A Special Valentine’s Day

I know this website is mainly about parenting and all that good stuff; however, I thought I’d digress a little to talk about “Love” on account that we celebrated Valentine’s Day earlier this month. Okay, so I’m a little late with this post. Creativity comes a little slower these days.

I was always a big fan of Valentine’s Day growing up – not because of flowers or candy (even though I love both of those and I appreciate them on any day – for no special occasion) but because it was a time when you could let somebody know how you felt about them without fear of rejection. In elementary school we would pass out little valentine’s cards to our classmates or give those little heart candies that had little sayings on them like “Be Mine”, “I love you”, “Hi Cutie”, “you’re my heart”, etc. As I got older those little special moments dwindled down to a few or nothing. Unfortunately, my ex-husband wasn’t into valentine’s day so very rarely did we acknowledge the day (although I would always give him a card). I’ve taken up the tradition of sending my children Valentine’s cards because I think it’s always nice to let them know on a day set aside for love, that I love them!!!! But before I had children I decided that on Valentine’s Day I would show myself some love by doing something nice for me. Afterall self-love goes a long way!

 The year was 1981. My ex-husband and I were living in New Orleans. On Valentine’s Day that year, Peabo Bryson was going to be in concert and I simply HAD TO GO! Since I knew there was no way he would go with me, my girlfriend and I decided we would get tickets and go to the show. First let me tell you that I LOVE PEABO BRYSON!!!!! He was/is my heart throb, my Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday man crush! We got our tickets early so that we could be assured a good seat. I couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day that year. I went out and brought a special outfit, had my hair done up nice and pretty…..I was sooooo ready to have the time of my life. Weeks leading up to the concert my girlfriend and I spent hours listening to all his music. This was going to be the first time I would be able to see him in concert. Concerts were very expensive and rarely did I have money for things like that. We were barely paying the rent and eating every day. But for Peabo, I could miss a few meals – I was full on love!!!! I had only been to a couple of other concerts in my life. The first one was when I was about 11 or 12. My older cousin took my sister and me to see James Brown at the Brevort theatre in Brooklyn, NY. Wow that was some concert! That wouldn’t be any match to this concert – Afterall it was PEABO. The night came for the concert. It took us hours to get ready and then we left for the concert soooo early in anticipation.  After waiting online for what seemed like forever, we finally were able to go in. We found our seats with no problem. My heart started beating so fast when the lights dimmed in anticipation of him walking out on stage. His band was exceptional and as they started playing the intro to the first song the entire arena lit up with screams. OH MY GOD I thought I would pass out……and then it happened. Peabo walked out on stage and sang one phrase, just one phrase…..”Something that you told me stayed in my head”.  I held on to the back of my seat and I started screaming. I always hated when you’d go to a show and people would stand up and scream so you couldn’t see or hear anything. Well I tell you I was that person. If you know anything about me, you’d know that I am quite reserved, always in control and always conscious of how others are seeing me.  Well that night, I was somebody else because I screamed to the top of my lungs the entire concert!!!!!!! I have no idea what songs he sang or how long he performed.  I screamed continuously and at the end of the concert I fell down into my chair sobbing with delight!!!!!  WHAT???? ME??? Totally out of control. Now don’t get it twisted, I wasn’t crazy, I didn’t throw my purse up on the stage or my underwear like I’ve seen others do, but I was pretty close!!! I was completely exhausted. It took some time for me to get myself together to leave the concert hall. My girlfriend just laughed. She was SOOOOOOOO surprised.

 I guess that now that I’m older I’d better see if I can get tickets to see him because Lord knows, I didn’t see him perform that night. I still swoon over his music but like many of us, his looks have changed a bit, but I’ll tell you there is something about that voice that will get me every time!!!!!