The Show

We made plans with the better-half’s aunt months ago to go see the B52s and Squeeze last night. About three weeks ago his aunt broke her foot. She asked us to find someone to use the ticket and that she’d really like for us to stay with her even though she wouldn’t be able to go to the show. We decided to ask Niece 1 if she’d like to go. She did. The better-half’s aunt was thrilled to finally meet Niece 1.

We knew the show would be popular because come on…it’s the B52s and Squeeze on a Thursday night. We were not prepared for how many people showed up:

If you’ve ever been to Wolf Trap, then you know there’s the lawn, the upper lawn where lawn chairs are allowed, the asphalt paths to the bathrooms and to the gate and then a wee bit more grass. We were in the wee bit more grass area. We could not see the stage unless we stood on tiptoe. It could have been worse, though. When we went to see Prairie Home Companion several years ago we couldn’t even see the stage area–that whole massive thing in the picture above? Couldn’t even see it. We were on the backside of the wee patch of lawn. In the woods. We’ll never go back to see one of those shows again because no amount of folksy humor is worth the view of bupkis.

We took turns walking around with the Niece while Squeeze played. I was singing along by the time the Niece and the better-half got back from their walk-about. It was about that time that more and more devices around us started to light up. Everyone was checking their various weather apps because behind us the lightning started. It was far off and we thought the storm might go the other way. It’s happened before. Then the wind came up.

The breeze felt so good because it was about 9000 degrees at 9pm last night in Northern Virginia. The storm got worse and those of us in the wee bit of grass started packing up. The better-half took back the rental chairs–which are absolutely worth the price and you can sit anywhere in the lawn with them–and retrieved his driver’s license from the rental folks. The Niece and I gathered up our picnic blanket and other bits and pieces. We bolted to the car, laughing in the rain. The storm unleashed just as we got into the car. Lucky us. We listened to the B52s in the car, pretending it was the show.

This morning we pried the Niece out of bed just before eight and the four of us went to Anita’s for breakfast. The three adults indulged in New Mexico style breakfasts and the Niece chowed down on French toast. After breakfast, we took care of some chores for the aunt while she was on a conference call and then we left. Traffic was crap on the way home until we stopped in Fredericksburg for milk shakes. The better-half and the Niece got two shakes apiece–it was lunch, after all. I ended up drinking most of the Niece’s second serving. We were going to take the scenic route home but 95South opened up and we cruised home.

I’m not sure what the Niece did after we dropped her off, but I took a half-hour nap. The better-half is still napping. Too much fun is what it was. Too much fun.