America & Poco With Two Favorite Men

Last night I had a wonderful evening with two of my favorite men.  My Darling Hubby, Sergio.  And My Dear Bestie, Richie.

We went to Anderson Indiana, Hoosier Park Casino & Racetrack to the Outdoor Stage to see Poco & America perform.  The last time I saw America in concert...May 1982.  A few years ago, and ironically, I saw them with Sergio's sister, in Daytona Beach Florida.

The weather was perfect. It was a clear day, a perfect temperature with a light breeze kissing us. We bought the cheap seats...and got invited to move up as the concert was not a sold out (love it when you get seats worth twice what you paid!)

Poco played first... remember the song "Crazy Love"?

It happens all the time
This crazy love of mine
Wrapped around my heart
Refusing to unwind
Ooh-ooh, crazy love, ah...

If you don't remember this, then you were not an American teenage girl in 1976 .

Ohh the memories of us singing this song... and with tears!

Rich & I were into singing the lyrics this evening.

We may have embarrassed Sergio a bit.

Finally, America begins...

The acoustics were perfect!

They sounded AWESOME!

How old are they now?

Dang...not a scratchy voice among them.

Daisy Jane... Sister Golden Hair... Ventura Highway... Don't Cross the River... You can do Magic... (hey, they didn't play a favorite~ Horse with No Name)

Poor Sergio...

We knew all the words to all the songs. Hubby isn't a singer. Rich & I aren't really either, but we are equally bad so we didn't care.

Rich also entertained us with his dance moves.

He rocked it. As always.

I watched instead of danced. That might have been too much for Hubby, had I danced.

I am so glad Rich talked Sergio into this.  It was a lovely fun evening.  We also ate a little, and played a few slot machines on the way out.  Win a little, lose a little.

All in all, a great night out. Well needed for Hubby & I. And always a pleasure to have my amazing friend Rich with us.

Surprised Success!

Hubby's Surprise Party was a wonderful success. I can't believe I pulled this off. He was completely clueless. He even helped me get some things taken care of!

I lead Hubby to believe I was finally getting a group of girlfriends together to start a BUNCO group. He was so sweet and supportive. I had a couple of moments he "almost" got a clue or two, but got through without him knowing a thing! He even told my daughter, "Mom, is silly trying to get things so perfect for her friends."

The plan was to have Emily keep him out  from 6:30 till 7:15-7:30. We live in Indiana, and if you are a Basketball fan, you are familiar with the College Basketball Conferences. Today, our Butler University (local private elite college) was playing. Even if you are not a big basketball fan, like me, many love this school, love love love this endearing young enthusiastic coach, Brad Stevens, and these wonderful polite and role model players. Butler went into Overtime at 6:45... against Florida. INTENSE....
Hubby watching the game with our Daughter at a favorite restaurant. Me, trying to get ready, but interrupted watching in excitement, this basketball game!!!
Butler wins, seriously, at the last seconds!
Emily calls to tell me they are paying bill and soon on way (8 minute drive).
Noooooooo! Not yet! It's 7:15 and no one is here!
I am sure it is because like me... everyone is watching this game to the last second. Hey, it was overtime remember? So, Emily has to stale and give us another 15-20 minutes. Sure enough, one by one, the guys arrive, apologizing with the same excuse for their tardiness.

