The lights all turned to the forest of metal rods and circles that made up the behemoth drum kit; and everyone knew what that meant. Like a great exhaling of breath silence swept over the stadium, as all of us, the mere mortals, bowed our heads in reverence to our illustrious god of drums.

    THUMP THUMP, Thump Thump, thump thump.

     That was how every solo started, and cheers rippled across the crowd. All of us, no matter how young or old, were captured in an intense feeling of excitement, eyes wider than kids on Christmas morning. Each tour he presented a silent promise; a pledge to give something bigger, grander than before. Something to further question our idea of reality. This came easier to him than to others, for some people it seems the laws of physics do not apply. This was why we had come here, made our sacred pilgrimage; to see a miracle. And Neil Peart was always one to keep his promises.

    THUMP THUMP, Thump Thump, thump thump.

     The cameras zoomed in on him, placing the figure I could just barely see onto the big projector screens above the stage. His face was of chiseled marble, cold and expressionless, bent into utmost concentration. Shimmering rivers of sweat poured off his features, giving him a strange but beautiful sort of glow. Neil always seemed connected to another world when he played, and it was strongly evident now: eyes closed, firm lips slightly apart, so intense and deliberate as he pounded once more...

    THUMP THUMP, Thump Thump, thump thump.

     Squinting at the stage, I thought I could see him nestled in there somewhere: all dressed in black, African prayer cap sitting snuggly atop his blessed head. Again, I felt the butterflies in my stomach; we did not have the best seats, but I could see him. See him with my own eyes. I could feel, feel his glorious presence, breathe the same air. I knew he couldn't distinguish me from the sea of bouncing heads, but I couldn't help but feel as he peered out serenely from over his mountainous instrument, that this coming song was a tribute to me.

     And then he attacked the kit with full force...