Sir Thomas of the Cutoff wandered out in the sweltering heat mid-afternoon to claim our territory on the village green. A fortress of folding chairs and packing cloth covered a coveted spot for the evening’s free concert, the last of the season. St. Penelope of the Prairie met him with a few more chairs, held in abeyance in my world-famous mocha VW with the latte interior. Satisfied that our musical homestead was secure, we headed home to change, make sandwiches, fill coolers, and motor back over, all-the-while ignoring the darkening skies, threatening clouds, and dire warnings from the weather service.
It might pass over.
Look. Over there. A banquet table set up for 20. To the left, picnic baskets, like lovely maids awaiting. Up front. Children playing in the splash fountain. This is, after all, the midwest, where weather can change faster than a New York minute. Shelter was but a few yards away. We would wait it out. We decided, just in case, to go ahead and eat our sandwiches,. It’s easier to scurry on a full stomach, is it not?
The oppressive temperatures, hovering perilously close to three digits in the hour we just passed, dropped about 15 degrees. The clouds were grey and black and rusty, clinging to the tallest spires. Then, a raindrop. No problem. What is a raindrop when you are poised to hear a band perform all things ABBA? A raindrop is nothing, but, the wind picked up and tossed about Sir Thomas’ sandwich, half of it landing on the carpet of grass (which, no doubt, had been fertilized to the legal extent of the law) and the array of fresh vegetables Saint Penelope had masterfully assembled in bubble gum pink Tupperware blew off the cooler, scattering carrots and snap peas, cherry tomatoes and homemade bread and butter pickles all about. There we were, our Waterloo, securing provisions and scurrying for shelter.
We hobbled between huge raindrops to the lobby of the parking garage, where we walked smack dab into friends who were meeting us. Their first time at this free outdoor concert series was not the best introduction, for sure, but, we greeted one another and were then greeted by three ladies. “Hey. You’re our ‘friends’ from the Neil Diamond concert.” How they remembered us is beyond me, but, remember us they did. We chatted like long lost relatives, still certain the weather would pass,. Sir Thomas , forever in blue jeans. magnanimously passed out our bag of cookies to the gaggle of new-found friends.
Tom, Bonnie and Larry climbed up the inert escalator to see if they could claim a spot to weather the storm, while our three newfound friends and I exchanged names we knew no one would remember the next day. Most Midwesterners are friendly. These three women were prime examples.
I decided to climb up the non-moving stairs to find my party. I was about halfway to heaven when an employee of the shopping center said “‘ ‘scuse me, miss, but, my boss says I hafta turn the escalators back on. Can you come back down?” . So, down I stepped while he executed his job, wondering why I couldn’t have merely gone the rest of the way up. Suddenly, the steps were animated. “Can I step on?”. I could. “Can I wave like Mary Tyler Moore in the Twin Cities at the beginning of her show?”. I could (though I’m sure he had no idea what I was talking about). So, I did, feeling that this old gal, with ten sheets of wadded paper towels from the ladies’ room in hand, armed and ready to wipe down chairs, might actually,make it, after all. All thirty of so concert goers below waved right back . . . and I wonder why people always seem to remember me?
As I tripped off the moving staircase and rounded the corner, where Sir Thomas and friends were stationed, two acquaintances emerged from the parking garage. Surprised looks of recognition abounded and they joined us in our impromptu gathered. We sat and talked and nibbled and watched the electric display of lightning from our aerie. Security came by, smiling, as did management. Folks came in and out of the doors. As the night wore on, we became the unofficial Abba-dabba-doers, greeting Friday night shoppers and bearing news, in the end, that the concert was cancelled.
Mama mia!
Well, these things happen, don’t they? What is one to do but to make the most of it.
I was one of the seemingly few not impressed by the movie Mama Mia! Fun, maybe, but the actors, especially the men, were more off key than I usually am. Maybe that was what it was all about. Bad singing but having fun. I am one of those movie goers who stays for the credits. However else does one discover the Nate Berkus was a producer of The Help, or that it was Rob Reiner’s mother, Estelle, who uttered the memorable line in When Harry Met Sally “I’ll have what she’s having”. So, I watched the credits to Mama Mia!, and I had a good smile. These otherwise stellar actors really seemed to be having fun in the end, and that, like our rained out concert, is what makes life sweeter, in spite of the rain that may fall.
I love this post….and smiled throughout! I could just picture it all! You write so well………but I am sorry it rained on your party.
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Thank you very much. I’m pleased as punch to have brought on some smiles. We had a nice time, in spite of the rain.
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I thought this sort of thing only happens in the UK; mind you, the concert would NOT have been cancelled and the audience would come prepared with umbrellas, large tarpaulins and rubber boots and all would sit in the rain, huddled up against wind and weather, eat their sandwiches and drink from flasks of hot tea and feel totally virtuous.
It took me years to get into the swing of outdoor entertainment in the rain. And we have a lot of it.
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It happens here, too, Friko. Many, including us, did arrive with tarps and umbrellas and would have weathered the storm, had not high winds come through, threatening the band shell. Predications of 55-65 mile per hour winds is what caused the event to be cancelled. Fear not, for there were quite a few virtuous hangers-on who huddled in shelter, enjoying the night anyways.
Good for you. It takes a bit of determination, doesn’t it? We’ve had our share, Friko, coming home soddenly happy.
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I smiled as I read this and listened to Neil Diamond. You have a way of triumphing over circumstance Penny, and you sure do tell a good story. This was a great way to start my day; thank you.
