Reba and Kelly

While it is a well established fact that I have no life, Valentine's Day was a rare exception worth noting for public record.

Thanks to my best friend, Beth, and her husband Pete, Rick and I had tickets to see Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson in concert in Tupelo, Mississippi. Thanks to my Father and my sister Kari, we had babysitters for Jared. They pulled a split shift since we had to leave early enough in the day to drive to Tupelo and actually eat dinner (something I didn't have to cook - yippee!!!) prior to time to find our seats.

It was an amazing night from the word 'GO'. Getting to spend time with the man I love is always good, but this even more so since his eyes were actually open. Although he unkindly suggested that I am responsible for his deafness now, I don't believe him because I wasn't near as loud as those 'other people' in the arena.

There is something almost magical about attending a live concert of this magnitude. The years peel away and reveal that inner person who truly isn't much older than about 18 and who can still shake it with the best of them. The lyrics flow back into your mind and the reality of getting to physically lay your eyes on the two entertainers who have brought a lot of joy into your day can really break you up!

From the opening act of Melissa Peterman, who played Barbara Jean on the TV show 'Reba', to the final number of Reba's ('Fancy'), it was just a blast!

I put several of the photos into the letter I am sending my son this week in Germany. I hope he enjoys seeing them and hearing about how his Mom and Dad actually got out of the house for a change.

I most humbly thank everyone involved in making my Valentine's Day evening a memorable one. From my long-suffering and possibly permanently deaf husband, to Beth and Pete, to Daddy and Kari, to Reba and Kelly - whom I am certain planned this particular venue with a harried and tired 40 - something in mind.

I'd have to say that "A Moment Like This" (Kelly) was something "Out of A Dream" (Reba).

I think I'm going to go gargle now. For some strange reason, my throat feels all chapped and raw - almost as if I had been screaming or something. :-)

The Secret Gambler In Us All

What compels me to think that Publishers Clearinghouse would, under any circumstances, bring me a giant check for ANY amount of money?

Much less the bazillion dollar prize granted only to people who have spent their entire life savings a thousand times over on discounted magazine subscriptions?

But deep within my DNA is a gene (or maybe just the snippet of a gene which resembles a scratch off card from the gas station on 65) which believes with every fiber of it's code that I can win and win big.

Reality sets in when the rest of the double helix gives this impertinent snippet a swirly in the soup of genetic material and the urge to pass over a weeks' wages for the chance at a 'really big win' passes in the cold shower of truth.

The only people who win are the printers for the scratch off cards and the bookies who take one look at me and see the remaining parts of my DNA for what I truly am. A loser.

I am not particularly sad about that. In fact, that revelation simply comforts me in an odd sort of way.

Most of our society is made up of losers. We make the people who win seem somehow better and more special because we wish it was us. The sad truth is that the winners often become losers when the vast amounts of money change them and change their lives. Often those changes are not for the better.

Relatives no one knows show up for their piece of the pie and bills that weren't on the radar are now suddenly pressing.

People who haven't the financial smarts to get help with their newfound money go through it like there is no tomorrow until tomorrow comes and the piper shows up to be paid.

Though I have made great mental plans as to what I would do with my millions, and believe that I would make good choices, the fact is that I will never get the chance to find out and that's just fine by me. I'd rather count my wealth in people not pennies and in the currency of friendship not five spots.

What I would like is a scratch off card that eliminates housework. That might be worth a couple of bucks, come to think of it.