symptoms of this condition.
There are many, many, websites out there on how to deal with depression. Two that I found are: http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Depression and https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/dealing-with-depression.htm
Let’s see if we can adapt some of their suggestions to IVD.
The helpguide.org had 6 tips for overcoming depression:
Tip #1 – Reach out and stay connected
As the old AT&T catchphrase goes – “reach out, reach out and touch someone….reach out and just say ciao!” Ok, we can’t reach out and touch the guys at this time, but we can reach out and touch, and call, other local Ivolovers. Who doesn’t want to hear from a fellow fan and talk into the wee hours of the morning, all about their concerts, meet/greets, and fantasies of meeting them again on the street, or at their hotel? With recent technology, you could start a group text (however, I caution you with this one, be careful that those in your group will not be upset, or need to get up in the morning!)
This is also a good time to find more Ivolovers in your area. Plan a party with your current group. Get together to celebrate their birthdays – Piero’s is next on June
24. Check out the various FaceBook pages – there may be some fellow fans lurking closer than you think!
If you can’t get together personally, plan a Skype party. I think you can have up to 24 or so people on one site. Find someone that has a big screen TV and hook up!
Tip #2 – Do things that make you feel good
One thing they suggest is volunteering. Why not do something in the “name of Il Volo?” Donate to your favorite charity. Spend time at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, animal shelter, or spend time with those with special needs. All the while, you can share your love of the guys by sharing their music and introducing new fans. Remember, not all things contagious are bad?
This is also a good time to get in touch with your local PBS station and start volunteering. You may get the inside news on the next time they are coming back to town!
They also suggest getting in touch with your creative side… now is the time to sit down and write some prose – that meaningful poem you’ve been waiting to write, or now is the time for that fan fiction short story you always wanted to write. How about a little drawing or painting? Remember, we are not all DaVinci’s, but no one can duplicate what you are feeling in your heart. It will come through on the blank canvas or piece of paper. The hardest part is that first stroke or word…
If you haven’t already, clear a space in your house – a bookshelf area is a great place and fill it with all things Il Volo. We know everyone has saved every ticket, 
meet/greet lanyard, CDs, DVDs, VIP gifts, pictures, etc. that we don’t know what to do with. This is your opportunity to put it on display for everyone to see. I plan to do this, but just haven’t gotten the chance yet. You could even make a few shadow boxes with little Il Volo souvenirs and memorabilia. Get to the craft store and use your coupons!
You could also get together with some of your friends and share some pictures and make a scrapbook of all of your adventures and concerts together!
Also, getting some exercise or listening to music – or doing both at the same time!! How often do we see Piero or Ignazio walking away on the tread mill with
their ear buds in? Go outside and get some good ol’ “O Sole Mio!” See, just seeing the sunshine will remind you of the guys and their first signature song.
Tip #3 – Move vigorously
Ok, that may seem too difficult, but there’s nothing wrong with looking at a few “nice” pictures to at least get our hearts racing? If not our feet! However, as above, a little walk in the sunshine is wonderful. Maybe put on one of their peppier tunes and walk to the beat of the music. I bet you won’t even realize how fast you are walking. Volare is a great one to walk to!
Tip #4 – Eat a healthy, mood-boosting diet!
Of course, eating healthier will make you feel better. Most Italian food is healthy for you if you limit your cheese and alcohol and eat pasta in properly portioned amounts. Unless you are Piero and can walk 10 miles on the treadmill, I don’t think I’d recommend a plate of pasta every day. But mix that pasta with extra virgin olive oil and garlic and that’s a great treat for your heart and maybe a little red wine on the side. Can’t forget a little gelato for dessert. Some gelato actually has less calories than ice cream.
It’s also a great time to go on that diet and lose those 10 pounds we all want to lose – who knows, maybe it will turn into more. Every time we reach for that cookie, we can think – “what would Piero do?”
Tip #5 – Get more sunlight (we went over this one already….)
