Here is an acoustic version of one of the songs he played.

 

Last Sunday I got a phone call. It was 8:20 at night. I had just put on my pajamas and was ready to settle down to binge watch  House Of Cards.

The voice on the other end was my girlfriend Kristy. “Come on, let’s go see Lee DeWyze.”

We had talked earlier in the week about going to see the American Idol winner of a few seasons ago. A performer that both she and I loved because of his raspy, soul filled voice and humble manner. We never confirmed or finalized details so as the weekend went on and I didn’t hear from her, I figured it was a no-go.  It was a Sunday night, a “work” night, and he didn’t go on till 9:00 so we just let the idea kind of fizzle.

But now, 40 minutes before show time, she was on the other end of the line, telling me they’d be right there to pick us up. “Get out of your pajamas, come on, let’s go.”

I was hesitant. I was so comfortable in my yoga pants and loose-fitting tee. I didn’t want to get dressed and make myself presentable.

“Naw” I told her. “I don’t wanna!”

As I said that, something cringed inside me.

I wanted to go, I love live music and I love this artist, but I was so content and comfortable, I didn’t want to make the effort. I was straddling the fence.

But something inside me was uneasy.

Then her hubby Todd, the ultimate rally monkey and lover of all things fun, got on the phone. He was the driving force behind this effort and as I listened to his reasons why we should go; mainly to support an independent artist that ended up going against the A.I. megaforce that started his career, I looked at myself in the mirror.

There I was in my pajamas at 8:20. What am I 90?

I decided in that moment that I wanted to be the person that jumped at a chance to do something fun. Despite the last-minute decision and pressure to be presentable in 10 minutes, I KNEW I would have more fun going than staying in my pjs and watching TV.  Even if Lee ended up being awful (which he wasn’t, he was fantastic) I would have regretted choosing pajamas over fun.

Once I said “yes,” to myself and to my friends, it was on. I was excited.  It was just a matter of making that choice. Of saying yes.

I threw on my jeans, brushed my hair and was out the door in minutes.

After an amazing 1 1/2 hours of music, as the show was wrapping up, Todd remarked, “In a year, I’m not going to remember another dull Sunday night or what I watched on TV. But I will remember this.”

This is a reminder for me.

In order to live large, to follow my dreams, and to get out of my comfort zone . . . it all starts with saying YES!

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Thank you for the reminder Kristy and Todd! xoxo

Salty Spontaneous Kisses,

Karen

And I highly recommend checking out Lee DeWyze if he comes to your area. He’s worth getting out of your pajamas for! 🙂