Day 50 of Firsts: Eric Clapton and To Die for Concert Seats

Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die. ~Paul Simon

My husband Phil loves music.  For his 60th birthday I got him tickets to see Eric Clapton. Not just any tickets! These were awesome tickets in New York City, Madison Square Garden. We rushed up on a train after work in Philly and got into our seats, sooooo close to the stage, just before the concert started.



(In case you're wondering, the Jimi Hendrix line is pure fabrication)

I looked out into the audience and saw middle aged boomers gloriously rocking out.  There was no one in the house under 40. Clapton's still wicked guitar licks transported the crowd  back to the good old bad days  of  "sex, drugs, rock and roll".  



We really aren't concert goers.  I've never spent a lot of money on tickets like this.  It was a real treat to see Clapton up close.   Never  felt drums just vibrate through my body, (or it's just been so long I can't remember).

 


 But the best part of this "First" was seeing my husband smile all night long. And we laughed...maybe because we were thinking back about how young and foolish we once were and we survived.

Day 48 of Firsts: Shovel Horse Manure

There is just as much horse sense as ever, but the horses have most of it. ~Author Unknown

Some days I really don't know what my First is going to be. I just let it find me. Today I was working on a story when I ended up in a horse barn and an acre of land right in the middle of NE Philadelphia.   Hmmm...I'm thinking this is so cool.



I've ridden horses before so that's not a first. I've certainly been in horse barns.  Then Jackie Gross who owns the barn tells me they're about to start mucking.  OOOH good.  What's mucking??? Sounds like a first.



I think my photographer Bob Ertel is laughing because he knows exactly what Mucking is.  Oh the outfit?? They loaned it to me.  Sweet.  I start to learn just how much fun this is going to be here.

 

The task?  Put clean straw in one pile and put the straw with manure and urine in the wheel barrow.  Maybe it's not a first. I think I have some experience shoveling horse *&^(. Just not in a horse stall.)



Look at the clean stall!  I'm so proud. Patti Cianflone is showing me the way.



But I'm not done yet.  Time to put down fresh straw.



I'm sure Pogo  the pony was pleased with my work.


 
Well, I lost an earring, tore my tights, slopped around in mud and manure and smelled like horses when I left.   Nice. I  feel like a natural, earthy, crazy woman.  Very happy to shovel you know what today.