Ben Rector concert with my girls...
"Hey dad, there's a Ben Rector concert in Kalamazoo on March 1st...can we go?"
This text was sent to me back in December of last year b7 my eldest, Kami, who happened to be entrenched in final exams obviously needing both a distraction and a future hope to cling to in the weeds of memorizing anatomical data for one of her nursing classes.
"That would be fun...in fact, it would be fun to go with all your sisters for a long overdue daddy-daughter date!"
That's all it took and within hours their mom was online purchasing tickets and securing our place in the middle of the theatre with the best vision of the stage. The tickets were a little pricey for my taste, but the experience was going to be priceless, so I staved off my frugal side and let myself "live a little".
In no time, March 1st was here, and Kami was on her way home from college for Spring Break. She would get home, we would get dressed up, head out to dinner at Main St. BBQ, grab a to-go box for Tay since she was in her Mary Poppins musical practice until 6pm, rush over to pick her up and then head South via Rt. 6 to Rt. 131 towards "the 'zoo".
When we picked Tay up, her mother packed her a change of clothes and a bunch of girly makeup crap so that should could get dolled up for the occasion. Somehow, like Superman in a phone booth, she changed her clothes in the back seat of Kami's car and was transformed from a frumpy Freshman stumbling out of a hardcore musical practice into a beautiful young women who looked like she was dressed up for a fundraiser at the Amway Grand. Kami and Tay switched places in the front seat so that Aly could do her hair from the backseat while she used the visor mirror to "put her face on". In a matter of 30 minutes she went through a metamorphosis only to be rivaled by a butterfly. Stunning.
Within an hour, we found a parking spot and made our way to this old theater in the heart of Kalamazoo, MI build sometime in the early 1900's. The venue was breathtaking and I could just feel the energy oozing in and out of that place. People were buzzing around like with an anticipation that most concerts I've been to struggle to garner. This Ben Rector guy has some diehards, let me tell ya'.
The opening act was "what's-her-face" (doesn't really matter) and in between her set and Ben Rectors I was holding Taylors hand and she said, "Man, I love those Ben Rector shirts." I listened without much of a response. "It would be so cool to have one of those." Very unlike me, I felt compelled to grab the girls, head out to the merch table, and tell them they could all pick out their favorite $30 t-shirt. (Note: I don't buy things. I don't buy things especially when they aren't needed, sometimes even when they are needed. I look for every excuse I can to not spend money.) But here I was telling the girls to get out of their seats so that we could check out the Ben Rector shirts...Kami and Aly thought that Tay had either hypnotized or drugged me. "Are you kidding?" Kami blurted out. Aly didn't waste a second to get out of her seat and take me at my word. She knew that I might reconsider and put the kibosh on my own idea given another second or two. They were scrambling to get out of their theatre seats and climbing down the row tripping all over themselves (slight exaggeration.)
Long story short, they all got their grossly over-priced shirts and were happier than clams carried along by the current of an ocean's rising tide. We got back to our seats, made some small talk with some friends who were there to take in this epic event as well, and braced ourselves for 9pm, the exact time the lights would dim and the "magic" would start. (His new album is called, Magic, so I thought I'd tell you that in order for you to appreciate my killer word play.)
Like clockwork, 9pm hit and the lights dimmed. The rest was hands down one of the best concerts I've ever experienced in my life. The atmosphere was electric. The sound was perfection on steroids. His vocals were perfect pitch, smooth as butter. The band was comprised of studio musicians who looked to be effortlessly playing in their sleep they were so good. His personality and storytelling ability was flawless. And the songs. The songs. A singer/songwriters dream.
But nothing compares to standing next to your 19, 17, and 15 year old singing at the top of their lungs and smiles on their faces. Nothing. Every time a new song would start, they would know what was coming and would giggle with giddy anticipation. I didn't know the songs well, so I experienced them through my daughters...even better. The night was a dream...it came and went altogether too quickly, but that is the nature of a night like that where time is both standing still and flying by. There are moments that you know you will never forget...and this is one of them. It's been burned into my brain with a firebrand.
The night was priceless even though it cost a lot of money. But there are certain moments where money doesn't even come to mind. Cause money can't buy what we experienced together on March 1st, 2019. It's a once in a lifetime. A moment I will treasure to my death.
