My great friend Jo surprised me with a ticket and hotel room for the July 24th show.  Perfect, because the summer theatre festival I played a part in was due to end the 23rd.  Whew!  That was nearly a conflict.  I couldn't wait to pack a bag and head west to the mid-state fair.

Then the shit hit the fan because I really do need new tires.  As a high school teacher who gets paid ten months out of twelve, it's too bloody expensive to replace tires when I'm trying to cover the mortgage.  I drove my car all over the mountain to friends' houses to get their opinions on the tires.  Just before I left for my closing performance, the lovely Rosalie offered me her car to drive.

In the morning I pointed that Subaru toward the beach and fist-pumped out the window shouting "Woooooooo!"  It's okay, I live in a national forest. No one was disturbed.  I kept thinking it took a village to get me to a concert only 150 miles away.  Sort of embarassing at my age, but I love Counting Crows just that much.

Jo scored seats near the center of the fourth row.  I could see their eyes; watch fingers dance on the accordion and coax the rumble from the stand-up bass.  My body reverberated with the familar melodies as I tried not to sing so loud it disturbed my neighbors.

The smells of sweet and salty food surrounded us.  The people who sat down through the entire show confused us.  The sound was so clean and balanced--which makes me think of their other shows that were outdoors.  I've seen them in both venues....but I digress.

Jo and I returned to the Marriott on the shuttle--a funky old school bus.  Marriott has wonderful beds with buttersoft linens and squishy feather pillows.  We talked about how a show always goes so fast.  I really, really try to hold on to those moments as they pass; but dammit, they always do.