I have the dirty characteristic dozen, fifty-ish men that all have my husband in common, here together in our home. Most of them have known him since they were boys playing ball. A few met him some thirty years ago, as young men with their world at their fingertips.
There is Brian~ who has been there for my Hubby and vice versa~ since they were boys. Who is also our Family Physician. This is the friend that has journey through much with Hubby. Marriages, divorces, births, and deaths. We have vacationed together with our families over the years. And love him like family. He is the Lifer that Hubby recently ran off to Arizona twice this year camping in the virgin desert.
Mikey & Dicky~ Yes...we still call them that at 50 plus years old. More lifers that played ball when young, survived high school and thereafter.
Griff, Jim & Tony~ entered his life in high school. Griff is kind of related to us by marriage anyway. He is my sister's brother in law. He has also vacationed with us on a few trips with our families. Tony, I haven't seen in years, although Hubby has. And Jim I worked for while a Realtor for close to ten years. Another family friend that has shared a few family vacations with us. Our children are all together at the same college.
Rich~ My lifer. That through me and through his brother, Ronnie, have known Hubby for as long as I have known my Husband. Hubby has become closer to him through the recent death of Rich's brother.
Paul~ Hubby's work buddy that has been friends with him a solid twenty-some years. He and Hubby have shared their Harley Davidson love for many years and ridden many miles together.
Craig & Wild Man Kenny~ More Buddies from work that have known him for a good thirty years. Pre-married years...The wild twenties... the oh my gosh...I don't want to hear that story years... Still friends after all these years.
There were a few MIAs. Different situations caused them to have to miss. Spring Break vacations with families, a death in a family, an illness, lives out of state... In a perfect world I could get them all together without hiccups. However, having a good dozen is a feat in itself.
Hubby, was starting to get confused as they pulled up to the house. That's a lot of trucks...Familiar trucks.

Yes, he was surprised.
Yes, he was tickled.
He was happy and I saw an old familiar smile.
I even heard some belly laughs!

I wanted to take pictures. But, I couldn't pester Hubby. He doesn't like getting pictures taken (although he would appreciate them in years). I took one when he got here, but his back is to the camera and you can't see his face.

They ate, they drank, they laughed.

I think I did good.

It was good.
Very very good.

peace now my friend

This week I tragically lost a dear friend. He was only 49.
He peacefully left this life while sleeping. In his favorite spot on the couch, TV on, remote still in his hand.

Although it comforts me that he went like this, my heart is heavy and my sadness envelops me.

Memories surround us when we lose someone we love. I have so many of my Ronnie.

Our fathers were buddies in high school so there is some deeper connection.

When I was in elementary school, my family moved into his neighborhood.  Beginning of a lifetime friendship.  In 5th grade, I developed my first crush. Ronnie was my target. My friends, Jeanette Ramey and Janice Munchell, loaded our purses with rocks, knocked Ronnie down with them, sat on him so I could steal kisses.  Poor Ronnie. it's amazing we didn't scar him for life.  During the summer, Ronnie would hold Chemistry Exhibits in his basement and charge us kids to watch him do his experiments. My friend Tammy Bayliff and I paid to come watch. It was exciting and we thought he would blow up the basement (never happened). In these early years Ronnie & I had more of a love hate relationship. Although we were the same grade, I ran more with his little brother Richie (go HERE to read a post about Richie) and sister Kim. One summer, Kim picked me to go with them on a family vacation to a lake house. Ronnie still teases me about that trip. 1st~ I threw up in his Dad's new car. Not good. 2nd~ The movie Jaws was out that year and I was TERRIFIED. Ronnie & Bobby Hughbanks convinced naive me that sharks were in this lake... I know not too bright. Ronnie got in trouble for continuing to scare the shit out of me.

When we got to high school, Ronnie and I got closer. Especially our senior year. As I dated one of his best friends, and he dated one of mine. We were now spending just about every day together. The memories and laughs we share are unbelievable.

By time we all started heading to college, Ronnie helped me decide on Vincennes University. After not getting accepted at my first choice, and having huge reservations about going out of state to a very strict religious college I got accepted to, Ronnie had the good sense to tell me to come along with him to VU for a year. So, one Saturday morning, our parents packed us both up and dropped us off three hours south of Indianapolis to a little redneck town. We had the time of our lives... Ronnie was a clever guy as well as a fun guy. He always had adventures and "situations" to get us into. With the help of fellow Indy / Vincennes buddies, particularly Maurice Musser, we made quite a time of the college experience. We trusted each other completely. He was after all the closest thing to a brother I had. We were always trying to figure ways to make money to get us to Bloomington Indiana for the weekends. For a skinny little girl, I could hold my liquor well. Ronnie would make bets I could chug drink a small bottle (a pint?) of Jack Daniels quickly and not throw up.  cool. stupid. But we made tons of money with that little trick!

