DECEMBER 26, 2012

Vegas - Sunday

Okay - again, many apologies for the delay in these posts.  It's been a busy holiday, and I just haven't been in the mood to spend time on my laptop.  But, I'm making an effort, for you.

You're welcome.  :)

This is a picture that I found from Saturday, but that deserves to be shared.


This is the group of fabulous people we had dinner with on Saturday night.  Great, great group of people.  So glad that they allowed me/us to be included in their dinner!

Okay - Sunday.

When Gina and I woke up on Sunday, we figured out how we were going to get to the concert that night (thank you, inexpensive rental car companies), and then made plans for the day.  After some debate, we decided to head back to the convention center and Cowboy Christmas.

Best. Decision.

We ran into more adorable cowboys...

I don't remember their names, but they were super nice!  

We took an obligatory duck-face photo.  

This little guy....he was on the mechanical bull, and was a rodeo clown.  He was kind of bummed until they started the bull and taking pictures - once that happened, he was all smiles and giggles.  We stood there watching him and snapping pictures for a bit - he was hysterical!  

In conversations with Hope Saturday night, we knew that she was going to be busy all day Sunday.  Rodney had a bunch of appearances off-site (at different arenas), and she wasn't going to have time to socialize, which was a bummer.  We knew we'd see her that night and on Monday, so it wasn't a big deal.  

As we walked through the convention center and into areas we hadn't hit the day before, we saw a roping demonstration, a big rig being auctioned off for breast cancer awareness (I checked the organization, and it was one I support/promote, so it just endeared the NFR to me that much more), and lots of shopping.  We headed over to grab a drink, and I came across a sign.  I looked at it, double-checked, then asked Gina to take a look.

Rodney was there.  In about an hour.

My first thought was - he's going to think I'm a stalker.  Good Lord, he's going to put out a restraining order on me.

But, just before Rodney came out?  Charlie Daniels.  Charlie.  Freaking.  Daniels.  

Um, for that?  Yeah - I totally stood in line.  I played violin for 12 years, and Charlie was always like a god to me.  To be able to see him, meet him?  

I adore Rodney, and I know how amazing it is that I've been able to meet Rodney, but it's Charlie Daniels!!!!  Holy crap!!!

Well, as fate would have it, the line to see/meet Charlie ended up being cut off at the person in front of me.  *sigh*  So, I decided that I'd stay in line and wait until I had a clear line of sight, grab a picture, and that would be good enough.

As we were moving through the line, we started chatting with the ladies behind us.  They were super nice, and two of them ended up being cancer survivors.  As we got to know them, one of them asked if I really wanted to meet Charlie.  I said yes, but I was perfectly happy to get the opportunity to just snap a quick photo of him.  

She told me that wasn't good enough, and she'd take care of it.  Come to find out, she was friends with Charlie (because, really - who isn't? LOL!), and told him that I was a 2-time survivor that wanted to meet him.  "Well, bring her on up!" was his reaction.

*GASP*

The next few moments are still a blur....I had the chance to meet Charlie Daniels.  He is a legend, and just the sweetest man!  I am still star-struck.  Again, I love Rodney, and he's a star, so there's no offense meant to him, but it was Charlie Daniels!!!!  

He was as nice as could be.  He took compliments with a humble gratitude, and wished me well on my journey.  Said he'd say a prayer for me.  Yup - I was (am) a happy girl.  

In all honesty, we have no idea who this lady is that photo-bombed us.  It just makes the picture that much better, in my opinion.  Well played, lady.  Well played.

After that, I was going to head out.  It's not that I didn't want to see Rodney, and it's not that I didn't want to see Hope or anyone else.  But, I also didn't want to have him (them) think I was loony, or stalking him....but, there was some insistent persuasion taking place, so I stood in line to see him.  

Such a hard life I live.  

Throughout this whole trip, I kept getting signs that I was where I was supposed to be.  It was odd, but really, really cool.  The first one that hit me over the head (that I noticed, anyways) was while I was waiting in line for Rodney.  I started chatting with the gentleman in front of me in line.  He was a vendor, and asked where I was from.  When I said "We flew in from Phoenix", he said "Oh, I have a friend there."  

Now, in a city the size of Phoenix, Arizona (where there are something like 4 million people in the entire metro area), what are the chances of him and I knowing the same person?  Turns out, pretty good.  As in, the guy he knows is someone I've worked with on CCA events, and someone who lives about a mile and a half from me.  

Are you kidding me?  Needless to say, we texted this person and let him know.  So funny!  

After a bit longer, Rodney came out.  He saw us when he walked out and gave a little grin.  When we got up to see him, the first thing I said was "I swear, I didn't know you were going to be here today."  Come to find out, they didn't know either.  The gig had been moved last minute.   

*whew*

It was fun to see him again, although I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy.  We snapped a quick photo, I found out what cologne he was wearing the night before (because yes, I had to ask...), and off we went.  

