Living in the 1950’s
Last night, we found ourselves just down the street in a little town hall listening to a couple of local singers and songwriters. I saw that it was happening real close to home and immediately bought tickets despite it being later than the kids' bedtime. We tend to stick pretty close to their bedtime routine but as they get older, we are a bit more flexible. We assess our threshold for handling meltdowns, dysreulation, etc and make our decision. We used to make our decision off of peer pressure and influence by friends and family around us. But if you are a parent, you know that the only person(s) who suffer from the kids staying up late is you (and your kids). So we no longer make this decision based on the influence of others. Anyways, getting back on track...
I heard there would be live music just down the street and I was so hype. I envisioned a loud crowd inside the building and outside the open doors listening to music, as you would at a festival or a cocktail hour.
We were asked to bring a side dish of sorts so I went to the local market and bought cheese and crackers and salami. I used to beat myself up for not putting more thought into a dish, but I reminded myself that this experience was about the actual event itself and getting to be in community with others versus having the prettiest dish.
We arrived about 10 minutes after the music started and what I saw when I walked up was like nothing I have experienced in a very long time. The town hall was dimly lit with beautiful fixtures, wildflowers galore and a stage with a beautiful brick backdrop. Everyone was seated either at a table or bench or in a random chair. All eyes were on the musicians and the only noise you heard was the music being played. I immediately found a little corner in the back of the hall and sat with Alex and the kids. I sat in front of Alex with one kid on my lap munching on popcorn from the local market and Alex had the other in his lap. I turned around and said "now, this is my kind of heaven" and he responded with "I know it is" with a big smile.
I can't describe the feeling, but its like everything I have been craving for so long was in one room. Everyone imbibing on the emotion and feels that music can create inside of their soul. Tears were shed. Laughter was heard. Even though the mingling was kept to a minimum while the music was played, we were all together in one space, experiencing the same thing. I felt so connected to those around me. Everyone there was enjoying the show as much as I was.
At one point, I followed the kids outside so they could join the other little ones as they wrote with sidewalk chalk on the big concrete slab that stood in front of the entrance to the hall. My kids had brought bubbles to play with so the kids blew bubbles, wrote with chalk and ran and played in the grass surrounding the town hall. I heard an older gentleman ask someone near me who the new people were that moved in down the street. The man he asked made eye contact with me and pointed my way. I had overhead the conversation and jumped in to introduce myself. He was overjoyed to welcome me to the area and said "don't you just feel like you're living in the 1950's?" And it hit me. For the past 2 years, I have told Alex that I feel as though I belong in the 1950's. A time without all sorts of technology. A time where people had to meet in person to connect and interact. A time when you went next door to borrow sugar from your neighbor because the local market wasn't open on a Sunday. This is what I have been craving and I felt my entire body light up at this gathering last night.
I met another gentleman who lived nearby and had also moved here a while ago from Northern Virginia (where we came from). He asked "are you kissing the ground yet?" I said yes, many times over. I wake up and pinch myself. Everyday.
Alex left the show about halfway through to bring the kids home and put them to bed while I stayed and soaked up the entire experience. I sat on the floor (in my shin box position-switching sides occasionally of course) and just felt all of the emotions coming out of the beautiful songs sung. Music has always been quite therapeutic for me. I can feel music on a really deep level. I feel that by watching a singer/songwriter perform, you get this glimpse into their soul. It lights me up.
As the music wrapped up, I grabbed my belongings and walked out and ran into the same gentleman that had been so curious to know who the new kids on the block were. He walked over, bent down and said "and now you know why you're here". Yes, sir. Yes I do.
A simple life is my kind of life.
Because I absolutely loved all of the music played, I am going to list the artists who appeared last night. I am a sucker for new music (even new genres of music) so I will share :)
Spectator Bird
Heather Hannah
Sophia Rehak
Ebony Nicole
