SIDE SALAD - Everything crunchy is good.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
IT WAS THE EIGHTIES

Jacqueline and I have been friends for 20 years. One of the similarities that we share is an OCD complex when it comes to chronicling stuff and keeping mementos.

So it struck a nerve when she posted about the concerts she's seen. Her first one: John Denver at Washington D.C.'s Capital Centre in 1978.

She duly noted:

As for entry #1, it was my parents' idea. That's all I can say.

That got me to thinking about the most embarrassing concert ticket stub that I still own. I sifted through my pile and came up with this beauty:

Upon further review, this one didn't really count, since I did it for work purposes.

So I dug a little deeper.

Now, I love me some Kinison, but this was the wrong concert to take a date to.

During this tour, Kinison would call the ex-girlfriend of some random guy in the audience and scream at her that she was a bitch. The arena turned into this raving, bloodthirsty frat house in an instant.

It didn't make for the most romantic evening.

So I dug a little deeper.

Ah. There it is.

Isn't that a thing of beauty? Really defines the era. It was bad enough that I went with a buddy of mine to that concert. We thought we'd go and hit on women in the lobby after an evening of smooth jazz stylings. Instead, we just looked kinda gay.

Worst of all: I had to drive from Gainesville to the Floridian armpit of Jacksonville to see this assclown. And then drive back.

Bad music. No women. Long drive. Trip from hell.

Three weeks later, I met the future Mrs. Salad.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; She saved me. In every way a person can be saved.

Posted by Jeff at December 9, 2005 08:28 AM