I love my girls.
This text was sent to me back in December of last year b7 my eldest, Kami, who happened to be entrenched in final exams obviously needing both a distraction and a future hope to cling to in the weeds of memorizing anatomical data for one of her nursing classes.
"That would be fun...in fact, it would be fun to go with all your sisters for a long overdue daddy-daughter date!"
That's all it took and within hours their mom was online purchasing tickets and securing our place in the middle of the theatre with the best vision of the stage. The tickets were a little pricey for my taste, but the experience was going to be priceless, so I staved off my frugal side and let myself "live a little".
In no time, March 1st was here, and Kami was on her way home from college for Spring Break. She would get home, we would get dressed up, head out to dinner at Main St. BBQ, grab a to-go box for Tay since she was in her Mary Poppins musical practice until 6pm, rush over to pick her up and then head South via Rt. 6 to Rt. 131 towards "the 'zoo".
When we picked Tay up, her mother packed her a change of clothes and a bunch of girly makeup crap so that should could get dolled up for the occasion. Somehow, like Superman in a phone booth, she changed her clothes in the back seat of Kami's car and was transformed from a frumpy Freshman stumbling out of a hardcore musical practice into a beautiful young women who looked like she was dressed up for a fundraiser at the Amway Grand. Kami and Tay switched places in the front seat so that Aly could do her hair from the backseat while she used the visor mirror to "put her face on". In a matter of 30 minutes she went through a metamorphosis only to be rivaled by a butterfly. Stunning.
Within an hour, we found a parking spot and made our way to this old theater in the heart of Kalamazoo, MI build sometime in the early 1900's. The venue was breathtaking and I could just feel the energy oozing in and out of that place. People were buzzing around like with an anticipation that most concerts I've been to struggle to garner. This Ben Rector guy has some diehards, let me tell ya'.
The opening act was "what's-her-face" (doesn't really matter) and in between her set and Ben Rectors I was holding Taylors hand and she said, "Man, I love those Ben Rector shirts." I listened without much of a response. "It would be so cool to have one of those." Very unlike me, I felt compelled to grab the girls, head out to the merch table, and tell them they could all pick out their favorite $30 t-shirt. (Note: I don't buy things. I don't buy things especially when they aren't needed, sometimes even when they are needed. I look for every excuse I can to not spend money.) But here I was telling the girls to get out of their seats so that we could check out the Ben Rector shirts...Kami and Aly thought that Tay had either hypnotized or drugged me. "Are you kidding?" Kami blurted out. Aly didn't waste a second to get out of her seat and take me at my word. She knew that I might reconsider and put the kibosh on my own idea given another second or two. They were scrambling to get out of their theatre seats and climbing down the row tripping all over themselves (slight exaggeration.)
Long story short, they all got their grossly over-priced shirts and were happier than clams carried along by the current of an ocean's rising tide. We got back to our seats, made some small talk with some friends who were there to take in this epic event as well, and braced ourselves for 9pm, the exact time the lights would dim and the "magic" would start. (His new album is called, Magic, so I thought I'd tell you that in order for you to appreciate my killer word play.)
Like clockwork, 9pm hit and the lights dimmed. The rest was hands down one of the best concerts I've ever experienced in my life. The atmosphere was electric. The sound was perfection on steroids. His vocals were perfect pitch, smooth as butter. The band was comprised of studio musicians who looked to be effortlessly playing in their sleep they were so good. His personality and storytelling ability was flawless. And the songs. The songs. A singer/songwriters dream.
But nothing compares to standing next to your 19, 17, and 15 year old singing at the top of their lungs and smiles on their faces. Nothing. Every time a new song would start, they would know what was coming and would giggle with giddy anticipation. I didn't know the songs well, so I experienced them through my daughters...even better. The night was a dream...it came and went altogether too quickly, but that is the nature of a night like that where time is both standing still and flying by. There are moments that you know you will never forget...and this is one of them. It's been burned into my brain with a firebrand.
The night was priceless even though it cost a lot of money. But there are certain moments where money doesn't even come to mind. Cause money can't buy what we experienced together on March 1st, 2019. It's a once in a lifetime. A moment I will treasure to my death.
I love my girls.
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