"Parton" the Expression/An Exceptional Weekend

*post actually written 11/04

Last weekend was so wonderful and fulfilling, it should not have been a shock that this week ended with somewhat shocking events. Friday night, we attended the Dolly Parton concert; “The Vintage Tour” @ The Chicago Theatre. I had never been there before and the theatre itself was quite stunning. We were in the nosebleed sections, as we had gotten tickets quite late in the game. Who cares? We saw a living legend, and began a new love affair w/ a public figure. She was truly amazing, and I left the evening w/ a deep respect for not only her persona, sense of humor and stage presence, but for her incredible song writing abilities. I was blown away by her words. Her section of songs about growing up in the Smoky Mountains was moving and hypnotic. In addition, this woman played every instrument under the sun; harmonica, guitar, banjo, violin, and recorder; not to mention all of the instruments I cannot name (I don’t know them). “Nine to Five” was the song I was most looking forward to hearing, but once it was done (the second number) I had quickly forgotten it as my favorite or her most recognizable. So many of her songs were familiar, just as I expected them to be. Showstoppers included “Smoky Mountain Memories”, “I Will Always Love You”, and “These Old Bones”. It was a remarkable performance, and I was honored to have seen her live. The show closed w/ her rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. With the exception of Lennon’s own version, Dolly’s was the best I have ever heard. All evening long, I wanted to yell out to her; “I love you Doralee Rhodes!” But the timing never worked out. Still, I said it in my heart, and I am sure she felt it. There was a clear love between her and her Chicago audience.

After Dolly’s show, we walked along Michigan Ave., looking for a place to eat/drink/be merry. We decided to cab it back to our own hood, and found our favorite tapas place still hopping. We ate a lot, drank a lot (per my previous “drunken post”) and sat next to three other folks who had just come from Dolly’s show. We reminisced, and laughed. She was a great memory in the making.

Saturday, we went to the casino, where I spent too much money (as usual) and looking back on the past day’s firing, it was not a good bit of timing. Alas, spilt milk. Once we arrived home, the city seemed filled w/ Halloween events and spirit. We took the low road, and walked into the park, where no one was around. It was quiet, and spooky. We had fun scaring ourselves w/ the rustling branches, and piles of blowing leaves. Zombies could have been just around the corner, but the evening and weekend had started out beautifully, so I did not care about rotten-eyed flesheaters. Who would? As we went to check on our raccoon friends, we found another couple who had stopped to actually feed the furry folks…with cheesy puffs. We watched (up close and with camera phone in hand) as they fed the raccoons by hand. After only a few moments, there was a virtual swarm of the critters, at least 10. We marveled @ them, and enjoyed the fact that it seemed like our own private little joy. Close to Halloween, and everyone was in the neighborhoods celebrating, but here we were in the “forest” watching fun critters enjoying a cheesy, forbidden treat. My heart was full that night. The other half and I continued through the deserted park, finally turning toward the city. We wandered the streets looking @ Halloween decorations. I love this time of year, where it is too cold to go out w/ just a tshirt, but too warm to wear a big bulky parka. It’s perfect. We ended the evening @ Stella’s. our favorite diner, where we cheated w/some fattening food, and relaxing atmosphere. We waddled our way home, still enjoying the pleasant evening and peering through some windows at the orange and black displays beyond. It was a night made in heaven; simple, relaxing and memorable.

Sunday, we spent the day shopping for costumes. That evening would be our friend Val’s show. He is the lead singer for a band called, “Fashion Bomb”. It is not necessarily my kind of music; heavy goth rock, but I wanted to support him. Besides, he is very talented, and puts on a hell of a show. We sat around most of the day, until it was time to don our zombie costumes and makeup. Zombies…so original for me. I was quite pleased w/ my final look, rotten, bruised and in the scrubs I had purchased during the day. My costume included some touches of flies around various orifices. I thought that rot would certainly attract the little bastards, and I was going for realism…right. If I had had the know-how and time, I would have put urine and shit stains on my lower half; in the appropriate areas. You do lose those controls once you die; I have heard. The other half wore a suit, as if he was recently buried. We looked fabulous. Once we entered the concert venue; Logan Square Auditorium; we were greeted by inquisitive and disturbed looks, and were approached by one of the coordinators to appear on stage for the costume contest. We both lost (crazy I know), and the “trophy” went to someone dressed as the “Forest Moon of Endor’s stormtroopers/biker scouts” from Return of the Jedi. To find out later that it was a woman in that outfit, served to further upset my loss. Girls don’t wear those! The show was wonderful, if a bit loud for my taste, and I nearly got whiplash from being to close to the mosh pit. Is that the correct term? Hell if I know. Straight men really are lame sometimes. I am glad you enjoy the music, but relax. We are not all high on either drugs or life…or both. By the time I was able to turn and retaliate w/ a push of my own, the loser was long gone, pushing some pregnant woman into a radiator. Nice move. (Ok, not really.) Val’s show and new band members delivered a great night, and I loved being there to support him. Thus concluded our amazing weekend. It will go down in my book as the one to remember…right before the shit hit the fan.

By the way, photos galore of our exceptional weekend will be posted later. The other half is still trying to negotiate the phone-to-computer downloading process.