Tom Petty and the Throw Uppers

Oh MY! What a day Sunday was.... I woke up feeling nauseated, which is  strange for me because I don't usually have nausea with any meds or chemo and only threw up once the 80 something days I have been in the hospital so far. Well, I took it easy on Sunday because our cousin Shelley got us two tickets to see Tom Petty and I was going to this concert dead or alive. Let's just seem how much more humbleness I need to learn in this life. Thought I could move on to the next lesson... but hey I'm not in charge.

My awesome ex-husband, I know how often do you hear that, was gracious enough to give me a ride to meet my friend Josh, that lives in Cartersville, for the concert and Josh was going to drive us back to Athens that night. Low and behold if I didn't puke my guts out in Michael's truck, lucky I had a trash can, how embarrassing. Then Isabella's copying me saying that I have a "big butt." and Emma's sleeping through the whole thing. Ok, " I"m still going to this concert" I think.

We meet Josh, who's first concert was Tom Petty, and I start to lose it again, it's a good thing for walmart bags, and I'm in my get up, mind you. In the mean time, there is road work with no road work going on. So we pull out what we call a MAP, and find our way to the Verizon Amp off 400. Things are starting to look up. Dinner is a no go, that means I can't take my medication either. Hooray! I have never been to the Verizon Amp. It's awesome, everything is super organized like parking, it's clean, sound is so clear, it's like Lakewood but better. No offense my now 2nd  favorite outside venue that brought hours of fun.  Lynyrd Skynyrd  in '98, I will never for get, nor Aerosmith.

We get to the parking area and explain that we have wheelchair seats but not handicap parking but that I could walk this far in the heat and the wheelchair would be awful on the gravel, so they let us through and we were able to park in the handicapped spot. Now, I have found out through this whole experience that being disabled, which I can now admit that at this point I am, if horrible and each day I have more empathy for those who have dealt with it their whole life or don't have the help they need. However, sometimes the perks aren't too bad either, ay Cobern?

Can't decide if i should finish it or hang it up in my art room as it....
probably as is. 

So we got the POSH treatment as I call it..... yes I did throw up again in the parking lot. As you all should know, I do not find drinking in moderation wrong, so I'm sure everyone thought I had too many since I was barfing, but not a drop. "Look at the girl with the crazy outfit on puking out of the car, she must be ripped before the show." No so bro. So I made a quick sign... not my best work and we pushed on to the concert.
I immediately got sick in the bathroom but the highlight of the puking events, not the highlight of the concert, was when the wall of cigarette smoke hit me when we walked toward our seats.

 So I start puking over the side wheelchair, thank God I have that thing for long events or days, in front of maybe 3,000 people, holding a sign that says, well you can read, with my Marilyn outfit, and my wonderful limousine driver Josh trying to help the best he can. People are walking and then dodging me, and the puke, pointing, talking, then one lady runs up with a napkin and says, "Here is a napkin!" I really needed that napkin. She asked me if I had a brain tumor, that her husband has one and she knows what I'm going through. I gave her my card and thanked her. Then a cop shows up, a big lady cop, and starts asking all these questions... did I have chemo today, how old am I ( I said 32, I'm not 32 yet), do I need to go to first aid, do i feel dehydrated.... must have been the event of the day so far. Then two first aid guys show up with what look like army issued back packs and looked all pumped ready to lay out the Dixie chick in front of everyone and save her life. Well since out seats were on the other side, we figured we would go check in at first aid, get some clean ice, and in the mean time be escorted through the crowd. That's when the night turned around and I started to feel like VIP BABY.

these guys are hard core

Got the ice, Got to our awesome seats right beside the covered seats, plenty of room, place to prop my feet, and the weather was great! Besides the guy with nachos next to me, I felt better the rest of the night. Not good enough to get up and rock the boat with my smooth moves, but I rocked out in my chair, waved my sign, and most importantly saw the BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I'm mean really, I still can't believe how awesome Tom Petty and the Heatbreakers were and are. I mean they have been together for 30 years, but still, it was just soooooooo Great. They rocked, they jazzed, the bluesed, they nailed it, they funked, they moved, they were the cat's meow man. Not sure if anyone else would be worth seeing at a big venue at this point besides the Rolling Stones, which I will do at some point, and hopefully see Michael Jackson again if St.Peter let him in.... I did get to see MJ in 1988. Well, of course, James Taylor and Carol King would be awesome but they are in a different category for me. I will see U2 one day but I got to have good seats or still be using this wheelchair, which I'd rather not.

I love red, white, and blue! American Girl!

Learning to Fly!

I could hear every word that Tom sang, Mike on the guitar blew us away, and Steve on the drums seems like he could play any type of music. The rest of your Heartbreakers floated my boat too! They played all the favorite songs but then also played a song from someone else that I just loved  and they had an all out jam session on it. It is called "Traveling Light"  by JJ Cale. Boy, if I could have got up and danced! They also played from the Traveling Wilburys "Handle with Care." "There goes my Girl." brought tears to my eyes, along with "Wildflowers". How could I not think of my Evalyn Rose. Well, I danced, but my belly needed to stay still. (come to find out later 5/1, we didn't do my medication right this week when something changed and that is why I was sick for 3 days). " I Won't Back Down"  means a lot to me right now... because you can stand me up at the gates of hell but I'm not backing down man!!! I won't back down, I'm standing, or rolling sometimes, my ground, and that is that God has a Plan and I'm seeking him and whether I live or die, I will be healed and that I'm  making a difference in this world.

silly glow stick josh, I think I blinded him momentarily 

Wishing my eyelashes would grow back, these things are hard to put on. 

We started to head out when he went off stage, but knew he would be back for at least 2 more songs, we figured we would just get to the other side closer to the car. We parked and I got up and danced a little to "Last Dance with Mary Jane", and we rolled out on "American Girl.", passed the marked spot where I threw up in front of everyone and laughed, then headed towards Athens and was home by 12:30. Unbelievable! Josh cooked a yummy breakfast the next morning and then I assessed my Tom Petty records, gonna have to do something about that. Luckily, I know the best place to get records for cheap! It's the same place where my consignment booth is going to be.

Last and only dance. 

My driver and friend. 

fist pump is always a good move if you can't move very much. 

Thank you to everyone that made that night possible! Shelley and Taylor, my husband, Michael, Josh, and I hate to admit the VIP treatment for having gone through the fire the last 2 plus years. That Monday at the Chiro, I met a lady that was 103 years old. She was so positive about what she couldn't do anymore, what she used to enjoy, and what she likes to do now. She is an inspiration to me to keep on keeping on. That even with a disability there can be positives. The lady, asked her friend, "Do you like to Dance?", " I do, I can't anymore, but now I really like to sort the laundry.", with a big smile on her face. I guess it's all in your perspective.  

The morning after, with my sweet Rose.