The waiting is the hardest part...

So the old adage goes "The waiting is the hardest part".. Heck- Tom Petty even made a song about it.  And honestly,  it could be the theme song to my life.  So anyone who knows me well, knows that I am the most impatient person in the world.  I hate waiting.  Long grocery store line?  Hate it.  If I get stuck in traffic - I get antsy.  I'm not even sure if antsy appropriately describes my emotions.  If I had a nervous tick, it would most surely be set off from having to wait.  

So it is unusual that I buy general admission tickets for most concerts and spend HOURS in line to secure my spot in front of the stage.  Front row.  In the crotch.  I really have a hard time being anywhere else.  I'm lucky that Jay (my wonderful boyfriend) is willing to do the same.  We once spent 12 hours in line to get front row for a U2 show.  Yes...12 hours.  I think I developed an ulcer over that affair.

So over the past few months, Jay and I have attend several concerts.  Probably the band we have been to see the most is Blackberry Smoke. I think we would both classify them as one of our all time 3 favorite bands. And ohhhh the time we have spent waiting.  Waiting as we drove to a destination in car.  Waiting in the parking lot.  Waiting in line.  Waiting....  But something happened during the waiting - something sparked.  Something that happens fewer and fewer times as you age. Friendships were formed as we all waited.  Friendships with people whose lives may have never crossed had it not been for the waiting.  The aborigines believed that there are songlines that one can follow across the land or sky.   Languages are not a barrier because the melodic contour of the song describes the nature of the land over which the song passes. And there we were - our songlines crossing other songlines.  Each of us walking our path in life and we found a common denominator. It didn't matter our age, background, appearance, etc.  We were brothers and sister in music.  Our common language IS the music. 

About a year ago I met two girls who had read my blog.  Little did we know, but we had been at many of the same BBS shows.  Because of the love of the same music we developed a friendship. Lisa called me one day to let me know she had a spare ticket to the October ZBB show and it was mine if I wanted it. Vicki and her husband invited Jay and I to stay in their home for the Charlotte BBS show and we in turn invited them to stay at my house in April.  Brothers and sisters in music.  A family takes care of each other. In December when a small herd of buffalo tried to move Vicki out of her front row spot, the family came to her defense.   And it was with a great deal of excitement this past December that we all went to the Orange Peel Show together.  We planned for weeks about where to stay, where to meet.  A small group of us met for dinner at a pizza place across from the Orange Peel.   As people came in with their concert attire we excitedly motioned for them to come over and sit with us.  Everyone for the most part, meeting for the first time.    Our group grew larger that night.  And finally last night, in Greensboro  Jay and I had the opportunity to help two new friends (Sallie and Jamie) and one old friend (Jen) to attend the meet and greet prior to the show. And now...they are a part of our family.

After the shows, we all gather at the meet and greet and excitedly talk about our favorite moments of the evening.  And then  come the goodbyes and hugs.  We  all go off to continue to follow our own songlines.  And then more waiting...waiting for the next show...waiting to see our brothers and sisters again.    These magical moments that we share linger in our memory like honey on our tongues....they are sweet moments..funny moments...exciting moments....OUR moments.  And they are worth the wait.


This has led me to ponder how the boys in Blackberry Smoke must feel. They each have spent a good portion of their lives waiting...waiting for the next show.  Waiting to see their families.  Waiting for their music to be recognized and appreciated on a bigger scale.   And now their songlines have led each of them to this place in life - the sweet place of success.   But even more than that - the satisfaction of knowing that their music is bringing people together, forging friendships, changing lives...something that will go on even after the last notes fade... So maybe in the end,  it is all worth the wait....


~shannon


I guess the title of this entry is appropriate since it has been MANY months since my last entry.  I know all 17 (thank you Vicki and Lisa!)of my blog followers have been waiting with bated breath to see what I would write next... I promise not to go this long without writing again...