Pearl Jam was amazing.
The letter I published here I had also sent directly to the band. I did end up having some exciting email exchanges with someone on that end but we ultimately got tickets from a kind soul who sold them to us at face value. And! Hear this Pearl Jam: I can thaw out some peaches and bake up a pie in just a few hours. If you are still in town, have your people contact my people and we’ll arrange it.
The whole thing was fun and funny…the family photo shoot, the enthusiasm and momentum created around achieving tickets-in-hand. Goodness, we had a great time this weekend hanging out, preparing for and eventually attending one epic concert.
While going to a concert isn’t *big picture* important, the way this unfolded got me thinking about big picture important stuff. Really it’s all the same, the big and the little. It’s all the same because your bigs and littles are different from your neighbors and are all important. Our daily paths are scripted by interactions and all it takes to make any situation different is one connection. We throw our energy out there for others to catch. And we catch the output of others. With every personal encounter, we leave a little something with each other. What a lucky power we all have: the power to connect, the power to give a situation brightness and love. Every single time we communicate with someone we have this opportunity. We are all people who seek authenticity and happiness. There is a lot of momentum there.
There was joyful momentum in the heartening interactions I had surrounding our ticket capture. And, holy smokes, there was other worldly momentum created during that concert last night. Thousands of people bobbing together, hands overhead, bodies vibrating. Pearl Jam creates unity and excitement when they perform. They played for hours, leaping about stage like giddy teenagers. They do what they love and share it with others. We get to catch it. It’s awesome.
And I freaking love how politically active and vocal they are. I think most of you know where I lean, I’ve written about it before. But I sometimes still feel cautious when sharing my opinion. Why? Will you be offended? Maybe but probably not. I am certainly able to disagree with a person’s yard sign and still want to hear what they have to say. I imagine most people are this way. I imagine most people who like coming here to my space choose respectful, kind interactions to create the momentum in their lives. And having an opinion and voting is SO important. I attended the Tester rally with my kids yesterday and was reminded that he won by a few thousand votes in the last election. A few thousand votes. I was interviewed by our local paper which always makes me nervous, especially when my two year-old is tugging on my skirt and I wish I had taken time to reapply deodorant. But certainly, stretched hems, distracted attention and stinky pits are little and normal things. Having my kids understand the importance of supporting candidates that reflect our family’s values and them hearing me say it out loud in front of them is a big thing. To me.
Yesterday, the smoke lifted. I spent time with my family. We ate yogurt muffins, attended a political rally and a birthday party at the carousel. I obsessively checked my email waiting for tickets to emerge and they did. We called every eligible babysitter in the valley, achieving success at the last minute. My brother-in-law, sister-in-law, husband and I ate bar-b-qued ribs and salad as fast as we could just before kissing our our mac-n-cheese gobbling kids goodbye, piling in the wagon around car seats and landing at the base of Mount Sentinel with thousands of people who wanted to dance, sing and feel something big.
10 Comments
So glad that worked out for you! If you don’t ask and all…
You make things happen and I love and admire that.
I remember reading ‘Howard’s End’ by E.M Forster as a teenager. At the beginning he writes ‘only connect’. That motto has resonated with me throughout my life. I love how the Internet and the blogs I love and instagram has enabled me to connect with and my life be enriched by the people I have connected with. I don’t remember reading any of your more political posts, I’m in the UK but obviously follow what is going on in the US after all it affects us all! but I think I can imagine what is important to you. I think people who come to your blog like and respect you very much. And at the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself and you are…
Hope little one enjoyed her day. Looking forward to hearing about it xxx Sarah
That last picture… OH.MY.WORD.
So glad you made it to the concert.
“I am certainly able to disagree with a person’s yard sign and still want to hear what they have to say.”
YES. This is how I wish everyone felt.
Happy October!
Oh Nici…I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again….or maybe you said it? anyways, we’re cut from the same cloth. I could feel the excitement bubbling in this post, the way that life is just clicking for you right now, and yes. it’s a give and take. you throw it out there, you catch it. and you never know where you’re energy is going to land, or where your next bout of enthusiasm and inspiration will originate from. I love it. I understand….I promise. (Also about the blogging/politics/offending some/gotta stick to your beleifs thing….a conversation we’ll have in person some time.) anyway, I’m resonating with you, girl. you threw it out in this post, and i caught it.
xoxo
melina
Love it all. Loved the tickets pic 🙂
I just want to say thank you for being willing to discuss things that are important to you. I am definitely in the same boat as far as feeling slightly uncomfortable with it and not wanting to offend, but it’s so important that we do.
A few weekends ago my town had its very first gay pride parade. I made the decision to take my 4 and 2 year old daughters. Some people didn’t agree with that, but it’s very important to me that they learn that ALL love is precious and deserves to be celebrated. (Granted, they were more excited about the face painting and popsicles than anything else, but a good time was had!)
I am definitely catching what you’re throwing out there right now. Thank you.
xoxo
Lisa
when I read about that concert a while back I wondered if you were going to go, or if you’d want to (as if I know you, I had a feeling you would 🙂 )…so awesome!!
Awesome, so glad you got to go…
Taking our girl to see Pres. Obama on Thursday and cannot wait. She is the perfect age to soak up that energy. Always enjoy your words…
I am pea green with envy over the Pearl Jam tickets!
And I love Jon Tester. I’ve met him a few times, and he’s a FANTASTIC person, on top of the great work he’s done as a United States Senator. My husband is worried that I’m leaving him for a 7-fingered farmer from Big Sandy, MT 🙂
Awe, that naked bum on the swing is to die for! I so love this story, how it all worked out, and mostly I just love your energy and love for life.
I knew you would get tickets, that’s so bloody awesome! I was super jealous (in a good way) when my brother and sister-in-law got free Mumford and Sons tickets in Portland, ME. Sadly, I’ve really been to one concert years ago… Goo Goo Dolls opened for Bon Jovi (I was more excited for Goo!) xx