Back when I was a teenager, a friend and I got the rush of a lifetime meeting some of our idols before a concert. I will never forget how much I was shaking and how much I felt on cloud nine afterwards. Of course the most memorable show was the one in the front row… but that story is for another time.
Now I have heard of at least a half dozen groups who do “meet and greets” for a price. You get to have your picture taken, maybe ask a question and then you’re out the door and they get ready for the show. I have seen price tags starting at $150 on up (beyond the ticket price)… it all depends on the group and how popular they are. I know the costs of touring have really gone up and musicians were hurt when covid hit without being able to do what made them the most money – tour. I would really like to see these events more attainable to the everyday person though, those who have to scrape together ticket money just to see the show. I just don’t know how to make that happen. Meeting someone like that can really be a moment to last forever in your mind.
A concert by a favorite act can always make me smile. But there are some memories that will never leave me (like the band member walking barefoot through the bar looking for his shoes after one show). An arena was a favorite place of mine in my past… I guess at 56 I am too old to holler and scream at a concert? Ah, hell no! Bring on the bands!
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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – arena
I have read like five days’ worth of posts each the last couple of days and for the first time in MONTHS I see the days distinction in when the post was published instead of a date. I see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak and in my push to start fresh for February I just need this last day. Then the month will begin my goal of keeping up with each day and posting more poems in the coming days and weeks. I have really missed sharing my writing and challenging myself to write “off topic” of what I usually do with some of the more interesting word prompts I find.
So, by the time I fall asleep tonight I will be once again caught up, have posted for the first and will be ready to read a little more at my leisure tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with me during my crazy long time I was behind and less visual. Now, off to read my last five days.
(((HUGS)))
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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – yield
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” We have all heard these words and attribute them to the US postal workers… not really sure how it came to be that way as the words were attributed to Greek historian Herodotus back about 2500 years ago. I just couldn’t help but think about them in my own way…
Neither depression nor anxiety nor pain nor fatigue from fibro stops this writer from her trusty blogs. But life, that bitch always gets in the way! I just can’t believe I am now MORE than a month behind. I keep thinking I should scrap my plans to catch up but then again I feel bad for all the hard work you put into your blogs, I don’t want to miss something good. But I have to draw the line some where. So this is my commitment to read like a mad woman. I will try not to comment much, but sometimes I just have to.
By the end of the month if I have not made a sizeable dent in the past blog log, I will wipe the slate to zero with profound apologies (and don’t be afraid to recommend one of your blogs you are especially happy with during that time to me) and start fresh on February first.
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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – neither
December 4th. That is outrageous! I am just left flabbergasted and appalled at my lack of attention that I paid to WordPress the month of December. The 4th is all the further I have gotten on reading posts from December. No, I did not ignore the month completely, but considering I was already behind it just climbed from a hill to a mountain in a short time.
The amazing thing about December though? I did get all my Christmas cards and letters made, written and in the mail on time so that they all arrived BEFORE Christmas this year. I had three whole days to make candies and cookies at a leisurely pace. And wrapping gifts was done well before 2 am on Christmas Eve this year. So that has to count for something.
But as the holiday season wraps up, I have a question for you all and please give me your answer in the comments…
Do you enjoy receiving Christmas cards and letters?
I saw a talk show where the hosts pretty much said, “No,” to receiving them, and I have a asked a couple of people how they felt and got mixed reviews. Personally, I love to get something in the mail that is not a bill, someone looking for money or advertisements. It is a personal touch to the season, I think. But I will admit I much prefer a personal letter to the “form letters” people just copy and send to everyone. I don’t hand write my letters, but each word is written for the individual I am sending it to, not a copy-paste of the year’s highlights. Some people want to hear more about vacations, and some want to hear more about home repairs, some may like concert information while others want to hear about the family.
I am already giving serious thought to next year. I send out about 30 handmade cards and about half of them get personal letters. This year I got 6 cards only and just one with a letter, oh and one emailed card. Heck, even businesses used to send cards, but now it is all email greetings that are free. I only received one from Chewy of all places.
Please let me know your vote! Yes or no on cards and letters? And I promise I will try hard to catch up as quick as I can. THANKS for sticking with me!
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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – flabbergasted
I am back! I hadn’t really planned on not doing much WordPress, but I thought I would SOME. Now is time for a major catch-up. Lots of reading to do. Lots of writing to do. And somewhere in the middle of all that there will be some Christmas cards and letters, shopping and just day to day life. Wish me luck!
So, I am off to get busy at it. Hope you all have a magical holiday season no matter what you celebrate… or just plain and simple a good December if you don’t celebrate. Winter is sneaking up on us! Grab some cocoa and a cozy sweater and radiate warmth!
