A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went to a Van Halen concert. When I met my husband, Van Halen was one of his favorite bands. So when I saw they were coming to our area, I bought tickets for our 26th w
edding anniversary.
It’s been over fifteen years since I’ve been to a rock concert. The last one I went to with a friend was full of teenagers and young adults smashed together for several hours trying to get as close to the stage as possible. This concert was very different. Why you might ask? Because the majority of the attendees were middle aged men and women who periodically sat down in their assigned seats to give their backs a break from standing.
Yes, we’ve arrived….we’re old. (In another twenty years we will look back and think how young we were!) As I looked around the pavilion before the concert, I saw a lot a people who looked like me; grey hair, wrinkles, and a little extra weight.
But then the concert started. Something incredible happened. As the music started, I was instantly taken back in time. I was once again that 17 year old girl in my boyfriend’s (now husband) yellow Datsun. I was sitting in the passenger seat as he drove on the back roads of the small city where we lived. And like then, we were now singing along like rock stars.
I looked around and saw that the others had been taken back in time as well. It was fabulous to watch! We were all on our feet, moving our hips, and belting out the lyrics just like we used to. My kids would have been embarrassed by all the butt shaking going on by ‘old people’ which made it even more enjoyable. I could see the smiles on peoples faces as they were not only enjoying the music, but remembering what it was like when they first listened to each song.
That’s the amazing thing about music. It can take you back in time and bring back memories that were almost forgotten. It can elicit emotions long ago packed away. It can cause your body to move in ways you were certain it couldn’t anymore. And it can bring a joy and fun that responsibilities stifle.
It was wonderful being seventeen again with my husband.
I think maybe it’s time to find some of those old CDs…
