Why Bon Jovi Makes Me 16. Forever.

When I was 16, I bought 2 tickets to go see Bon Jovi in concert. One for me and one for the boy I thought I loved. I did not know at that time that unrequited love is not really love. He was always up front with me, and never played games with me, which in hindsight is pretty amazing for a 17 year old boy. I mean, I was a pretty easy mark at that time, because I really cared about this boy, He had family drama, was abandoned by his mother, and was ripe to be saved by someone. Enter ME, I thought. Add in the fact that we spent all of our time together, and he never dated anyone else the entire time we where friends, and you have a whole teenage angst driven movie. However, I moved away, he did not throw himself in front of the car to stop me, I met Ray, and things have progressed as they should have. And that's why I let God be in control of my life. He does it better.

Anyway, my friend April and her boyfriend went with us to the concert. 1990. Big hair. Check. Torn acid washed jeans. Check. We were good to go. We were at an outdoor arena in spring. Sitting high up in the grass, but that was what I preferred. So we have stars, sitting with my friends, and THE guy, waiting. Suddenly it occurred to me that Jon Bon Jovi was right down there. Right behind that stage. RIGHT NOW. Let me explain. I am a worrier. I rarely live in the moment. I worry about why i am worrying and not living in the moment. What if there is a fire? What if I have to go to the bathroom? What will I miss? How long will this concert last? How bad will traffic be? Is the car safe? This is just how my brain works. Then the stage went dark. And the beginning guitar solo from "Wanted Dead or Alive" began, and the stretched it out for 2 or 3 minutes. I remember just feeling like nothing else mattered but being there, in that moment, with my friends, enjoying that time. And that's what we did.

My kids laugh at me because they know when that riff comes on the radio to SHUT UP. I have to have my flashback, and I may or may not tell the story of how awesome that night was. Because it was. And so many of their songs have stories , but I'll spare you.