Disheveled, though clean, hair and non-sore feet that should have been sore marked the beginning of my Monday. (oh and it was an early Monday! but aren’t they all? I was out the door for work before 6am.)
Last night, the newly opened Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri was home to history, personal history, my personal history.
Let’s begin about a month ago. I was at Old Navy browsing their offerings, when my cell phone rang. My mom was calling to tell me that my step dad had just bought 6 tickets to the Garth Brooks concert on November 11th. Yes, and not only were we going, but we were 15th row on the floor–and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Yesterday was November 11th.
One of the best parts of the night was actually the opportunity to see and hear Trisha Yearwood perform. Phenomenal does not begin to characterize her voice. I was in awe of the power, beauty, and control. She treated the crowd with a mix of old and new–one of my favorites which completely caught me off guard was XXX’s and OOO’s (American Girl)–I used to sing this one as a teenager in my bedroom. “SHE USED TO TIE HER HAIR UP WITH RIBBONS AND BOWS, SIGN HER LETTERS WITH X’s and O’s, SHE’S GONNA MAKE IT IN HER DADDY’S WORLD, SHE’S AN AMERICAN GIRL…”
And of course…Katie’s sittin’ on the old front porch watchin the chickens peck the ground…
Oh! how I remember these songs! I think I love “She’s in Love with the Boy” partially because the girl’s name is Katie. We all like our names in songs–unless your name is Eileen like my mom. (Come on, Eileen! sheesh.) What’s fantastic is that I just belted out, as off-key as humanly possible, this entire song…acapella. I really hope my walls are sound proof.
And then came Garth. He’s an American icon. Even people who profess to hate country music like Garth Brooks. He’s just infectious. Man has charisma y’all. He wouldn’t have gotten so far on just talent alone.
With each song, I found myself saying “Yes! THIS is the song that defines my life–or that SHOULD define my life.”
Unanswered Prayers, The River, More Than a Memory, Wolves, Shameless, Standing Outside the Fire, The Dance, even The Thunder Rolls–These songs all make me think of someone different.
Unanswered Prayers will always remind me of my stepdad and my mom. My mom once told me that my stepdad told her (and I’m paraphrasing and such here because I have no idea what the words were, but I know what the meaning was) that he identified with Unanswered Prayers. He had a love when he was younger, I don’t know much about her or their time together, but I know that he was happy it didn’t work because he found my mom. Beautiful.
The River—well, I’m a dreamer. This one matches with my ideology so completely, how could I not get tingles? I do believe in taking chances and living. I’ve taken a few. I am still reeling from some. But I choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.
More Than a Memory–I think of someone I know who is haunted by memories of someone loved. It makes me sad that anyone has to feel that pain and angst–and that there’s nothing I can do to make it subside. I really like this song, but I really hate that it’s reality for anyone. I find myself drawn in perhaps because I can personalize it. This one hurts me, shouldn’t I hate it?
Wolves I hadn’t heard this one. Honest. Okay, maybe I have, but I certainly do not remember it. I digress. This song made me think of me, and my fears of being left behind. It’s very real.
Shameless Someone should feel this way about me. I should affect someone this way. I won’t settle for less–no one should. But careful friends. You should never abuse the shameless. In fact, you should be shameless right back. It doesn’t have to be negative. I think some people would say that it is.
Standing Outside the Fire Driving, pulsing, thriving, daring. LIVE!
The Dance This is Carrie’s song. I kept waiting and hoping this one would tune up because I knew this was her one wish. Thank you Mr. Brooks.
The Thunder Rolls I have a dark side. A brooding side. It’s this side that tries to feel the angst of the betrayed. Yeah, not healthy, right? Meredith Grey isn’t the only one who’s dark and twisty (yes, that is a Grey’s Anatomy reference.)
Music isn’t just about listening. As I’ve described above, it’s much more about feeling. Well, I have to say, sometimes there are things that make it hard to feel the music.
I generally like tall people, many of my friends are tall–some are very tall; but when you are in floor level seats at a concert and stand only 5’4″ish (there’s debate about how tall I actually am; I may be as short as 5’2 and 1/2″ and I may be as tall as 5’4 and 3/4″. I know, the uncertainty is quite unsettling! I can tell you that i need short length pants for certain brands.) tall people are not well received. I spent the entire concert trying craning and leaning to my right, and to my left, and to my right, and again to my left, trying to see around the monument that stood 3 rows in front of me. (I have quite a few great shots of him on my camera phone. I hope he’s famous someday at least.) I was also very distracted by the odd Ménage à trois that was unfolding.
Mr. Mustache, with the floral button-down, Ms. Broad-Shoulder-Button Down, Mr. Monument–Distracting! Who was Ms. Broad-Shoulder Button Down doing? Mr. Mustache was very touchy-feely and she wasn’t stopping him, but I saw her reach up and kiss Mr. Monument…oh, my question was NEVER answered. So, I decided they were a three-some. It was easier and allowed me to refocus my attention on the stage–even though 2 of the 3 were uncommonly tall and in my direct line of sight.
That said, the energy in the Sprint Center on Sunday, November 11th was radiant. The crowd had Garth in awe. “On a Sunday night!” he kept repeating. Unbridled enthusiasm for one man, one show, one night. Unbridled enthusiasm for one crowd, one show, one night.
Well, Mr. Brooks, this crowd ain’t givin’ in ’til they get enough.
Sounds like fun. Wish I could have gone.
Man, if only I could go back in time and go to that damn show. That had to have been breathtaking.
I wish I could have gone.