Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Trapped in the Body of a Volvo-Driving Suburban Mom

I'd like to think that I'm slightly cooler than the average suburban mom. I do NOT wear embroidered kitty shirts (no offense if you do--it's just not my style) or "mom jeans" and my friends have my permission to perform a fashion intervention if I ever do. Nor do I wear too- tight low-riders or belly-baring tank tops from the junior department like some pathetic, middle-aged former stripper. I believe that I have maintained some sense of contemporary style. I am definitely NOT stuck in the 80s or 90s. (Some would argue that my musical taste is a little stale, but they would be WRONG.) I may be kidding myself or believing blatant flattery, but usually people are pretty surprised that I'm 44. I'm actually pretty surprised, too. It seems like just yesterday that I was a teenager who couldn't imagine growing old and had never heard of Multiple Sclerosis.

Going to see live concerts, particularly of my favorite band, Counting Crows, acts as a time machine. I become a 16-year old girl. Not the one that I actually was at 16. This girl is very, very happy, present, and comfortable in her own skin. She is definitely NOT worried about being cool. She dances to the beat of her own drum, she sings at the top of her lungs even though she can't sing, and she is VERY, VERY impressed by musical talent. (Maybe because she has none...?) She would gladly trade her most prized possessions for the chance to be the girl pulled on stage to be seated on a stool and serenaded by the lead singer. (Think Courtney Cox in the 80s Bruce Springsteen video on MTV.) Last Saturday night was MY night. Counting Crows played the Tweeter/Comcast Center outside Boston with Sara Bareilles and Maroon 5. I rested up all morning so I would have enough energy to really enjoy myself.

I went to the concert with Bald Hot Ken's 19-year-old daughter Alli. She was the perfect chaperon for me. She drove, had an awesome digital camera, wasn't afraid of PortaPotties, liked being down front, and completely understood when I told her that both lead singers (Adam Duritz and Adam Levine) were on my list of famous people I was allowed to sleep with if I ever got the chance. (Although I could have done without her passing that nugget along to Ken.)

We had a blast. We paid way too much money for what were, in effect, 3rd row seats (although I made friends with the woman sitting in front of me so I could move to her 2nd row seat during the Counting Crows); I talked back to a security guard who wouldn't let me stand in front of the stage; I bought my 29th, overpriced Counting Crows T-shirt; and spent an hour, waiting in line to drive out of the parking lot, talking about people in other cars and sharing dirt about all kinds of stuff.

2 comments:

  1. I loved reading this. You are such a rock star.

    Pete

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  2. wow...that sounds like so much fun! the last concert i went to was when i was pregnant with my first child who is now 13. i went to see the spin doctors. yep...i feel old. why i remember when MTV played music!

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