Tip #6 – Challenge negative thinking
You are thinking – “I will never see them again!” Do not think that, you WILL see them again, we just don’t know when. Until we see them again, refer to tips one through five! Or, you may think… I just can’t afford it! But this is the best time ever because they might not be back for over a year – we have time to save up for it now! Even if you can afford only ten or twenty dollars a week, or less, it adds up pretty quickly – at least enough for a ticket, and maybe even a meet/greet. (sure hope they don’t raise those prices anymore – or I may not be able to afford it either!)
Here are some personal tips from me!
- This may be difficult, but think back to when you first discovered them. How did you feel? The smile that slowly, or quickly grew on your face. The feeling that you just had to tell everyone you knew about the greatest discovery you ever found on PBS. How many people did you call?
- The time you saw them and decided you just HAD to see them in concert, no matter what, where, or when? For me, it was when I saw them for the 2nd time on PBS, about late August in 2013, during their We Are Love tour. I specifically knew the time because their next show was at the Fox on Sept 5 and it was my mom’s birthday. But it was during their rendition of Beautiful Day and Ignazio’s solo part that just took me in and I was an immediate goner and luckily, I was able to see them the following June in 2014.
- When did you become an official Ilvololver? Meaning, you suddenly could just not get enough of them? For me, it was after seeing them at Freedom Hill that late spring of 2014. When I got home, I feverishly combed the Internet each evening, soaking up every song, every interview and every video I could find of them for the remainder of the summer. Grabbing at each and every tidbit of info I could find, until I finally stumbled upon the Flight Crew site! I knew I had found my solace here, when I started reading all of the stories and comments from the readers. I was no longer alone in my quest, but felt at home.
- Do you remember that feeling you got when you found out you were going to meet them for the first time? I remember the giddiness of a schoolgirl, when us Detroit gals were putting 2 + 2 together and coming up with 4, figuring out they were coming to PBS to promote their Pompeii album. After I found out I was also volunteering that same night, I just could not sit still. I remember walking around the block and literally skipping along thinking, “I’m going to meet them, I’m going to meet them! OMG, what am I going to say, wear, etc.?” I knew others had met them before, but like many things, the first time is always the most special.
- Do you remember the first time you had front row seats? I felt guilty, but I turned in my PBS tickets for the last two front row seats at the Fox. I got front row, I got front row, I screamed to myself. It was at the end of the day at work and I could not sit still – good thing it was almost time to go home. I could not wait to tell someone who cared and my dear friend Ginny who was the lucky recipient of the other ticket!
- Do you remember that often dazed feeling you got after meeting them at a meet/greet after a concert? You are barely coherent and hardly remember anything because you are still in a hypnotic state after hearing their incredible voices.
- And last, but not least, the feeling you had and will never forget, of seeing them perform not, once, but twice in their homeland of Italy. Under the beautiful evening air, the feeling was magical both times.
- Think of all of the new friends you have made in the last several years – all over the world. Think of all of the new places you have seen and never would have seen, had it not been for Il Volo. Think of some of your talents that may have been hidden, that have blossomed forth all because of them. Think of all of the new techie things you have learned on the computer and your phone.
- Think of all things Italian you now care about, if you didn’t already.
- Think of all the love, joy, and passion you have given and received – all in the name of Il Volo. When we think of that, how could we possibly be depressed? How many of us have healed ourselves through their music and bonding with each other over this love of these 3 men? They have touched our lives in ways we never thought possible, nor existed. They have touched our lives in ways they will never know, no matter how much we tell them. Men and women; young and old, from all over the world.
Even though there is no known cure, I hope that coming to the “Flight Crew – Share the Love” site each and every morning fills at least a small part of this void in your life. Just reading the comments everyone makes, even while I’m at work, will put a smile on my face. Our fearless Editor-in-Chief, Marie, along with Kelly, Leelee, Mary, Jane, Daniela, Dani, and all of the other contributors from around the globe take time out of their busy days to keep us all informed the best they can of where the guys are. I think we need a new category – “where in the world are the guys now?” I know I feel better now, having written this. Just remembering all of those things, makes you happy. Although they are as fleeting as a beautiful sunrise or sunset, the memory of them remains in your heart and soul, just as their voices lift us to incredible highs, so we can deal with some of the worst lows. It is such a joy and honor to know all of you! I feel truly blessed to have you and Il Volo in my life!
