Life In The Fast Lane

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity” I tell myself as I stare at the computer trying to wrap my head around the cost of two tickets.  Eight minutes after tickets went on sale the affordable ones were all sold out and only the most expensive ones were left. I knew those too would be gone in a minute, I had to decide now.  I remind myself that it’s a lifelong hope of Mitch’s to see them, it would be a dream come true… and click, I select confirm. I bought two tickets to see the Eagles live in concert at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on May 29th at 8 p.m.!   I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell Mitch about getting the tickets, and was thinking about making it a surprise. I hadn’t known anything about them coming to town until an hour before tickets went on sale. I was so excited that I hadn’t missed the opportunity and was a little perplexed that hadn’t heard anything before about them coming.

Thirty minutes after buying the tickets I get a call from Mitch at work and he is beyond bothered.  He proceeds to tell me how he’d been trying to hide the news that the Eagles were coming to town so he could surprise me with tickets.  He called tickets-west right when they went on sale, but was actually three minutes too early and had to call back. Well, he couldn’t get through after that, busy signal, busy signal, finally got through and then somehow got disconnected.  He was beyond frustrated and finally decided to call me to go online and buy the tickets.  A grin begins on my face and a great feeling of happiness comes over me as I get to rescue his day!  “Baby, I just got us tickets, less than an hour ago!” He   said, “What, you did? You got tickets already! Oh, you are the best wife ever!” I was so proud of myself that I actually got the tickets and knew it would be a dream come true for my sweetie,  plus I just love it when I do something to warrant him saying, “You are the best wife ever!”

I’m an “on time attender”, Mitch is a “get there early, the earlier the better”.  Since seeing the Eagles was more for him, I told him he could set the time and I would be ready with bells on.  We arrived before they opened the doors at 6:30 for the show at 8 p.m.  We had time to get a couple souvenirs, cha-ching spendy,  and a pretzel and nachos with a couple sodas, cha-ching! Good thing we don’t drink alcohol anymore cuz that cost was probably through the roof!  We made some friendly conversation with the folks behind us, and they were kind enough to snap a photo of us together in front of the stage before the seats filled up.

This is the first and only concert that Mitch and I have been to in the 9 years we’ve been together.  “Check, check” we said to each other as we always do for first time experiences together.  After this photo was taken we were approached by a stadium worker and was told that no smart phones are to be used, even before the show and we were given our first warning.  We told him, take it easy, and you better share that info with the girl down in front because she said we could take pics before the show started. I joked with the lady who took the picture and told her that it was “her” first warning, and thanks for taking one for the team.

This cellphone situation becomes the issue of the night.  There’s gonna be a heartache tonight, especially when the guy next to us halfway through the show, was removed for continuously using his phone. The arena workers would stare into the crowd searching for lyin’ eyes lit up by the light of cell phones.  They would come and give warnings, and if it were a repeat offender they would already be gone from the arena.  I felt like a new kid in town in class when I would try and pass notes without getting caught.  Honestly it became such a distraction, there was no peaceful easy feeling.  I was a victim of love, just trying to snap a couple photo’s for this post.  It loomed over me that at any moment they’d swoop in and take me away. I was taking it to the limit, a total desperado, but I wanted to get a couple pictures to capture this once in a lifetime experience.  I can’t tell you why, I guess we’ll all have to just get over it, realize we’re in the presents of fast company and sneak a pic when they’re not looking.

They were amazing!  They sounded great, gave a great show and were beyond our expectations in their performance.  The artistry they posses as a band is insurmountable, and I love that they look like everyday people with their plaid shirts and jeans.  It’s awesome to see that all the years of fame hasn’t faded their skills, and when we heard them sing it gave us chills!

PS. If you haven’t guessed, all the words in Italics are song titles from the band!