Last weekend I had the chance to go see an old friend. Of course we don't know each other personally but we have spent alot of time together over the years. Since middle school Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have provided the basic theme music of my entire life. He's been there when my heart was broken by that cute boy, when I first got to drive the family car all by myself, through marriage, divorce, good times, bad times. He's seen it all with me.
So when the chance came up to see him live at The Gorge in Eastern WA I went for it. I'm not a big concert goer. Large crowds tend to make me twitchy. I like shows that can fit in a local bar or park. It's been well over a decade since I took in a "big" show. But I've never seen Tom and the guys live so I figured it's now or never.
The morning of the big day my girlfriend showed up with the car loaded with everything we would need for the weekend. Booze, sleeping bags and sunscreen. I felt twenty again. Picking up a couple of other gals we hit the road. Can anyone say "road trip"? It's funny how as you get older you fall into these routines in your life that make you forget the spontenaity of youth. It felt good to just let go and see what happens. Granted you won't often hear me say that. I'm all about schedules and planning. It's what I do for a living and how I live my life. Just "going with it" is really not in my vocabulary. When did I get so rigid? So old?
Probably about the time I turned my back on Tom and the guys and got serious about life. For years I was busy raising a family, going to school, working. Sometimes along the way you forget about what's important to yourself. You lose that sense of going with the flow. I went for years without buying a single cd, making art or just doing something for myself. Tom and his bandmates gathered dust in a cardboard box that held all the vestiges of my youth.
Around the time I approached 40 I began to realize that I had spent the last two decades taking care of everyone except myself. I didn't know who I was anymore. I couldn't even begin to tell you what I liked or what I wanted to do with my life.
How did that happen? When did that happen?
Where was the music and the poetry of life, the beauty that I so loved?
I think we all get there at some time in our life. Women especially because we are so hardwired to put others before us and give all we have to them. We nurture everyone except ourselves.
So slowly I began to do things that I had always thought about doing. I started by turning the radio back on. A Tom Petty cd was purchased. His greatest hits. The theme music was back in my life. The song of my life began to rewrite itself.
Sure I'd love to give him the entire credit for turning my life around ( A Lifetime movie is in the works) but it was a group effort.
He just played a part.
As I sat in the crowd of 25,000 plus last Saturday night watching the stars, grooving to the musics and getting stoned off second hand pot smoke I thought, this is what it's all about. Just doing and being. Living your life. One day I will be gone. The music will live on and echo for all eternity. But my life is here and now. Live it. My old friend has often reminded me of that very thought. I feel like a paid tribute that night to our friendship of these many years. I came away with a $40 t-shirt and memories to last a life time.
Everything is about following a dream. No matter how large or small. Thanks Tom and Heartbreakers for reminding me. We've grown older together. Been through a lot of changes. I raise my glass (joint) to many more.
Thanks guys.
