That Was Some Evening

It all began almost two weeks ago. I actually don’t recall the exact day but, it really isn’t relevant. What I did while scrolling through social media was run up on a post about, vote for the pace car paint scheme and get tickets for the xfinity race. It looked official. I checked it out in my limited knowledge of authenticating online things and felt it safe. So I did it. I voted, and it told me the tickets were mine and where they would be online. Then, I sat that aside until my son came in from work. When I told him about it, I did get the “I told you not to click on things” lecture. Then he set out to check it out. It was actually legitimate. I had the tickets, well he did, he jumped through the hoops and got the tickets in his motor speedway account. We were going to the race.

Then, came yesterday. It all began with my son not able to find his car keys and saying he would just drive his grandmother’s car. Only his grandmother’s car, had a dead battery. He took his charger down and hooked it up and then came back with a lost, frustrated puppy look. I told him just drive my Jeep. With a short look of , are you sure, he took my keys and headed for work. I know he was late, but they are accustomed to that where he works. He rarely misses work so they don’t say-to my knowledge -too much. Then came the call later that day.

My son calls me and asks, “Do you like Brett Michaels?”. Why? “Because he is the concert at the fan zone tonight. We can go because of having the tickets.” Let’s go! So, we went. Just not as soon as we would have. Because my dad is back on the, there is water coming out of the ground again, concern. We knew it probably would since we couldn’t find exactly where the leak was coming from the other day. I had gone down and looked and saw where the water was. I had sent my brother who was out of town for the day a message. Still, when my son came home from work, and went to remove his battery charger from mom’s car, my dad had to tell him all about it as well. So we were down there looking at what ever my son could, above ground. Which wasn’t a lot. Finally we were able to head for the race track.

He parked in one of the first lots we came to, one that we will be able to go nowhere near when we go for the race. My son said that we were peasants that slipped into royalties spot when no one was looking.

Once my son showed our tickets at the gate, we made our way to where a driver interview was going on. We missed part of it, but what we heard was fun. Afterwards the daughter of one of the driver’s was tossing signed hats to the crowd. When I stepped up and almost caught one I was jostled causing me to stumble. A mystery man caught me by the shoulder so I didn’t fall. Thank you mystery man. Then it was time for the hauler parade. I was enjoying it until a moment of memory slipped in but then away. My husband never hauled race cars anywhere so that helped. After that, it was the Brett Michael’s concert.

When we walked over to the area where the stage was set up, we managed to get fairly close. We could see the stage really well and there was still enough personal space for all to be okay. Then, I could not help but notice the folks in front of me and slightly to my left, were highly intoxicated. They were having a really good time long before the concert began. Music was playing through speakers to help ramp up the energy but these folks needed no help. Now, as a general rule, the way I see it is simple. You do you. As long as you doing you doesn’t hurt anybody, knock yourself out. Just don’t drive in that state. Since at that moment, we were all standing close together waiting for the show, no one was doing any driving anyway. However, they kept moving in my direction and I kept edging away. I only wanted to see the show. At one point I took a step forward and my son pulled me back. I told him I was trying to stop them from moving in front of me, the man was taller and I would not have seen anything after that if he had. Still, I didn’t move back up. I simply refused to give any more ground.

Looking back now, it is somewhat funny. Those folks were determined to try and make me move. They backed up against me, I was holding a bottle of water close in front of me so they would brush up against that and move away. Repeatedly. When that didn’t work they, mostly the girl, would jerk their elbow up against me as if to knock the water bottle out of my hands. I ignored all their efforts, knowing it was intentional because they kept looking back at me. I kept my eyes on the stage. Finally they gave up and moved a couple steps forward.

The concert though, was amazing! Even with the inebriated the show was so much fun. He interacted with the audience the entire time. He made it an event that was not just him but everyone. He brought veterans, teachers and first responders up on stage at one point, thanking them. The electricity of that show, eradicated the  annoyance of the other group. At the end of the show he was once again acknowledging those close enough, fist bumps, taking selfies with them, even trading hats with an audience member. Yes, I have to say I had a really good time. Even though I’m hurting this morning from all that standing, it was worth it.

But the best part? Was when my son, looked me straight in the eye and said, “I’m glad you clicked on that”. Vindicated!

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