#TheSW30: Day 3; That Time I Spazzed At The Airport

Day 3: Describe a moment or a day when being single was really awesome.

Fight or flight.  It's such a weird bodily response.  In fact, I'm fairly sure that response made the people sitting around me on an early Saturday flight from SLC to DEN a little uneasy because I was shaking like a leaf trying to hang onto a branch while the fall wind tried it's best to knock it down.  That's the fancy way of saying I looked like a spaz to the older gentleman I was seated next to.

So how did we get to this moment?  Through the beauty of being a single woman.  Like I mentioned yesterday, one of the best things about being single is I really can pick-up, go wherever I want, whenever I want.  On a day to day basis that may mean a random trip up Tablerock, stopping for the bomb fish and chips and a beer in the River Room at Whole Foods or sleeping like 75% of my Sunday just because I can.  That weekend, it was a little different.  My self-esteem took a short vacation for a few weeks in the aftermath of a guy that I really did like ghosting on me with no explanation whatsoever.  I needed to go where my soul felt complete.  That's where the music is.

Call me a fan girl.  Call me a groupie.  I gotta be honest, I don't care what you think.  I love, love, love the band OAR (in fact, I think I stopped breathing when Keke had Marc, their lead singer, call our show a few years back.)  I've listened to them for the better part of the last nine years of my life.  OAR's lyrics have gotten me through just about everything between graduating high school and college to moving 2,100 away from home to Boise and my many misadventures in life and love out here.

Their song Anyway has the lyric "A wise man once said when he told me...one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."  That's been a recurring theme in my life.  My heart just feels so whole when I listen to music.  So, when I realized they were playing at Red Rocks in Denver on a weekend where I didn't have much going on for work and that I could find flights that would have me out of the Treasure Valley for less than 26 hours, I worked up the guts to ask for that Saturday off.  Within minutes of bossman giving the green light I had my hotel and airfare booked, ticket secured for my 11th OAR show and bought myself the VIP package that meant I got to take my picture with the band.  (Any attempt I've made to meet them over nine years fell through and it's been the #1 thing on my bucket list.)  Was it hella expensive? You betcha.  Was it worth it.  Oh my God, yes!

Not being able to find a direct flight from BOI to DEN turned out to be the greatest thing in the entire world.  As I sat at my gate in Salt Lake City, I glanced up from the book I was reading and thought to myself "OMG, that's Jerry Depizzo."  OAR's sax player was on my flight! As they started boarding I realized it wasn't just Jerry.  I saw Rich, their guitar player and then suddenly realized the entire band was on my flight. I shook when I tried to text my parents and siblings about what I just saw.

I shook the entire time I was standing in the aisle next to them waiting to put my carry-on in the overhead.  I shook in my seat so much that the gentleman next to me asked if I was really excited to go home or on vacation.  When I explained to him that my favorite band in the world was on our flight he told me I should go up to them.  I couldn't do it.  I was too scared.  My (radio) brother who has met them before shot me a text telling me to ask for a picture.   He said they're nice guys and just be respectful.  I could do that...form complete sentences when I approached them?  Not sure I could do that.

The wheels turned in my head during the 60 minute flight.  Do I approach them at the gate?  Or just wait till the show?  Then I remembered something I just highlighted in Mandy Hale's books at the gate: "To truly live, we must be willing to take risks."  This weekend was all about fulfilling my soul and the last thing I wanted to do was have any regrets about my solo trip...so I went for it.

I think I managed to utter out that I didn't want to be "that girl" when I approached Jerry and told him I was a huge fan, that that evening would be my 11th show and that we shared a home town.  He and their drummer, Chris were super cool about my fan girling and took a picture with me at the airport (and yes, I was still shaking.) They even remembered me at the meet and greet that evening.  In fact, so did their lead singer Marc when I thanked him for calling our show all those years ago. Even though the backstage experience was quick, it was the best moment in my 26 years.  The show was phenomenal and one that I was able to enjoy without craving the company of a man.

Saturday, October 4th, 2014 will forever be a moment that being single rocked.  This special experience with my absolute favorite band in the world was mine and mine alone.  It couldn't be tarnished by the company of a guy that may break my heart in the future and  I didn't have to feel ashamed of my fan girl-ness. I'm so glad I worked up the guts to seize the opportunity.  Like I learned in Life, Love and A Dash of Sass, sometimes in life you have to risk everything you've got to get everything you ever wanted.

Ladies, what was the moment when you realized that being single actually kicked ass?  Let me know by tweeting me at @michelleonkiss!