Missing Paul

One thing I haven't done recently is go to a concert. That used to be such a common thing for me -- I'd have shows lined up and tickets purchased months in advance. I'd be the first one on ticketmaster refreshing the screen until the sale came up and stressing about whether to grab the first seats I got or risk losing them for better seats. I had it down to a science - using multiple computers and even taking off work or school to concentrate on ticket purchases.

Now, I feel very old. Haha! I still love going to concerts, but now they are both expensive and inconvenient. When you have to pay $1000 to replace a broken fridge or $1500 to fix a wet basement, money gets put into perspective. Also, when you have 10 vacation days a year and want to both go on an actual vacation and also visit family, that doesn't leave any time to just take a day or two off for little things. The other people in my office don't have that issue because they all have plenty of vacation time, being that they've been here for years and also are exempt, rather than the lowly non-exempt position I'm in.

I just found out that Paul McCartney will be playing 5 minutes from my brother's apartment on October 15th. He lives 4 hours away from us, but, at any other time, I would have been buying tickets immediately. I already missed Paul's show in Philly this summer. But October 15th is a Thursday night...I'd have to take off at least a day and a half on order to do it right. And then we'd have to come back home on Friday and then travel to NYC on Saturday for a wedding. It's just too hard and too expensive. Also, I feel like nothing can top the experiences I had at Paul's shows back in 2001 and 2005. In 2001, I ended up with front row seats, and in 2005, I ended up with entry to Paul's soundcheck, as well as meeting the band and getting 4th row seats to the second night's show. Being that close to the stage is a completely different experience and makes any hassle well worth it. Being up in the cheap seats is still fun of course, but it does lose something, and it's just a different experience. Some day the timing will work out so I can make it to another show - whether it's Paul or Ringo, or thenewno2, or who knows who...but until then, I'm very grateful that I went to shows when I had the time and money to do it and that I had such awesome experiences when I did. Now I am focused on my family and my house, which is wonderful and seems perfectly appropriate for this stage in my life. :) Have a great day everyone!