Good for the soul
There is only one thing that would be enticing enough to make me skip “Lost” and pay $36 to go on a date with myself, by myself.
I mean, barring an NSYNC reunion tour. Obviously.
Last night, I came home from work and changed my clothes. I reapplied makeup. I fluffed my hair, and wore my cute shoes, and took myself down to the Belcourt Theater. I ordered a glass of wine, found a seat toward the middle, and proceeded to wait for the show to start.
If I’m going to take myself on a date, I am definitely going to be punctual. Excessively punctual. BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT! (I might have been an hour early.)
But the show was worth the wait. Matraca Berg (wrote a little ditty called “Strawberry Wine”), Gretchen Peters (wrote a little something called “Independence Day”), and Suzy Bogguss (looks as good today as she did in 1995) played a round. Matraca is coming out with her first album in 10 years, and she played some of her new material; it was heart-stopping. Suzy’s voice was effortless, strong, and true. And Gretchen… well, in recent days, Gretchen has been my favorite writer (a position continually jockeyed for between Patty Griffin and Lori McKenna and Matraca and Gretchen). When she sang “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am,” I couldn’t breathe – and didn’t realize it until the end when I finally exhaled.
Songs like these are my heart and soul – moments of definition in my often nebulous life. Per Heather’s recommendation, I watched this fascinating piece, and loved hearing that “the mind of God is music resonating” (“…through 10-dimensional hyperspace,” but let’s not pretend that I know what that means).
It reminded me of this, which I had totally forgotten that I ever wrote.
I hope that you can do something that you love today.
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tags: Annie Parsons | Belcourt Theater | Clarity | Creativity | God | Gretchen Peters | Matraca Berg | Meaning | Music | Music | Pure Goodness | Science | Suzy Bogguss | Thoughts | Writing | Writing
Its so fun to go on a self-date! Good for you! I hope I can do something that I love today too – you’ve just inspired me to try a little harder to make that happen …
I am so jealous. That doesn’t happen here, at least not a mile from my house. Makes me miss Nashville.
You should teach a seminar or something on being excessively punctual! :)
i love this.
you are brave, annie.
I planted herbs and did yard work and had lunch on my porch with a good friend. I did a lot I love today…
Surely you could find a date for an *NSYNC reunion tour. I know I’d go with you.
And thank you for your urging… I will try to do something I love today.
I just love the poetic way you use words… hey, reading your posts is something I love!
I’m also wearing my favorite sweater; does that count?
i take myself to movies every now and then. i don’t love movies. but for some reason, i love going to see them by myself.
I used to really enjoy Patty Loveless… the song is still pretty.
Strawberry Wine is a classic. CLASSIC.
I like to take myself out to movies and coffee. I truly enjoy the coffee… the movies are a little awkward.
[…] Peters – one of my favorite writers in the history of the universe (remember, I wrote about her here). From the first tentative listen to those tracks, all doubt was blown […]