#1
is 25 years old, and is an amazingly beautiful young lady, and also
very thoughtful. Apparently her and #2 (who is 23) wanted to throw
me a surprise 50th Birthday Party, but I ruined it when I
decided to scroll through my husband's text messages and saw the text
about this “surprise party”. I don't care how old I am, I am not
the type to like big to-do's about me. I like to spend my birthday's
and special days with my family – quietly, with everyone getting
along, dancing to old jazz and blues music, Frank Sinatra, and just
having fun with each others company.
#1
kept saying “But Mommmmm it's your 50th Birthday!”
and I kept insisting it was okay. None of us are in a position to be
doing much of anything. However, in my birthday card was a note
that said she and her “to be” were taking me and my hubby to the
Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. ( http://www.iheg.com/index.asp)
to see “Johnny A.” (http://www.johnnya.com/)
who's like a jazzy, blues kinda guitar player. It was so thoughtful
of her. She wanted to find something both hubby and I could enjoy,
and she succeeded!
I
could never have imagined it would be so much fun on so many
different levels. Having ADHD helps with that! Or should I say ADOS
(Attention Deficit Ohhhhh Shiny). Part of my personality gets
nervous going new places. It always has, but I've learned to push
through that part, but it's always there, laying in waiting. I made
sure I rested well during the day so I had enough energy to get
through the evening. As I started getting ready, I realized how much
fun it is to get gussied up. I don't do that much any more (which is
fine, I like the artsy, low key look now), but I realized it is fun
to do once in a while. I carefully primped my hair, put on make up,
a nice pair of jeans with a blouse, high heeled boots, and of course,
my “hooker earrings”. Back in the day, I loved to wear long,
jingly earrings, and one of my bosses (before sexual harassment
policies) would say “Oh Anne, I see you're wearing your hooker
earrings today”. I cracked up every time, no offense was taken,
and now when I wear those long, dangely earrings I fondly think of
Brian.
As
you can imagine with 5 kids and two grand kids, things rarely go
smoothly, and tonight was no exception. After a few complaints on us
not being available for car rides, helping people find things, we
finally got to #1's home. She was all gussied up too, and looked
incredible. Our #5 was babysitting grandson (1A), shall we call
him?? And then we were off.
Northampton,
Massachusetts, is a very artistic town, with artists, musicians, an
eclectic mix of restaurants and cafe's. The main street is filled
with traffic and pedestrians; a very lively town, to say the least.
Of course parking was an issue, but we found a spot just off of Main
Street, and walking, along with the rest of the town felt good. It
was a little chilly, but I felt so alive! Down another little side
street, and there we were outside the Iron Horse. Poster's covered
the window, the entry where you turn in your tickets was small, but
then the whole place opened up, if you could call it that....it was
wall to wall tables, booths along the walls, and a stair case heading
up, led you to the balcony area which was also filled with tables and
booths. The place was packed! And loud with everyone speaking, the
waitresses seemed to float through the maze of tables and people as
they balanced trays of drinks and food.
Of
course, one of the first things I start to do is check out the
architecture in the building. Tin Ceilings, old wood beams and pipes
showing, wood floors with a lot of character in them, if you know
what I mean. None of the tables and chairs matched. Then my second
favorite thing to do – people watch. There was the woman wearing a
turquoise outfit who danced as she walked down to the bathroom,
obviously having a great time and feeling the music; there was the
man wearing a black leather cowboy type hat. Each person was unique
to themselves, and yet, there was an energy of unity.
While
my husband and son in-law to be were tapping their fingers on the
table and their legs to the music, I was busy noticing so many little
details, like how fast Johnny's fingers moved on the guitar, and the
bass player, holy mackerel, his fingers were so long, and the drummer
was in a world of his own, totally engrossed in his drumming, yet
they all connected as they played. It really is amazing to see
talent like that. The whole experience brought me back to my 20's.
The music was LOUD. It was a combination of jazz, blues, and rock,
and it just took you away to a peaceful, free space in time. As we
were saying good bye to #1 outside, the drummer asked us to keep an
eye on his van as he went in and out loading equipment, people talked
about the show and what they were doing afterwards (I was going home
to BED), and when he was done, he talked with us, for a while; it was
so cool. I haven't felt like this in a long time; I think I/we need
to get out more often! Of course my legs were tingling, my limbs
were limp, and I was totally exhausted (thank you fibromyalgia!), but
ironically, I felt alive. Unfortunately, I ended up skipping church
and Sunday school, my body really needed rest. Was it worth it?
Hell Yeah! AND I picked out where I want to sit the next time we go...Great view for performers and people.
