Welcome to Travel + Explore & Play with Sallee Jay where I am your host. I am so very excited to share more trips with you all very soon, as my schedule is beginning to fill up with events. And thank you for your patience, while I took some time off from blogging 👩🏽‍💻 to accomplish some personal and professional goals.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am now a certified professional in Corporate Social Responsibility with emphasis in Governance, Environment and Sustainability.

However, that is not what you came for, so TODAY is a throwback blog in which I detail one of my funniest travel experiences to date. It involves a trip to Dallas, Erykah Badu and lost rental vehicle… I stumbled upon this email that I sent to family and friends after the trip and was instantly taken back to that crazy weekend. Read on, as I describe the events that took place that magical weekend in Dallas!

#TBT to AUGUST 2008

For those of you who do not know yet, I got to meet my all-time favorite musical artist Erykah Badu this past weekend.  I flew down to Dallas with my friend “One L” and had one of the best weekends imaginable. I could not have planned the events that happened even if I tried.

So the condensed Campbell Soup version is...

I asked “One L” (her infamous nickname) if she wanted to go to Dallas to see Erykah Badu, as a super fan it has always been a dream of mine to see her perform in her home state. “One L” being more of a casual fan agreed to go but thought she would be able to secure a cheaper ticket from scalpers upon arrival for the actual show. I purchased my ticket in advance for the concert thinking, “if you cannot sell out in your hometown, what are you even doing?” Therefore, she was not able to go to the actual concert, keep this in mind as this is a very important element in the chain of events to follow. There were ABSOLUTLY NO tickets in the city, people came from FL, UT, GA and even overseas, it was so cool!! Anyway, she dropped me off at the concert and went to Red Lobster (LOL) to get her drink on and to pass the time before she needed to come pick me up from the concert, also keep this in mind. LOL The show started at 8:00 p.m. with an opening act and DJ but Erykah was 2 hours late so the show did not end till after midnight.  It was an amazing show despite the late start. Due to all of the people leaving after the announcement was made that it would be another hour before she even arrived to the venue, I was able to secure a front row seat! Also “One L” could have come to the show at that point but I could not reach her, you’ll find out why later.

When the show ended, I called “One L” several times to come get me but she did not answer (that baby was sleeping). Then I went outside to get a cab to no avail.  I went back in the theater to ask someone if they could fetch me a cab as my phone was dying and I did not have a number to call. Then I started talking to this guy who happened to be a part of Erykah's family. As we were conversing an usher approached and said, “Erykah has just finished talking to the bored members of the theater and was now seeing family.” He went to get the rest of her people and then came back to talk to me. At this point I was totally discouraged and talking out the side of my head and I said, "It would be so worth my trip if I could just meet her," to which he responded go on back there!!!! I jumped up and damn near ran down the aisle to go backstage.  When I got back there, all her family was in the room. She was giving one of her uncles some information and talking about a cousin that she had a group with back in the day that stole some of her music and did not give her any credit... I was so excited and mesmerized; moments like this don't come often.  She hugged her other family and then something clicked within her and she acknowledged that I was in the room (maybe she was trying to place if I was family, who knows).  She asked me, “how are you sis!” All I could muster to say was, “Blessed!” She gave me a hug and I took a picture with her.  Those GREEN EYES almost took me OUT 👀✨‼️🙌🏾

Well, when I left her dressing room, I still had the dilemma of getting back to the hotel, so I started talking to one of her cousins outside. She called every cab company in Dallas.  She would have taken me home but they all were waiting on Erykah to finish up with the rest of the fans that had figured out how to get backstage before they locked the venue doors and I couldn’t wait, I had a flight to catch (the other fans got the customary meet & greet experience with other fans!!SUKCAS!!!).   

After about 45 minutes she found me a cab but when I went to the door, one of the ushers. Ms. Nita said she would take me back to the hotel, since the cab still was not there and she was leaving for the evening.  She was sooooo sweet. A 40-year-old Christian lady and bail bondsmen, who told me that she would have never gotten on a plane to go and see her favorite artist but was somehow inspired by me and she was going to take a trip to Denver in the summer. I gave her gas money for her trouble and we exchanged email addresses. Everyone was so nice and helpful, they could have just let me figure it out, THANK GOD for southern hospitality....

I was thinking when I got back to the hotel, that it would have been cool to ride with Erykah and the gang but I definitely experienced way more than expected so.. no worries!!!!! It was hands down the most exciting and encouraging moment in my life.  She is so tiny in real life and her shoes... $600.00 gold and Gucci is all I have to say!!! Oh yes and the eyes….

Now on to the rental car fiasco…

When I got back to the hotel, I did not see the car parked, I thought it was strange that “One L” was not back, I figured she was out having fun.  Well imagine my surprise to find her sleeping in the room.  After waking her and debriefing with her about getting to meet my idol, I asked, “where is the car?” Sleepily she replied, “I don’t remember?” Being that the rental was in my name, I jumped up and called the desk to see if they remembered “One L” returning to the hotel and how she got back.  Of course they had no recollection. Now we are both panicked it is about 2am and we have a 6am departure flight and no car! We are walking all over the parking lot clicking the key fob, hoping to hear a beep, chirp or panic alarm… only to hear nothing.

At this point I am fuming 😡🤬🥴 and walk across the street to get the hell away from “One L” for being so careless and irresponsible. We’re both crying, she’s apologizing and then with tears 😭 in my eyes I look up and there it is!!! THE CAR 🚘 !!! In her drunkenness she just parked up the street and walked the rest of the way!!!

There you have it folks, my first time meeting Erykah Badu story. I hope you enjoyed this throwback!

Travel Safe! And know where your rental is at all times 🔑🔑🔑🔑

Sallee Jay ❣️