Hey, Babe.
Feeling blue, another reminder of one of the many reasons I will always miss you.
Davey Jones passed away today at age 66. Seems so young. I remember walking through the cafeteria one day about ten years ago and the Monkees song "I'm a Believer" was playing so I started singing and rocking out and all of the first and second graders looked at me in awe. One of them said "Mrs. Tidwell, do you like Smashmouth?" "What?" (It was on the Shrek movie soundtrack performed by Smashmouth. I sadly had to admit that I knew it from a group from the 60's...)
Davy Jones Tribute
On July 27, 2009, you and I were running errands and an announcement on the radio said they were giving away tickets to Raley Field that night to see the Hullabaloo concert. I cried that I had forgotten that I wanted to get tickets and was upset. You said we should go win them. So you waited with me to try to win tickets at the furniture store, in what was your least favorite thing in the Sacramento, the dreaded heat. But there you were, sitting on a concrete curb. After an hour, others had won and I was ready to pack it in and leave, but you insisted we stay because you knew I really wanted to go.
And voila, I won two tickets and, double voila, you won two as well. We couldn't get in touch with anyone as we had to head straight to the concert. We were standing in line at Raley Field, trying to figure out who to give the second set of tickets to before the show started. You were watching people at the ticket window and saw two women, about my age, walking up, heads together in a serious conversation that went something like this, "No, I insist. I wanted to do this for you!" "But we can't really afford this." "Of course we can, just no drinks or treats but the music will be enough. It's Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees and Mark Lindsey from Paul Revere and the Raiders and, (slight squeal), Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits. All our favorites!" "So, let's get those tickets now!" We pulled them aside and explained that we had won an extra set and would like them to have them. They actually teared up and one of the ladies said it was the other's birthday...Of course it was.
Which brought me all the way back around to another concert you did not want to attend but you did so because you knew how much I wanted to go. In fact, I waited in line at Tower Records just to get a wristband to get in the line where maybe I would be drawn to get tickets for one of the two, changed to three shows. And, as luck would have it, I did. So I bought four tickets and we invited Dad and Pam. At the very last minute, they couldn't fly in, so there we were in the parking lot at Arco Arena, walking along discussing what to do with the two extra tickets. A young man was walking by us and his head almost snapped off of his shoulders as he swung around and said "What, you have a ticket?" I said I had two. "I'll give you $200.00 apiece for them! I promised my girlfriend I would get tickets but.. but.. but..." He looked about ready to cry or throw up. We said we couldn't take his money and he interrupted with "But that's all I have. I can send you more or give you a check or..." Again, we said we couldn't take his money but he could have them. He just stopped, stared at you, then at me, shook his head and said "Whaa..what, really...?"
So we gave him the tickets, amid hugs and thank yous and "Man, she is gonna be so thrilled."
When they showed up in the seats next to us, you whispered "Oh, they are so adorable. I'm glad they got the seats!" He insisted on buying you a t-shirt and you didn't have the heart to tell him you really didn't care for the big star about to hit the stage.
But he bought us drinks and cotton candy and you had as much fun watching them as I did watching my Garth Brooks that night.
Thank you for being so accommodating. I know it was the most painful time in our lives, following the attack and the arrest of the animals who hurt you for life, and G'ma passing, but you still did it for me. So, yes, sweet girl, I know you loved me. ("Country music? For crying out loud, Mama!!")
No comments:
Post a Comment