Last Thursday was shaping up to be a pretty nondescript day. Eli stays home on Thursdays, so we’re usually in our pajamas long past a reasonable hour. We get dressed, go to swim lessons, do some laundry and that usually sums up our day. Besides the usual, I planned to get some homemade Pop Tarts made so I could finally blog about them, and I knew I needed to get dinner prepped as I had to work at 6.
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back.
Mike woke me up that morning and the first words out of my mouth were, “You’re wearing that to work?” In my sleepy haze I noticed he was wearing a Nashville Predators t-shirt, which is definitely not work attire.
“I’m not going to work today. I need you to get up and take a shower.” Now I’m awake. This isn’t normal - not Mike randomly staying home, not me taking a shower before 7:15 a.m. on a Thursday. And because he knows me so well, he quickly followed up with, “Don’t ask any questions.”
You can’t start a fire
Worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
I had an inkling that he might be scheming something. Our 15th anniversary is coming up in May. He’d been overly interested in the calendar lately, and I spied him pulling my parents aside on Easter for a longish conversation. Still, this randomness on a Thursday caught me off guard.
Baby, once I thought I knew
Everything I needed to know about you
Your sweet whisper, your tender touch
I didn’t really know that much.
He proceeded to get Eli off to school, leaving me with instructions to pack an overnight bag for myself, a bag for the kids, and to stay off any and all social media. Elena watched me like a hawk - she was in on the surprise and wasn’t going to let me sneak any peeks. By 9 a.m. we were on the road, to where I hadn’t a clue.
Left the house this morning
Bells ringing, filled the air
Wearin’ the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin’ down here
We headed north on I-69, thereby ruling out the usual quick getaways: Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus. Five hours later we rolled into Rochester, Michigan and paid a visit to the Rochester Mills Beer Company. I still had no idea why we were in Michigan. Finally, Mike couldn’t keep it in any more. He handed me an envelope containing these:
I’m not a die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan. There are songs life-long fans would be ashamed that I didn’t know every word to. But for years now I’ve said that I’d love to see The Boss in concert. It was on my imaginary bucket list. Words that I’d said in passing, “Someday I’d love to … maybe one day … if he ever comes to Indy … wouldn’t it be awesome?” My amazing husband took my wishes and what ifs and made them a reality. This is incredible on so many levels, but what really stands out for me is that he’s not a Bruce fan (let me clarify: he wasn’t a Bruce fan). My rock star husband pulled off an enormous surprise, rearranged school schedules, swim lessons, arranged child care, got me off from work and drove 10 hours in 2 days to take me to a concert he doesn’t really even care for. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
Hard times, baby well they come to us all
Sure as the tickin’ of the clock on the wall
Sure as the turnin’ of the night into day.
Your smile girl, brings the mornin’ light to me eyes
Lifts away the blues when I rise
I hope that you’re comin’ to stay.
It was beyond amazing. Bruce played non-stop for 3 1/2 hours, running around like a mad man, each song sounding better than the last. He’s 62 going on 22. This? Is over 3 hours in. I was ready to pass out. The Boss is still going strong.
It was epic, and I just wanted to cry from happiness. For lyrics and music that have moved me during so many phases of my life. For checking something off my life list that I wasn’t sure would ever happen.
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like catfish dancin’ on the end of my line
And for Mike, who I’ve known and loved for nearly 18 years, but who can still surprise me like no other. He’s The Boss of my heart.
Way cool. Give Mike a pat on the back for me. I so need to do something like this for Danny. He is dying to see Van Halen. They are coming to Nashville, but it’s the rehearsal dinner night of his brother’s birthday!
correction not birthday, WEDDING