My phone's version of this photo.

Gina's Instagram photo - much better.  :)

That half-grin?  Yeah.  Makes me smile every time.  I can't imagine he was "happy" about his crazy, hectic schedule, but in typical Rodney fashion, he made each and every person there feel welcome and at home, as if they were all his friends.  

Doug and I met here in Phoenix, then again on Saturday night (when he remembered who I was from the Phoenix show), and I saw him again on Sunday.  I *think* he's Rodney's tour manager.  I *know* he's a sweetheart who takes good care of Hope and Rodney.  That's enough for me.  

Best part of the day?  Seeing my Hope.  

(Okay - maybe second best part....Charlie may have been first.  Sorry, girl!)

While seeing Rodney is always fun, getting to meet some of the people that he works with is, to me, even more interesting.  On Sunday, at this m&g, I met one of the ladies from Massey-Ferguson/Hesston (they are the folks that brought Rodney to Vegas for the NFR).  

I don't remember her name, or her position with M-F/H, but I'll never forget the conversation.  We chatted for a while (most of his m&g), and I thanked her (on behalf of the fans) for bringing him to Vegas, and for making him available to us.  I told her a little bit about why it meant so much to me, and she shared some personal stories about her life journey.  By the end of the conversation, we were both in tears, and hugged before she, Rodney and their team headed off to the next gig.  

Connecting with people like that, and being able to thank her for giving me the chance to thank him, is really what I love about trips/events like this.  Yes, it's an honor to be able to meet him.  And it's truly, honestly my dream to have been able to thank him for his music.  But, connecting with people that work with him and letting them know that what they do has a positive impact is just amazing.  

Stupid shadow.  :)  We were heading out, and needed more pictures.

We went back to the hotel, got ready for the concert, and picked up the rental car.  The concert that night was held at Red Rock Casino, which is about 10-15 minutes from the strip.  It was more of a locals concert - it was called "Toys for Tickets" and was put on by the local CBS country music radio station, 95.5 KWNR.  The premise was that locals could drop an unwrapped toy off at a local nursery/greenhouse, and in exchange, you got a ticket to this concert.  Pretty cool!  Hope had worked with a friend to get us the tickets, which was awesome.  Thanks, Lisa!  (I think it was Lisa - if not, thanks to whomever got us the tickets!)

We got to the event just before they opened the line up for general admission, and we got right in, one person from the stage.  Cool!  We would be up-close and personal.  Again.  Sweet.

I'll spare you the details of the 600 (yes, 600) printed photos I looked at while waiting there.  A gentleman in front of me was very insistent that I look through them.  He has met a lot of people, let's just say that.  :)

While I was pretending to be interested in perusing the photos, I heard a conversation behind me.  Come to find out, the guy standing right behind us knows the radio DJ that I'm friends with here.  Such a small world....and yes, another sign.  

We had no idea who was at the concert.  After asking some questions, we found out that there were three acts.  The fourth, Jerrod Neimann, was unable to make it due to weather complications.  Gina was BUMMED!  The other acts were Kristy Lee Cook (from American Idol), Uncle Kracker, and Rodney.

I almost fainted.  I get to see Uncle Kracker and Rodney?  In the same concert.

I have gone to heaven.  I LOVE Uncle Kracker, and I've always wanted to see him in concert.  And, now I'm standing about 6 feet from him?

Oh.  Yes.

Kristy Lee came out on stage, and she was fabulous.  One of the local radio stations plays her song, Aiborne Ranger Infantry, and it's a sad, poignant song.  Just wonderful.  And, I'll tell you, she can sing the hell out of a song live.
  


I love seeing artists in concert, especially if they are truly talented.  I've been to concerts where I was wholly disappointed because the music wasn't what I expected.  Either their musicians/band weren't good, or they couldn't sing live (always heart-breaking), or they lack a rapport with the audience that makes their live show  boring and lifeless.

I am happy to report that none of the acts from Sunday's concert disappointed me.  At all.  Quite the contrary, to be honest.

Uncle Kracker came out on stage, and it was clear he had imbibed a few adult beverages.  That made the night fun!  He is a fabulous performer, and even in this acoustic setting, rocked the hell out of his songs.  He sang from his previous hits as well as some great songs from his new album, "Midnight Special," which I highly recommend if you're a country fan.  He was awesome, made great eye contact (with me....ha!), and just got everyone hyped up for Rodney.
  
  


I'll be honest.  I was fine, emotionally, all day, with the exception of the time I shared a few tears with the lady from Massey.  I didn't expect to be emotional at this concert.  I was very much looking forward to a good time, with some kick-ass music and a smile from Rodney.

Well, I'm a big dumbass who didn't take into account the fact that I was now seeing Rodney in concert for the third time in just over a month, that I had now accomplished something I never thought I would have happen.

