awesome mom

So, I snagged three half price tickets from Groupon when I saw, right here in Charlotte, this very weekend, was a Beatles Tribute Band at the Charlotte Fillmore. I had no idea what the Charlotte Fillmore was, but I knew that a Beatles Tribute would be a total joy to my dear child. I excitedly told her and my husband that Saturday night, courtesy of the Awesome Mom, we would be attending a Beatles Tribute at the Fillmore. They were ecstatic. I had gained MAJOR brownie points.
Then I read the fine print.
9 pm was the starting time.
Just so you know, normally at 9 pm, I am in my jammies, with my mouth guard in place, contacts securely stored, and ear plugs and eye mask snapped on. I had a very strong conviction this would not fly at the Charlotte Fillmore.
I printed the tickets on the eve of the great event. Then I read the finer print.
What?
Standing room only? Surely it does not mean standing room only as in no sitting down?
What is this crap?
I called the Fillmore.
"There is a mistake. My ticket from Groupon for the concert tonight says 'Standing Room Only.' hahahahah. I am 56 years old. There WILL be assigned seating, correct?"
"No ma'am...there are no seats in the Fillmore. It is a standing only concert."
"I see. For how long will the dead Beatles be singing while we stand?"
"About 3 1/2 hours."
"Hahahaha. Is the Fillmore a comedy club?"
"No ma'am, I am dead serious."
"And I will be dead after 3 1/2 hours of standing from 9 pm to past midnight. Do you know the median age of people likely to be attending a tribute band to the Beatles?"
"No ma'am, I cannot say as I do."
"Sonny, if you make the median age people likely to attend a tribute band to the Beatles stand for 3 1/2 hours, you will have many ambulance interruptions ."
"I don't know what to tell you ma'am."
"Don't bother telling me anything. I can't hear you anyway with my hearing aid turned off."
So off we went past my bedtime to a concert that was slated to go far into my normal REM cycle sleep time. And I was to be standing the entire time. It will be an adventure, I told myself. I drank several cups of green tea, which although good for you, is loaded with caffeine which I understand can hold off the worse effects of alzheimers and keep you awake so you can be conscious of all you are forgetting.

It was wonderful. The Beatles looked better than dead, and sounded remarkably Beatle-esque. The Eagles Tribute band, who are what most folks had come to see resurrected were also good, though we were there for the Beatles. My feet hurt and my joints ached, but as far as I can remember, I remained upright and even swayed a little in beat with the music. Somewhere close to 1 a.m. we staggered out of there. I don't remember much of the drive home or of my husband carrying me inside and carefully placing me on my side of the bed. I may have been unconscious. I think I recall Asherel smiling. I do remember a small being with wings sitting on my shoulder and whispering, "Close your eyes now. You are an awesome mom." And I remember being very grateful that from what I understand, Heaven is not standing room only.

Genesis 28:16 (NIV)
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

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