In the words of Charlie Chaplin… “Smile….! Life is still worthwhile, if you just smile… (and think of Il Volo!)”
So, we want to hear from you! What tips do you have to get you through the day without the guys? For those new to this site, tell us your story! Do you have a favorite CD or concert you watch? If you like sushi, does it remind you of the guys when you eat it?
All photo credits to Judy Thurman from the last concert in Atlanta. Edits are mine. 🙂
and to Marie, for the inspiration to write this – I texted her complaining of IVD and she said the more you see them, the worse it becomes…
Ciao – Jana
p.s. this is my new Il Volo shrine!! Be sure to click on it to see the larger view! 🙂
Thanks Jana for reposting How to Overcome IVD! While it is so funny, so much is true and I’m sure most of us can really relate to the Symptoms, Causes and hopefully Cures! I would add that at their concerts, I wish they would never end. And if possible, I would love to follow them to all their remaining concerts. Just looking at your Il Volo shrine has to bring back beautiful memories!
This is a good time for me to thank all the people who make this site so enjoyable, keeping us informed, and sharing our love for Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca.
Thank you Margaret! Yes, don’t we all wish we could follow them everywhere and their concerts would be never-ending! Yes, it’s right by my bed, so I look at it each time I enter my room. We are so glad you enjoy our site! 🙂
Well, I have to say that I agree with and appreciate all of your observations, suggestions, ideas, reminiscences, basically all things Il Volo. I LOVE these guys, and to be quite honest, my 2020 was a very good year because of them. I stumbled upon their Matera concert on the local PBS channel last February, and I watched it over and over until I collected all of their CD’s and DVD’s. I’d seen them on AGT and various talk shows but had not purchased any CD’s before last year. Quarantine gave me an opt-in to a new interest, and I ran with it. And one year later, I am a bigger fan of Il Volo than ever. I would love to hear them do covers of songs they liked during the quarantine, kind of like when Gianluca sings in the car, or at home, and Ignazio when he posts covers. Call it a covid relief package! I’d buy it! It’s cool to listen to online but give me a CD to play in the car! Easy money! So I’m done rambling for now-Have a great day.
Jo Lynn – feel free to ramble on anytime! So glad you enjoyed the post and the suggestions, etc. 🙂 I find it amazing how so many of us, myself included, just happened to stumble upon them during a PBS concert taping! Yes, I have their Grande Amore Italian version in my car and that is all it plays, of course I only have a single CD player. Alas, my old Milan had a 6 disc changer in it!! I had 3 Il Volo CDs in it… So glad you were able to find a great new positive hobby, in this most difficult past year! 🙂
This is so great. Thanks for sharing
My pleasure! I just wish I felt I had more time to write again!
Thanks Jana for a wonderful read. I have been an Il Volo almost from the beginning. My daughter gave me their first PBS DVD for Christmas years ago and I was hooked. I listen to them every day as I work from home. I am a proud I’ll Volo addict. Their music and voices soothe my soul. I watch concerts on YouTube. They just make me smile. I want to learn Italian to eventually take a trip to Italy. I pick up on Italian words here and there. I teach them to my 3 year old grandson. My daughter jokes when he starts school, she’s going to have to put Italian as his second language. I have seen them once in concert in Dallas in February 2020. It was amazing!! I’m hooked for life!! ❤️
That is awesome! I work from home also, but when I was at work, I played their music all the time from my computer and converted a lot of folks!! Ironically, while at home, I seldom turn on the music! Yes, to see them in Italy is a whole different experience. It does help if you know some Italian, but they speak so quickly, it’s hard to understand them anyway. Every so often they will throw in some English. So great you were able to see them last year in Dallas! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for all the information… it made me realize I am seriously ill ! But strangely, I don’t want to be cured. The only cure I care for is to listen to Il Volo and look at their pictures… a fool-proof antidote to depression. Please keep up your great work, it’s greatly appreciated.
A lovely Canadian fan! So glad you enjoyed it – yes, the only disease no one wants to be cured of or wants the vaccine! 🙂 Reminds me of the old milk commercial – “it does a body good!” Just replace milk with Il Volo! 🙂 Thank you for your appreciation!!
