If You're Reading This

Friday morning was just another morning...except it was one of "those" days. You know the kind when you just wake up ornery, I didn't want to get out of bed, didn't want to go to work, but here I was in the car !!! As was driving to work, this woman pulled out in front of me...NO ONE behind me, and then she's going slow. Okay, I admit everyone drives slower then I'd like them to, but why don't they just get outta my way? This made me even more grumpy!

As I'm driving down the road the radio was on and the DJ's were talking about the Tim McGraw concert that was happening tonight. They were giving away backstage passes and trying to determine how they would determine the winner. They were discussing Tim McGraw's song "If You're Reading This." It is a letter from a solider to his wife, written before he was killed in the event that he was killed. The DJ's were talking about what it must be like for those soliders over there to know their life is in danger everyday and what they must say to their families over here in their emails and phone calls. They then decided the winner would be someone with a loved one over fighting in the Middle East if they had a letter they could share part of. I wasn't going to call. Every time I try to call the line is ALWAYS busy. A couple minutes went by. I thought what the heck, I'll call. It rang!

When they answered I told them I had had a loved one over in Iraq, but that he had been killed. The asked if I had a letter I could share. I told them I was driving to work, but I could read them an email as soon as I got there. They put me on hold. I continued to drive to work, periodically they would come back on the line and ask me questions about Nate, what the email said and if I still cried when I read the email. I told them still, almost 5 years later, I can hardly think of him without still crying. They asked me if I had tickets to the concert, I told them no. He then asked if I could go tonight if they gave me tickets (the prize was just the backstage passes), I told them yes I could go. He didn't know for sure if they would give me concert tickets too, but just in case. Once I got to work I read them the email. Of course I cried. They then told me they would call me back. They played my story on air followed by Tim's song. I cried through both! Here are the words to the song:

If You're Reading This...

If you’re reading this, my mama’s sitting there.
Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here.
Sure wish I could give you one more kiss.
War was just a game we played when we were kids.
I’m laying down my gun, hanging up my boots.
I’m up here with God, and we’re both watching over you.

(Chorus)
So lay me down, in that open field out on the edge of town.
And know my soul, is where my mama always prayed that it would go.
If your reading this, I’m already home.

If your reading this, half way around the world.
I won’t be there to see the birth of our little girl.
I hope she looks like you; I hope she fights like me.
Stands up for the innocent and the weak.
I’m laying down my gun, hanging up my boots.
Tell dad I don’t regret that I followed in his shoes.

Chorus

If you’re reading this, there’s going to come a day,
when you’ll move on and find someone else and that’s okay.
Just remember this; I’m in a better place.
Where Soldiers live in peace and they just sing “Amazing Grace.”

So lay me down, in that open field out on the edge of town.
And know my soul, is where my mama always prayed that it would go.
If your reading this..... if your reading this.... I’m already home.

They called me back to tell me they were giving me the backstage passes AND the concert tickets!! I was so excited. I have NEVER won anything off the radio! They took all my info. and told me to pick the tickets and passes up at willcall at 7pm. I called Brice and asked him if he wanted to go on a "hot date" with me tonight!

We got home, got ready, grabbed the camera and walked out the door. We went to Chili's for dinner, hey the rest of the night was free... might as well go get some good grub! As we were getting in the car after dinner my phone rang. It was the radio guy calling to see if we were there. I said "I was told to be there at 7." It was currently 6:30pm. He said "Well it's a pre-show party and it's about to get started!" We were on 33rd south and 13th West. We needed to be at 5300 South and 6400 West!!! I was so upset. I told the guy we would be there as quick as we could.

The real race car driver in me came out, this driver even made Brice nervous, and Brice loves the fact that I drive fast!!! He kept telling me that we wanted to make it there alive!! When we got out there the line to get into the parking was HUGE!!! We had passed a sign that said "Parking $20!" I was like NO WAY! Brice told me to go there. They let us in, didn't ask for any money or a VIP pass. We zoomed by the attendant and into a space. We RAN!!! We got up to the radio stations booth, got the tickets and ran again to the tent for the party. As we approached the tent one of the workers said "Don't worry, it hasn't started!" I said "Good 'cause I think I might have enduced my labor!!!" Looking back on it, I'd still have run, but I don't think it was the best idea, I pulled my groin musle and it really hurts, but hey... I saw Tim McGraw!!!

So we get in there, he had a girl do a couple of warm-up numbers and then he came out! (Okay honey... don't be offended) THIS MAN IS HOT!!!!!!! He starts talking to us (there were maybe 30 people in the tent!) and singing a couple songs. Me, miss camera woman, I'm snapping away my pictures and all of a sudden my camera says "recharge battery pack" and turns it's self off!!! Can you believe it? Honestly!!! I almost died!!! Luckily Brice had his phone, it took some good shots, and we got this video, but still, hello!!!! How many times do you get backstage, and then to have your camera die... I mean really.The concert was awesome!!! We were on the 18th row!!! It was a great night, despite all it's rough beginnings.

So this is where the story should end... but there is more!!! So we get in the car and we are driving home from the far end of Egypt. The gas light was on, but it said it had 30 miles before empty. So we are trying to get as far away from the venue as possible before pulling over for gas. I made a left hand turn and all of a sudden the car is puttering. Like it's not getting enough gas, and then the car DIED!! Right in the middle of Redwood road. (4 lanes of traffice for any of you out of staters!!) Brice was really excited about this!! He has been trying to get me to get rid of my car since the first time he had to work on it (over a year ago).

So Brice pushes it off the road and we walk down the street to get gas. Brice is pissed, I'm in pain and totally emotional! (You know how we prego girls get!) We bought gas, got back in the car and tomorrow we are going to trade it in!!! :( I am so sad, but I know it's what we need to do! Bye, bye Beemer!!! Tune in for all of tomorrows adventures, as I so love dealing with cars and car dealerships!!!