I Wanted To See Dylan Sing!
One night Bill said, “Did you see Dylan’s band picture?”
“What band picture?” I asked.
A lot of time passed while Bill fiddled with his phone. Eventually, he held out a photo for me to see.
There, in the photo, was Dylan – and his band – all dressed in black, looking serious. The Instagram caption read, “See us live…”
I texted Dylan immediately: WHAT?!? YOUR BAND HAS A GIG?!?
Sure enough, his band had a gig.
Dylan’s first gig with his first band was fast approaching – and I was not going to be there. I was not going to see my baby sing, for the first time ever. He was 500 miles from home, singing with a band I didn’t know, in a record store I’d never visited, in a town full of aspiring musicians on a lively Saturday night.
I couldn’t take it.
I imagined him there, dressed like a rock star, singing 10 songs I’d never heard. I imagined me sitting in front of my TV – 500 miles away, wishing someone would have live-streamed the event.
I tried to change my flight – since I’d been planning to visit him a few days later anyway. It was my “special” time to visit him – but I’d chosen the dates rather randomly. To change my flight and fly down for his gig would cost $500.
I tossed and turned and fidgeted and whined. I wanted to see Dylan sing!
Suddenly it hit me: I could drive to Nashville. It would take a little longer but I could do it!
I texted Dylan again: I’m thinking about driving up for the weekend instead of the following week
He texted back: up to you
Hm. It was up to me, but maybe he didn’t want his mother standing in the front row with a camera while he performed. Maybe he wanted to do this on his own, as he’d done so much else in the past six months.
I texted again: I’d be happy to see the band but if you don’t want me there tell me now
He texted back immediately: I want you to be there
And that was that. I was going to Nashville to see my baby sing.