Oh, My Goodness. Abosolutely perfect. You put feelings into words. Beautifully written. thank you for sharing. These are Three beautiful souls, Angels sent from heaven. I found them one cold December night when suffering with the flu in 2016. Channel surfing at midnight for something to occupy my time and heard these voices, PBS in Arkansas.
I couldn’t believe these voices were coming out of those young bodies. I continued to listen and watch. What a stage presence! for so young. I was hooked and began searching for information about them, then storing the information. . . . Had planned to see them in Vegas of 2020. . . and thanks to China Virus it was canceled so the Trio and members could get back to Italy before “Lock Down” They got the last flights out. . . Im 84 will I have another chance to see them???? . . .
Oh my, 84! Well, a dear friend of mine was taking care of a 90+ year-old lady, and they took her to see them last year at the Fox in Detroit. So, there is still hope for you!! So glad you were able to recover from the flu and what a wonderful and soothing cure it was! Yes, I was to go to Vegas also. I’ve been reading a lot of comments on how so many planned to go to Vegas and how bummed we were that it was cancelled. 🙁 Honestly, I highly doubt they will be here this year. I think it more likely sometime next year – if we are lucky…. A lot of folks planning Vegas said it would have been their first time to see them, too! So glad you enjoyed this!!
Hi Jana! This was fun to read again. Made me realize just how much we have missed them. Seems like forever since they were last here!
Thanks for posting this.
PS…Your “shrine” is wonderful! 😊
Hello Jane – how nice to hear from you! Glad you enjoyed it the 2nd time around, as well! Glad you liked my new shrine haha! 🙂
If you ever feel the spirit to come out of retirement, just send me something at the flight crew email. 🙂 I did drag a few out of Marie – lol!
I first saw the guys on a PBS promo, so I saw them “in action” before I ever heard them sing. Fell in love immediately, of course. Bought their first album and then the Takes Flight DVD. I remember trying to learn the words to Un Amore Cosi Grande. I’ve followed them ever since.
My sister moved in with me a couple of years ago, so she was forced to listen to Il Volo, which she complained about. Now she’s as addicted as I am and watches them constantly.
We have joked about our addiction, not realizing that it is a recognized condition and that we are certainly not alone! We knew early on that we did not want to be cured.
I had read that it’s normal to feel a let-down and a bit of depression after you see them in concert. I’m so glad that I saw that, because I did not expect to feel so Blah for days after my first concert. Why was I depressed?! I had just been to an Il Volo concert!! But it’s true – one just wants more, and more…..
Thank you so much for this article. It’s nice to know that all of my symptoms are normal. And no, as painful as it can be, I never want to be cured. ✈️✈️🎼🎼
Janice, how nice to hear from you! I’m so glad you don’t want to be cured! Can you imagine a real psychologist trying to deal with a patient that has IVD? lol! The fan would probably end up converting the doctor! haha! I love how your sister is now an addict as well. There are a few “sister acts” out there that are fans! It is such a letdown, after a concert though. You are on this incredible high, the whole day before the concert, mesmerized during the concert, and feel like you are dreaming if you have a meet/greet and actually get close to them to give them a hug or shake their hand. Your head is still in the clouds on the way home and in your dreams, but then morning comes, the sun is shining, but you then realize something is missing, and you suddenly feel like it was all a dream. Yes, your prescription is to take 2 CDs, look at some pictures and repost again here, tomorrow! lol! 🙂
It’s so nice to know I am not alone. I first saw Il Volo on PBS, their very first concert. I immediately purchased the album from that concert, then the DVD, and I was hooked. I do not know what it is about their voices and songs that relaxes me, and frankly, I do not want to know. I just want to enjoy their music forever.
I have been a fan since that time in 2011 and have followed them on and off for all their 10 years. I have every album (except Amame, which I cannot find anywhere). Falling in love with them is easy. Loving their music is easy. Getting to a concert, well thanks to Covid and a financial crisis, is not easy. But I have promised myself to one day get to a concert, even if the nurses have to wheel me in on a gurney.
