Well, the day came and went!  I met my oldest son after work for a lovely meal and then he drove us to the auditorium.  The show began late but it was expected.  Our seats were fabulous.  A big surprise, I met, sitting right in front of me, the morning DJ from the radio station from whom I won the tickets.  I had met him before...what a cute guy and so sweet.  Got a big hello and a hug. 

I must admit that I didn't know many "facts" about mr. stewart before seeing him in concert.  the show was good.  we could see everything.  but what i came away with surprises me...apparently mr. stewart turned 62 years old on January 10th of this year!  It made me feel very sad and very old!  he put on a wonderful show...well into 3 hours with only a 20 minute break....the videos that accompanied his music were excellent and thoughtfully done!  one featuring his dad while he sang a cat steven's song brought me to tears...extremely touching and beautiful. (i always have loved cat steven's songs, anyway)  he sang many of his greatest hits and the crowd roared...the curtain finally came down...and then back up for his "maggie may" as he stood there grinning because he wasn't singing a note...we were all singing it to him!  wouldn't have been rod stewart without that, now would it! 

what i didn't like was that the sound in the venue "sucked out loud"!  mr. stewart, known for his gravelly, soft voice, was at times, difficult, at best to hear, especially on the "softer" songs.  if i had "paid" for my tickets, i might have really been disappointed.

what else surprises me, although i don't know why, is how selfish and rude people can be.  before, during and after the show, they proved themselves over and over again...traffic, parking, talking while mr. stewart was singing a ballad that was not one of the top 10, pop hits....the curtain went down with almost a bang even before the song was over...i think that the people not listening hurt his feelings! 

maybe i am just getting old and crotchety, but i just don't enjoy crowds anymore, not that i really did, ever before.  and i don't mean to be "negative" about any of it...this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me...i appreciate that...but when the "wonderful" is sandwiched in between so much "disappointment" ;, it's hard for me to come away all bubbles and light...