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Thank you, Juliet. I’m glad that your enjoyed Neil Diamond and happy to know this helped you have a good start to your day.
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Well holy cow! But you turned the lemons into a great blog lemonade. That would not have happened if all had gone according to plan. Penny, you’ve got
spunk as Mr. Grant said to Mary!
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I’ve always wanted to have spunk, Marilyn. Now, you’ve made my day. It seems that the older I get, the more lemonade I make. tee hee
Thank you.
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It sounds like you have more fun at cancelled concerts than many people have at concerts Penny!
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Sometimes, we just have to make the best of it, Janet. The crowd in attendance was pretty nice and these three ladies were a hoot.
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You and Tom found a way to enjoy the evening even though it rained on your parade. It reminds me of a couple of ISU coeds who, dateless on a Saturday night, went to the free movie. Even though it was probably the worst movie ever at least from an editing standpoint, those two coeds laughed till they cried as others walked out of the theater. Arizona Bushwackers will always in my memory be one of the funniest movies I ever saw and it was intended to be completely serious. Remember?????
I’m glad you found a way to have fun. I recognized the Neil Diamond, and Mary Tyler Moore videos, but have not seen Mama Mia! Always find a way to have fun.
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Oh, Janet, however did you recall that? Arizona Bushwackers. I’m so thrilled for the reminder of those two coeds, who managed to have fun no matter where they went, and I DO remember giggling with you at this “funny” movie. You have me smiling here at our youthfulness. Gosh, we had fun, didn’t we?
Actually, we still do . . .
Me too. I wish I could see Mama Mia with you, because, we would laugh at how outrageous it is. It is worth it for the songs, and the credits. tee hee
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Oh Penny! You made the entire business of a rained-out concert sound like loads of fun, and not many people could do that! We’ve had really oppressive heat with unusually high humidity. All the talk is that “we’re like the midwest or the south,” and yet you’ve now reminded me that we aren’t. There are no “pop up” storms like you’ve just described. I love that you took a potential disappointment and then simply gathered with friends, the old and the new, and made the best of it.
Funny aside you will just have to take my word on–I’ve been sitting here tonight watching episode after episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show tonight. I’m reading a wonderful book about the show, and that inspired me! I’ll be sharing about the book sometime soon, because anyone our age who loved that show will want to read this book! And I agree with you about Mama Mia. It was kind of a stinker, but I think I smiled and hummed along…maybe that’s a good thing! 🙂
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Thank you, Debra. We had that heat and humidity all last week. Oppressive is the perfect word for it. Sorry that you’ve been experiencing it as well. Midwestern weather is, to put it mildly, erratic. Last week, be pushed three digits. This morning (Tuesday) we awoke to 53°. The night of the concert, we could feel the temperature drop.
I will take your word, and grin from ear to ear for it. How about that?! I’ll be awaiting your words on the book you read. The Mary Tyler Moore show remains one of my all-time favorite series.
Stinker is right. I wonder if it was just supposed to be “campy” and no one figured it out. The credit scenes were very fun, though.
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Penny, I love the way you make such an amusing tale out of a spoiled evening’s entertainment. You told it so vividly that I could see you all making the best of a bad job with your new-found friends. Friko is right, though. In the UK people would have put on their waterproofs and soldiered on. 🙂
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We would have soldiered on as well, Perpetua, actually had our tarps and umbrellas at the ready. Unfortunately, the lightening was urgent and the winds kicked up, creating a potential hazard and dangerous. There have been a few concerts in these parts in the past several years that have caused some serious injuries. So it goes, in the wide, wild midwest.
Thank you. Hope you are safely home now.
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Brilliantly enjoyed Penny….despite problems, it will be an evening long remembered. In the UK, they would have expected it to rain, and people would have dressed accordingly, as mentioned by Friko & Perpetua. Here in Caunes, everyone expects gorgeous weather for concerts, but the Church is always ready to accommodate waifs and strays from storms, unexpected cold spells and the raging winds that can frequent these parts. The concert organisers’ contingency plans always involve having enough cushions around to hand out in case people are driven into the church by the weather……as the pews are the most uncomfortable in the world….clearly intended for you to lean on in between being on your knees praying, certainly not for sitting on !
A great post Penny, I’ve loved it. Jx
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So glad to read that, Janice. Thank you.
As I’ve mentioned above to both Friko and Perpetua, most folks did come prepared for rain and Tom and I have soaked through more than a few concerts in our time. Unfortunately, being the midwest, storms kick in with an urgency, and this one had 65 mph winds and lightening, with no where but stairwells to flee to, as it is a brand new center. The area has seen a few concerts in the past several years where weather kicked in and became dangerous, with serious injuries, bandstands collapsing, and a need to cancel outside events sooner. We’ve known of professional golfers being struck by lightening. I really should do a post sometime on the weather hereabouts. Last Tuesday it was in the high 90’s, this morning it was 53 degrees. ha!
I remember you posting on your rainy concert, Janice, and your sojourn to the church, thinking how lovely an option that was. Thank you so much, Janice.
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Dear Penny, . . . and a good time was had by all, not least of which were the Mama Mia actors. Your stories just invite us in and we’re there with you, enjoying the evening and even the droplets of rain. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face this morning here in Missouri, which promises to be very hot and humid today. Peace.
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Thank you, Dee.
I do hope that heat and humidity abates soon for you. Missouri is so much further south, where the seasons wax and wane a bit differently. We have had some delightful weather, much cooler, since the the heat of last week, but, we wait, with baited breath, for September can bring some more hot spells.
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