I have been scammed by an Il Volo personator; however, one turns lemons into lemonade. Eventually, that scammer (a Christian as I am) confessed to me who he really was. We have become great friends and we share our faith. No, I am not afraid he is still scamming me. God is with us.
I now follow Il Volo as much as I can. I consider them friends of a sort. I know they cannot (or do not want to) answer. That’s okay with me. I just like to think they are listening to my advice. I have lived 76 years, and I know a thing or two about life, love and faith.
May they continue to entertain us for a long, long time.
ok, Karen – we must hear this whole story about this scammer guy? Which one does he look like? You really thought it was one of the guys? Wow, a hot, young, Italian…? I’m so glad you found them, and at nearly the beginning of their career. Yes, covid really screwed up many a plan this last year! 🙁 But, we are stronger than that, and IV fans, will never give up if there is a will, there is a way! Yes, it’s almost hard to imagine my life now, without the guys! You are a young 76, the other lady on here is 84! Take care!
Karen, FYI Amame was never released as a CD in the USA but if you can buy the music on the ITunes Store. It is also available with Amazon Prime but only for streaming. If anyone has more info please pass it on.
Karen, yes, what Rose Marie said is true, it was never released on CD. I was able to download it / purchase it from Amazon, but it was only released digitally. It’s a shame, I’m sure there was a lot of money and a lot of collaboration with the Estefan’s, but I guess it fell a bit flat. I have Amazon prime and if you listen to the music on Amazon, they will play the Amame songs…
Jana this was wonderful and I so enjoyed reading it. I think I have several of the symptoms you mentioned, and it helps to know I’m not alone! Seeing Il Volo for the first time on PBS in November 2016 really did change my life in so many ways… all for the better! Thanks to you and all of the Flight Crew for your posts!
Clarissa – so glad you enjoyed this and I’m so glad you do not feel alone anymore! We all have varied symptoms from time to time, some are worse than others…Glad you found our site, and welcome!
So many memories! Thanks for the advice and trip down memory lane. You are such good representatives of IV.
Thank you, Kathy! Yes, that is about 6 years worth of memories on that bookshelf and 2 trips to Italy! We wouldn’t be here, without you!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful message. I found the boys by accident about three years ago and couldn’t believe my ears . I was absolutely hooked and began to research and watch everything I could find. I have to confess that I have all the systems you so wonderfully described and I also don’t want to be cured. This is the best addiction ever . I saw them in concert last February. I live in Canada but I purchased three tickets in the second row centre along with meet and greet . I hope I never forget the excitement that I felt that night. I flew to Atlanta for the concert and took my beautiful friend and her daughter with me. We all had a great time and I hope I can see them again soon. My dream is to go to Italy once this Covid is over as through these beautiful young men I am in love with all things Italian and even learning some words. So sorry for rambling on but as you can see I have a bad case of this wonderful illness. Thankfully I am among friends who suffer just as much as I do. Much love ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Barbara – another Canadian fan! We so wish they would tour the western Canadian provinces – as we know there are a lot of fans on that side of the country! But, they never listen to us, either! Wow, Atlanta is a long way to go from Canada! I’m so glad you do not want to be cured! Heaven forbid, if you did! I hope you can go to Italy also! I wish you long suffering! 😉
Is there a vaccine for this? I think I’ve got it too. (My family is getting worried about me.)
Thanks, Jana, very cute!
Hi Judi! You know, I don’t think this is one vaccine I am willing to get! 😉 tell your family not to worry, you are among friends here. We are all infected, however, it IS VERY contagious!! haha! Enjoy! and thank you!
Fun read Jana. I definitely have the symptoms of IVD, but listening to their cds and seeing videos of past concerts helps a lot. A fan since 2011 and a fan for life. Somehow I think they might miss us as much as we miss them. It will be so great when they can get back on stage. Verona and Taormina in Sept ?? OH and I also am impressed by your
Il Volo shrine. Cheers.
Hello Janet – thanks so much! I’m so happy and sad you have the symptoms of IVD, also! They had leper colonies, wonder if we need to form an Il Volo colony…. haha! Another longtime, fan… awesome! Yes, I’m sure they do miss us – at least we hope they do. If not us, I’m sure their bank accounts are suffering about as much as ours are, after a tour!! Glad you like my new shrine!
