best i ever had
September 20, 2007
I spent last night at THE FAIR with mom, and had to suspend my disbelief a little…kind of like people do when they go to see a play in a crowded theater.
Because of my stint as part of the security team last year, I know all about what goes on behind the scenes. Especially after the sun goes down…It’s a strange smoky otherworld, indeed. Full of skunks and intoxicated carnies and retarded bus drivers.
But I tried my best to forget all of that as we wandered between the 4-H exhibits, taking in the glorious sights— sleeping pigs, pregnant cows, big fat roosters, pretty peacocks…and of course, the smell of funnel cakes and cotton candy. How would any carnival atmosphere be complete without those things?
I tried to convince my mom to get on the Ferris wheel, but she told me that as a kid, she went to a carnival and got on a Ferris wheel there…and apparently, the wheel itself was not bolted to the framework. Haha. Such silly little details…
So, yeah, that was out…
But I will say this…Gary Allan rocked my world last night!
I had been eagerly anticipating this concert for MONTHS! I got my tickets in May. I put in my vacation day at work…three months in advance. And it was worth it, believe me.
First of all, we had awesome seats. 11th row.
Second, Gary played my favorite song…Smoke Rings in the Dark. I was ecstatic.
“I know I must be going
’Cause love’s already gone
And all I’m taking with me are the pieces of my heart
And all I’ll leave are smoke rings in the dark…”
Third, he played a new song called, Like It’s A Bad Thing, and I think I am in love. It’s like he was singing those lyrics specifically to me…though, that thought did not occur to me in the creepy stalker kind of way. I’m talking about that moment when you hear a song for the first time and really listen to the lyrics, and they just seem to fit your life at all of the right angles. Somehow, someone has taken the words that have been running around crazily inside your head and put them into a song…and you are there at that moment to hear them sing it and you know it’s the god’s honest truth.
“They say I risk too much, love too much, wear my heart on my sleeve…They say all I am is a crazy dreamer…like it’s a bad thing…”
Gary Allan definitely knows how to work a crowd. He kept yelling things like, “Is someone telling you guys to sit down?! Well, you know what? This is MY show, and I say you can STAND UP if you want to! SO STAND
UP!”
And of course, EVERYONE and their grandmother jumped to their feet and let out a loud ear-splitting cheer.
He received a standing ovation after performing his song, Life Ain’t Always Beautiful, which he wrote a few years back about his wife’s suicide.
“But the struggles make me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has its own way
Of taking its sweet time…
“Life ain’t always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
No life ain’t always beautiful
But it’s a beautiful ride…”
His voice even broke a little as he sang. It was a truly lovely, human moment…and I think it’s very cool that the entire crowd responded to that, to the imperfection that makes a live show such an awesome experience.
After the show was over, mom and I fought our way over to the merchandise table. I picked up a 2007 tour t-shirt, and we navigated our way through the heinous crowd to the parking lot and headed home.
It was a long drive, and I was very tired. Mom fell asleep. I thought I was going to fall asleep too. But I didn’t. We made it home without succumbing to a painful, fiery death or ending up face-down in the gutter, so I owe myself a cookie for that one.
I’ll leave you with some pictures (though the new camera isn't all that great...Enjoy.
