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This past weekend is on my list of "The Best Weekends of My Life!".
The Bob Dylan concert at Deer Valley has been a highly anticipated event from the moment I purchased the tickets.
Here is how the story began....
My grandma went away on a cruise with my aunt a couple of years ago and I was asked to check on the house. On one of these visits I decided to straighten up the house so when they came back it would be a good welcome home. As I was straightening up, I went room to room and turned on the music as I went. My grandma has a stereo in just about each room. In each tape player there was a tape. Each tape was a recording of Bob Dylan's music. I knew who Bob Dylan was by name but I didn't really listen to his music or know much about him. I thought, "Who is this guy? She must really love his music". I made a small mental note.
A few months or so later, my grandma was sick for a short time. I must have thought she was immortal because until that moment I did not understand the true depth of how much she meant to me. My grandma recovered wonderfully, but I didn't forget the reality of her mortality.
Early July of this year I received a phone call from my sister. She had called to inform me that Bob Dylan was coming to Utah on August 31st and she wanted to go. I proceeded to say "Shut up?! Are you serious?! Dont lie to me?!" Her response was, "Dont make fun of me, I really want to go?! I love Bob Dylan!". I explained to her that I was not joking and that this would be a great opportunity for me to give something back to my grandma and take her to this concert.
I purchased the tickets two weeks later and called my grandma and told her I had a surprise for her. She said she liked surprises. I said, "We are going to see Bob Dylan in concert!". She was so surprised and excited. She said she couldnt believe it. She said she couldnt wait to tell all of her friends. This was just the beginning of the anticipation. I didn't realize at the time that it would not only be my grandma anticipating the event, but that I would also be counting down the days leading to the concert. It was just like being a child again and counting down the days preceeding Christmas!
*THE DAY BEFORE THE CONCERT: Arrive at Silver Queen Hotel located in Park City on the infamous Main Street. Surprise number one, The Ford Mustang Car Show on Main Street. Surprise number two, our hotel room overlooks Main Street! Surprise number three, chocolate covered strawberries in our amazing full kitchen. Surprise number four, a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers to welcome us to our two day home away from home.
*THE DAY OF THE CONCERT: Surprise number five, the Park City Arts and Crafts Fair. Plenty of shopping for any type of budget! Bonus!
*ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE CONCERT: Signs of rain. Serious signs. Rain ponchos purchased. Anticipation is at an all time high. We enter the gates and find our spot which is as close to Bob Dylan as Security will allow anyone to get! Let the excitement begin! The heavens crack with thunder! The rain begins to pour! The crowd welcomes these wonderous signs of nature with a positive roar of applause in return! The energy is amazing! We were all here because we wanted to be! (Sidenote: The concert tickets did read, "LIVE ON STAGE BOB DYLAN & HIS BAND" "RAIN OR SHINE".)
*THE BIG MOMENT ARRIVES!The man of the hour walks casually onto the stage! The crowd goes wild with applause! How is Bob Dylan standing? Does it matter? Yes, it matters! If we had been standing anywhere else we would have seen the side of his body or his backside! He was facing us! You could see his face! Thank you Lord! The concert had begun! Dylan and His Band played this concert with energy and soul. Each time we were drenched with rain the crowd boomed with welcoming applause. It was an awesome feeling to be so engergized and excited in such inclement weather. I leaned over at one point and asked my grandma how she was doing. She said with a smile and a some laughter, "I never imagined I would be at a Bob Dylan Concert. Now I can die happy!"
There isnt anything I could do or say that would give back to my grandma the way she has given to me. And now she has given me one of the best weekends of my life.
I Love You Grams!
(If you would like to read the Salt Lake Tribune article about the concert click on the title of today's blog post above the photo.)