Your article so described my feelings for IlVolo First saw them on PBS and was hooked that night. Like others, I looked for everything connected to these three and watched every video I could on you tube I got to go to my first concert last February and was blown away My greatest memory was a hug from Gianluca at meet and greet. I just turned 78 and am hoping to see them in concert again in Florida; Would love to go to Italy to see them. Hopefully the world will return to normal soon and all of us addicted fans will get to see them live again Thanks to all of you for keeping us connected to our guys You all do such a great job
Thanks so much, Bev! Wow, 78! That is awesome! I find it comical that so many of us had the same reaction – we saw them once, and were immediately hooked and had to find everything we could about them! I still remember combing the internet on anything Il Volo and that’s how I found the flight crew site. I remember commenting and writing and Marie answered me back! And as they say, the rest is history! haha! I hope you are also able to go to Italy! If they come to the US, they are always in Florida at least a few concerts! Good luck! Glad you enjoyed the article and this site!
Jana thanks for doing a repeat. I loved it the first time and it has gotten better with age. (Mine). I really needed them today. Like you I have been lucky to get front row seats a couple of times. I could almost reach out and touch their shoes at the one Notte Magica concert. This is the best site to get info thanks to all of you, please keep this blog going. I miss Marie, if she sees this, Marie, I got the license plate.
Thanks so much Rose Marie! I don’t think I really knew you back then when I wrote this first one? Did I meet you at the Fox? Did you come with Marie? Ah, better with age, like the guys and wine – I like that! 🙂 Yean the last few Fox concerts we had front row seats – 3 of them now! It’s pretty amazing! I still communicate with Marie – I’ll let her know you got her license plate – does it just say “Il Volo” on it? I had to settle for Il Volo 4 – but I know the others that have IV 1 – 3! haha! I wonder of the Secretary of State thinks we are crazy? All these IV license plates….
Yes the first I met you Marie introduced us. I think you had made some beautiful scarves. I was so excited to meet her also for the first time. She was kind enough to let me and my friend Rosemarie Ringenbach stay in her room until ours was ready. My plate says IL VOLO My old ones said ILVOLOR.
Yes, that is right – keep forgetting. I am awful with names and faces and always feel so guilty when people remember me and I have no idea who they are!! Yes, I made those scarves for each of their mothers and barbara and even one for Alessandra – I gave it to her when we went to Atlanta. Eleonora was sitting with Alessandra and Barbara was there and I said hello and Barbara reminded Eleonora that I gave her the green scarf. She had a glimmer of recognition on her face – lol! She speaks/understands very little English…. I think I gave Marie the one blue scarf to give to Ignazio’s mother, via Nina. Oh, I made one for Nina, also. Just makes me wonder if they even still have them or if they wear them. I’m pretty sure Alessandra doesn’t lol! I was so proud of those scarves!! 😉 Ah, ok, I will tell Marie next time we text! 🙂
It would be nice to attend a Meet and Greet now. It is unfortunate that I do not have the kind of talent to work with musicians. I studied something else. To work with them – then you would get to know them personally. That would be a rea; treat! Dena Pitchfork, Mercer Island, Washington U.S.A.
Hello Dena! Yes, I have a feeling that many people will be buying m/g tickets after this crisis is over, but I suspect they might be pretty pricey, not sure they can charge more than they already do! $250 – $300 now! Just for a quick hug, handshake, and smile! But the memories and smiles and pictures last a lifetime! Yes, it would be wonderful to be able to work with them. Just to spend a day with them, to see how they work together, etc. would be interesting! I often thought it would be cool to just hang out with them – have a casual lunch, or go shopping. Just like a normal person… 😉
Thankyou Jana for this wonderful and funny article. I just found this site last March so I read it for the first time. Everything you said is so true. I have followed the boys since the beginning with ther first PBS appearance and fell in love with them immediately. They not only are the best singers but they are wonderful young men. I have seen them twice in concert the last time in February at Foxwoods with a m&g. I was so nervous the whole day, I don’t remember saying a word to them. I pray I’ll get to see another concert and meet them again and actually say something to them! You are right about feeling down afterwards. You’re so excited to see them and it’s over so fast. Unfortunately none of my friends or family are Ilvolo fans (not from my lack of trying and it’s their loss). So I am so grateful for having found this site. You ladies do a fantastic job of keeping us informed about the boys. I love reading all the posts. Your shrine is great. I framed the poster we got in our bags and it hangs with the rest of the family photos. Thankyou again.
