Last night, for the first time, I went to the Basilica Block Party.  I've belonged to the parish for years and my brothers and sisters and many friends are die-hard Block partiers (Andy and Vi started dating after running into each other at the block party) and for the last few years my older kids have gone. 

But, as much as I love music and want to support my church, hot, drunken, sweaty crowds are just not my bag.  Although, Jay and I had a blast at the Heart and Souls concert in the warehouse district a few years ago.  We went down to see Delbert McClinton and we were the only people there who weren't wearing leather and hadn't shown up on a Harley.  Plus, at the Heart and Souls concert, we could buy cups of Jack Daniels, not just plastic bottles of beer.  So, really not the same thing at all.

All I know about popular music anymore is what my kids (and my brother Bill) give me.  Last fall, Ty gave me a Mike Doughty cd.  I love it.  He and I went with Mary Jeanne and Kent to see M.Doughty when he played at First Ave last winter.  The youngsters thought it was sad that I'd never been to First Ave. 

Sigh.

I had moved to North Dakota long before anyone ever heard of Prince or First Ave, but I had also seen the Boomtown Rats live at the Orpheum.  I had body slammed to the Phones at Duffs and I saw the Kings perform Switchin' to Glide from about four feet off the stage.  I was there when mohawks and pierced lips were edgy. Silly kids.

First Ave was a blast. So, when Ty told me Doughty was playing at the Block Party, and that he, Katie and Zack were all going, I had to consider it.

Here's a great tip for the parents of teens and young adults: When your kids invite you to party with them, say yes.

So I went to the Block Party.

I drove down with Zack, Katie and some of her friends.  We immediately got separated but it was no problem as we all had cell phones.  Zack and I wandered all around checking out the crowds and the stages.  Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door and the place had sold out .  We snaked through the enormous crowd, saw the booths selling food and drinks and t-shirts and had the same thought; Fr. Mike (O'Connell) is a genius.

With the help of the cell phones, we were able to find Katie and Jesse, Tyler and his date and a few more friends.  We decided to ignore The Fray and Guster, both playing on the large stage and consentrate on getting choice positions for Doughty.  He's the only act I cared about.  It was worth it.  By the time his band took the stage, Ty, Zack and I were six feet from the edge, center stage.

I wasn't the only one over forty in the crowd, but I was the only one over 30 right up front.  You know what?  Nobody cares.  Nobody looks at anyone else in a crowd like that.  You can dance your ass off, sing at the top of your lungs and jump up and down like a fiend, everyone else is doing the same thing and no one's looking.  Lunatics Anonymous.  That's where I belong, sure I'll be rocking til my strength is gone....

Sorry.

We sang and danced, wildly, for an hour and a half.  Although it was hot, there was a lovely breeze blowing that kept things comfortable.  I knew I'd be sore in the morning, but it had been too long since I danced the night away under the stars.  I think it was Zack's first concert.  Dang, it was fun.

I expected my legs to ache this morning, but why in the world did my chest and wrists hurt?  These are the aches and pains of parenting no one warns you about. 

I wish it were all this easy. Oh, talk about easy; when I got home last night it was to discover that Josie had cleaned the back hallway and mopped the floor.  On her own.  Just for fun.  She did a fine job, too.

I walked around the Lake with my sister this morning to iron out the kinks.  Now I feel pretty good.

Time to go out to Mom's; some cousins from out of town flew in today.

 

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