Beatlemania

When Nancy called today and asked if I wanted to see Beatlemania tonight I thought for a few seconds and said, “Sure!”

I know I’ve talked about how nice it is to live in a college town, but I am constantly being reminded of that fact. It was a short drive downtown, available parking a block away, easy peasy.

We met at the corner of College and Allen and walked up to Old Main lawn. This beautiful expanse sits in front of the oldest building on campus. Hundreds of people had already set up their lawn chairs and coolers, totes and plastic supermarket bags were unloaded with picnics.

It absolutely poured last night and into this morning and today was cloudy and humid. But the sky was blue and the air fresh this evening.

We found our spot, took out our turkey sandwiches and waited for the show to begin.

Ed Sullivan’s voice boomed from the loudspeakers as he introduced the young group from England. And this tribute group started to play.

There were lots of gray heads in the crowd, and as I looked around, everyone was nodding or tapping or singing along.

For two hours, we were royally entertained. It’s just amazing how the words come back and there is no embarrassment at singing along. When “Hey, Jude” started, a few lighters came out, as well as the modern day equivalent, the cell phone flashlight.

We watched the clouds pass by, the sky slowly darkened, the stars came out.

How did the years pass so quickly?  I remember sitting with my parents watching the Ed Sullivan show.  It just doesn’t seem so long ago.  I saw the children dancing on the lawn, and it seems like yesterday my kids were dancing around, too.  Now I am one of the gray heads, or I would be if not for the miracle of hair color.

After the encore, we sighed, packed up and left a contribution in an unattended jar.   A quick walk to the car, and home in a few minutes.

Tempus fugit.