Hello Cathy! I’m so glad you enjoyed my article and found our site!! Seems like most of the stories are the same – they accidentally found them on PBS!! A few were introduced by a gift of a CD, or word of mouth, as well! So glad you got to see them last year. There is quite the fan base near the Foxwoods area – there may even be a few fans lurking in your area – you never know! We found our own little Detroit Il Volo Gals group via a Facebook page and we all met at Gianluca’s birthday party we planned for him – none of us, except for the 2 ladies that had planned it had ever even met before! There were 4 of us that seemed to click and I found another fan, from this site, that didn’t live too far from here. Our little group of 5, expanded to 6 and we’ve been together since 2015, or so. 🙂 We all live within about 30 to 45 minutes of each other. That’s great you framed the poster. As filled as my shrine is, not everything is even on there – or near there, at the moment. I also have that poster, along with another picture someone had made for me, as well as a picture I took at Verona and loved and had blown up to poster size!! All in good time!
Thanks Jana. I miss some of the crazy early days we all participated in. I think we should re post some of the old and early post so the new fans can see what went on in the beginning.
Hi Gina! Has Texas thawed out yet?? 🙂 You know, I was thinking that as well – there are a lot of good prose and poetry out there, that a lot of the new folks have never seen. I also miss Marie and how the others would have some really good bantering going back and forth, fighting over the guys, etc. It’s really hard for me though to comment right away, being “at work” even though at home, I’m still working and sometimes pretty busy, like the last few days. It was a bit boring today though. lol!
I remember that was one of the things that drew me to this site – I was reading the comments, and literally laughing out loud at some of the things that were said!!
Remember the fights over Ignazio? “MINE, Mine, mine!!!” I also used to laugh out loud reading some of the comments. And Marie used to come up with some very funny poems.
Oh yes, Penina! You and Pirate and many others I can’t remember right now and of course Jane and Mary Bohling, rest her soul! Between you, me, Marie and a few others, we had our fights over Igna!! This site is weird, you can’t seem to directly reply to each comment – so hope you see this! 🙂
Jana, as I told you, this article was too good, even if written four years ago, I think a lot of fans find their symptoms. There is a danger of addiction, so I recommend taking Il Volo in small doses.
Congratulations again for these beautiful words, which make us think and smile !!. :):):)
Grazie mille, Daniela!! 🙂 Yes, it does seem to be a classic and may never get old, Haha! Yes, we certainly don’t want to overdose on the guys – it could be deadly to the heart! Was a beautiful day here in Detroit yesterday and got up to 54 degrees here, however, when I got off work at 4:30p, we had already lost the sun and the temps had dropped nearly 10 degrees and there was a stiff breeze! But, I went for my walk anyway! 🙂
This is a reply to Penina and Jana, I remember that some of our comments back and forth over Ignazio were really fun. Marie insisted Igna was hers and she would chase him to the ends of the earth. Of course there would have been a line of ladies right behind her. I wonder if he ever read those comments. P.s.I only met her once but I miss Mary.
RM, yes those were definitely fun times!!!
If I remember correctly it was usually Loretta and Marie arguing rather outrageously! Lots of fun times.
Wonder if Loretta is okay, haven’t heard from her in a very long time. I did see her at the last concert in Toronto a year ago. She was there with one of her sons.
Right, Loretta foley?? She always wanted to help with the site, but I couldn’t figure out what she could do. I think she gave me her email a while back. I should try to find it…
I’ll look too–she changed emails a couple of times over the years. I’ll email you if I find it. Or rather, I’ll email you with the latest one I have.
I was wondering about her too. It’s unusual for her not comment for this long. I wished her a HB this past June on her FB timeline.