Our College year together bonded us even more. He was there for me holding me together when breaking up with my first sweetheart. And I was there holding him together when his break up happened. We took care of each other. We loved each other. We were a part of each other and who we were becoming.

Into adulthood, as friends come and go, I could always count on Ronnie. He could always count on me.

Ronnie was there with me the night I met my husband, Sergio. I made him come with me on our first date. Hell, I had both his siblings there too. We had a cookout, and Sergio invited them all as he knew how unsure I was about "dating" at that time.

Ronnie lived with us for a short period when he was between places. I loved that period and enjoyed our time immensely.

Ronnie and Richie were both with me when I went into labor with my first child. We were at a Saturday evening Mass dedicated to his Grandma Love. Completely made me think Grandma Love was involved as well in a part of Emily's grand entrance to the world. Ronnie & Richie came home with me, stayed with me, timed my contractions, and while Richie was hoping to deliver her with his pre-vet skills... Ronnie was freaking out trying to get a hold of Sergio to come home from work and get me to the hospital. We made it in times, and Ronnie was one of her first visitors.

Throughout the next twenty years, as I got busy with mothering, Ronnie continued to be a strong part of our lives. His friendship with my husband and I was always much more than friendship. We were family. I will always feel the Seats as my family. Sergio was very much a big brother to Ronnie. He guided him and loved him as deeply as I.

Ronnie was hilarious. Always. He was the go to guy to make you laugh. He was the King of Limericks and of the dirtiest of all jokes. Ronnie had a magical laugh. It was contagious. No matter how foul your mood, Ronnie could make you laugh.

Ronnie is one of the culprits that is responsible for my Lynryd Skynyrd, Molly Hachett, ZZ Top, and RUSH  love. I watched many a battles of air gutiar, Lynryd Skynyrd blaring with Ronnie almost always winning. I can't listen to this music without smiling.

Ronnie was crucial for me during some rough spots. When many friends didn't step out of the comfort zones and help me, Ronnie would. He understood my depression. Ronnie helped me. We would talk about some deep stuff. Ronnie shared things with me he couldn't with others as well. We had each other on this.

Ronnie knew how to make me feel appreciated and loved. He could set things in perspective for me when he couldn't always see that for himself. He said I was guilty of that too for him.

Ronnie was too young to die. He had much still to accomplish. He was so incredible proud of his son, Nick. He was such a great father and taught his son well. He pushed him and was so proud of his accomplishments. He was looking forward to his son's graduation and final college decision. He was extremely proud of both his brother and sister. He loved his nephews so. His parents as well. How hard it must be to bury your son. How unfair it must seem.

Letting go of this one is difficult.

Magic Music

I love music! I always have. I love everything from Classical to Rock. I love the in between stuff. The Bluegrass, the Jazz, Gospel, even Rap and New Wave.

Wishfully I had always wanted to sing. I never made choir (my lisp kept me from even trying out). I secretly wanted to join "Up With People" a Christian Traveling Band from the 70's, but obviously never did.

When I was in High School, Rich & I went to Young Life. every week. We loved it. It is a Christian youth group. We sang, played games and had a lesson in it. We even became Leaders when we grew up for a brief time. When the group would sing, Derek (our Leader) made it silly and fun. Rich and I would sing along but never belted them out very loud... Until we got in the car for the ride home. There we sang our poor little hearts out! Loud, Proud and badly! Although, truth be known Rich had a great voice and was better than he realized.

Today, I sing loud, proud and badly whenever I am alone. Especially, in the car.

Some songs do it better than others. The ones that are deep in you, and when you hear them, you sing along LOUDLY. How is it I can remember the words to some strange song from years ago, but important stuff I forget daily?

Last night, I think I scared the person next to me on the interstate as I sang "Aerosmiths, Janie's Got A Gun". Then at midnight on my way home they played, "Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody", of course who can not sing along with this?

Anytime I hear Journey, Queen, Aerosmith, Meatloaf, or REO Speedwagon, I am singing along at the top of my lungs.

I have even been known to sing some of Emienem and Usher stuff.

What is it with these songs? Hope you enjoy!