Back in 1979 I was a teenager, barely. But I was typical… wanting to fall in love and having crushes left and right. I was also into music and the men that made it. So when this movie came on one night about a 13 year old falling for her crush (her rock star wanna be guitar teacher) I HAD TO see it.
To this day I still own the soundtrack album for that movie, Sooner or Later. What does that have to do with anything other than my budding emotional overloads thanks to musicians? A song. Rex Smith (who played the the girls crush, Michael) sang a number of songs for the LP that was released. With that great feathered hairdo, how could he go wrong as a heart throb! So of course, I own the LP and still know most of the songs by heart. This is where the connection comes to play.
One of the songs on the album was a song called, “Ain’t That Peculiar.” Looking for a video of the song I came to find that not only had Rex sang this song, but also so did Marvin Gaye and the group Fanny among others. So, here is the version that hooked me and then Marvin Gaye’s hit.
Isn’t he just dreamy?
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Written for Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) – Peculiar
Just a little ditty I threw together. I know it needs work. But I am mainly writing to help stay sane before a real life connection happens. A dear friend is coming to visit from out of state and I will be picking him up at the bus stop in about an hour. He will be here for two weeks and I am over the moon excited to be able to meet him in person. So this is a short post as I have to leave soon.
I did want to let you all know I will be trying to stay somewhat up to date with posts but my time will be limited for a bit. Hope you all have a super Thanksgiving in the United States. Stay warm (it is currently only 16° F) and make the most of time with those you care about. (((HUGS)))
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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – Connections
This should be easy, right? I mean who knows more about what I like the best than me? So, I sat down to answer a FPQ post with my own response. But favorites I find to be a little hard. Bear with me and I will try to narrow down my likes to just a few for this list. Fandango asks…
Let’s have some fun this week. Or what I hope you’ll think is fun. My question is simple. It’s all about favorites. If you were asked to name your absolute favorite in each of the following categories, what would they be:
Song
Musical artist or group
Book
Author
Movie
Television show
Movie or TV actor (male & female)
Stage play or musical
Live concert
Remember, I’m looking for your all-time favorite in each of these categories.
I have to say, even though the marriage ended “You Made It Beautiful” by The Oak Ridge Boys was our first dance song and holds a special place in my heart. But there are two others. I wrote some lyrics a friend put music to and sang. That CD is so special. My all-time favorite though, for more than thirty-five years, is a song by a regional band who I would go see play in my late teens and twenties. The song is “Too Old To Cry” and sadly it does bring tears on occasion. The writer and lead singer has lost a fight with cancer so I will never hear the song performed in an auditorium like I have always dreamed. But Tasty Nickel will never die in my heart!
No band can ever knock Queen out of my number one place in my list… I don’t think anyway.
So many good books out there. The first one that really had a physical reaction from was No Language But A Cry about a girl horribly abused by her father who could not speak for many years. I cried too. The Xanth series is just good fun. But the one book I really remember being drawn into and hard to put down lately was Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill. And a friend or two have had books published… those are very special too.
Consistently the author that draws me in and keeps me entertained and on the edge of my seat would be Dean Koontz.
Here again there are so many. Short and sweet answer… The Color Purple.
I have a few series collections on DVD and watch them from time to time. I would have to say though the one that had the best laughs, drama and powerful messages was M*A*S*H.
I don’t have to think too hard for the actor… Robin Williams. He could do comedy so well, but also did some great dramas… his One Hour Photo character gave me the shivers. As for the actress, this one is harder. It is kind of a toss up between a half dozen women. I will just randomly pick… Sally Field. Once again, a comedy and drama range. I will never forget her Norma Rae performance.
I have had to pleasure to see a few shows live – Wicked, Cats, Rent, Hamilton… if I have to pick just one it would be Wicked – costumes, music and performances were all top rate.
Who can narrow down live concerts to just one favorite? I have the concert I went up on stage during, the once in a lifetime Farm Aid all day concert, seeing a Beatle live – Paul McCartney. If I have to be honest, the one that stands out the most is the one where we saw the Oak Ridge Boys from the front row, and I spent half the show “flirting” with the guitarist Steve… he handed me his stage towel after the show. That was a lot of fun!
If you made it to the end of my rambling and are still here thanks for reading! Sorry this is late posting for the prompt, but as usual I am behind on my reading. Thanks for the fun and challenging questions Fandango!
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Written for Fandango’s Provocative Question (FPQ) #188
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that ending! Come on, Halloween should be fun too, not just scary. Besides my daughter works for a coffee shop… I have heard stories. Ha, ha, ha!
Leigha Robbins 