Phil and Liam (Rodney's guitar players) came out on stage, and I started tearing up.  They both looked for Gina and me, and when they made eye-contact, I couldn't help but tear up.  They waved, smiled, let us know that they knew we were there.  I thought - ok.  Now, I'll be ok.



And, Rodney came out on stage.  Let the tears begin again.  I couldn't help it.  He found us, nodded, smiled, waved, blew a kiss.  *tears*  It was just so damn overwhelming.


Here I am, in Vegas.  In my version of remission.  At a concert that I didn't even know what taking place, brought there by the grace and generosity of others, waving to a man that I consider an inspiration, a hero, a vital piece of my fight....and he not only waved back.  He made sure I was ok.  He saw me crying, and made sure I was ok.


It. Was. Amazing.

When he was here in November, he had given me a guitar pick.  And, I (thought I) had lost it.  (Lo and behold, my girlfriend Lisa has it to make me a shadowbox....sneaky.)  Anyways, when I thought I lost it, I tweeted Rodney.  He said he'd get me another one.
  

So, second or third song in, he finishes playing, looks at his guitar pick, then looks at me.

Bring that bad boy over here, handsome.

Much to the chagrin of the folks around me, he walked over, grabbed my hand, kissed it, gave me the pick, and said "I love you."

*swoon*  Like,the  biggest swoon EVER!

The rest of the concert was a tear-lined blur.  I screamed.  I laughed.  I cried.  I smiled.  I cheered.  I wept some more.  The crying I was doing was cathartic, healing.  I still can't believe I was given the amazing chance to do what I've done.  It would hit me, as he would sing a song, that I was there.  It was like I was looking at what was happening from a distance, and in complete awe.

As he would sing certain lyrics, like "Giving this life everything we've got, and them some..." he'd look at me.

Does he, can he possibly, know what it means to me when he does that?  How much that inspires me?  And, what effect that has on me when I listen to the songs now, knowing that he gets me, in some small manner?

I don't know.  Who knows if I'll ever be able to tell him.  All I know is, he makes me a better fighter, a better person, a better survivor.  So, thanks.

Okay - back to the play-by-play.  At some point in the concert, the people who were directly in front of us got sick of Gina and I screaming and left, meaning we moved up to front row, center stage, just in front of Rodney.  (Shades of Daughtry, thank you very much...)

He got to the last song, and played the first couple of notes of "If You're Going through Hell."  At that moment, I lost it.  Completely.  And, he stopped, looked at me, and let me know it was going to be okay.  I composed myself, and we got back to business.

I adore this man.

As he sang, I sang and screamed and smiled as big as my face would allow.  I couldn't help it.  This was MY song, and I was hearing him perform it again.  ACK!

And, guess who got to sing with him again?  Oh yes.  He made sure that happened.



And, Hope, my Hope, was there and captured a few photos.  Thanks, my friend.  For everything!  I love you.

Below are some more pictures from this amazing concert.  No drooling allowed. 

Yes - we were thisclose.  

Jamming.

Photo care of Hope - I have no idea what he's singing, but I know that feeling.  I LOVE that feeling I get when he sings.  For me?  That's my therapy.  That's my hope.  That's my version of living.   

Another care of Hope.  Again, no idea what I'm singing, what he's singing.  Who cares?  I'm happy.  

  

Phil and Liam.  Two more guys who have my heart.  Adore them.  

Once Rodney was done performing, all three stars came back out on stage to sing a Christmas carol.

Yes.  Rodney and Uncle Kracker singing a Christmas carol, and I was there.  Happy happy joy joy.  Merry Christmas to me!

Except that, Kracker had had a few more drinks by this point, and was fairly inebriated.  This led to some very, very funny situations.  They had brought out the words to "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" so Kracker would know what to sing.

Awesome!  

This man in a hat?  Fabulous.  In a backwards hat?  *sigh*  

I know - I have a problem.  So?  What of it?

Bwahahaha!  

Here - read this....

Oh - the conversation was....interesting.  

Rodney had me laughing for this entire song....his reaction to Kracker was hysterical!

After the concert, we headed out to the lobby and ran into Phil and Liam again. Hugs all around, some chatting, and confirmation that we would keep in touch.  The fact that these people have no vested interest in me at all, and yet, are interested....I'm so overwhelmed when I think of how damn lucky I am.  

We eventually got dinner and headed back to the hotel.  It was hard to get to sleep that night.  There was so much going on in my head.  So many emotions, so many thoughts, so much energy.  Eventually, we both fell asleep.  

I'll get to Monday's recap soon.  I love being able to share these adventures with you all; it helps me relive them, and that takes me to a happy place.  Right now, that's a good thing.  

Comments:

Carol Pack Urban said...

Awesome! How was your Christmas with the family?

December 27, 2012 at 5:22 AM