Cher: Dancing Queen Tour

January 31st is a day I will always remember. It is a day that I saw one of my all time favorite artists perform at Bridgestone Arena. It is also a day that I got blessed beyond what I deserved and almost had the worst day of my life.

That morning, I woke up and attended a workshop with VIPKid and then my mom and I set out to go to school. That's right, my mom went with me to school so I wouldn't have to make two trips between Livingston and Nashville. We stopped and ate lunch along the way and even got to school a little early. Afterwards, we went and ate lunch down in Brentwood because I just selected a location of a Cheddar's on the GPS that was closest to us.

But, before lunch, we detoured all around Nashville finding where we were going and doing a little bit of site seeing along the way. We had so much time to kill it was insane. But, all the while, I was developing an earache (to learn the next day I had a terrible ear infection). I was sick and miserable and on some new antibiotics and couldn't go five minutes without having to blow my nose (all the while also having a sore throat). Y'all. I was so sick it wasn't even funny. I was sick and miserable and was only out to have a good time.

After lunch, Momma and I found the parking garage and was able to park earlier than we thought we could. We got a good parking spot and then walked over to the Arena. We waited in line (with my pocket full of tissues) and finally went in. It was easy getting through the metal detectors, but then things started to go slightly down hill. We were getting in line for merch and when we thought it was our turn these two men got really aggressive and said we got in front of them (we thought there was a line for each person that was working the table, but apparently we were wrong). So, I got upset and told her we'd just come back later, because I was not in the mood to be yelled at.

At this point, we moseyed our way up to the TOP LEVEL of the venue for us to work on finding our seats. To which, we discovered a merch table and got me a t-shirt.

We then went to find our seats. We were about 10 rows from the top (we were in row M, mind you). We went and discovered to our dismay that somehow we couldn't fit into our seats. AT. ALL. (Now, if you've read my Panic! at the Disco post, you'd know I fit in my seat that show, and it was SIX DAYS before this one. Also, at that show, I wore leggings as pants AND it was still a tight squeeze, mind you.) So, being the emotional person I am, I tell my mom we can go and stand and wait on the concourse. We stood there and saw some people we knew. I also cried a lot and my mom talked to the people working there. (Disclaimer: I know I am big, but I also feel like places like this should be accessible to all people. I saw some people there who were much bigger than I am and I was heart broken for them.) I also had to use the bathroom at one point (remember, all the drinking due to being overly congested, y'all, plus a sore throat). To which this woman YELLED AT ME underneath the door BECAUSE SHE LEFT HER WATER BOTTLE IN THERE. Hold up. I wouldn't want to drink from a water bottle I had left in a BATHROOM that SOMEONE ELSE handled, but that's just me. So, I finally shoved at her while trying to use the bathroom in peace while also ugly crying.

Eventually, the openers came on, so I convinced my mom for us to try our seats. During this time, my mom was the best. She tried to convince me that we could leave, because we at least showed up. She told me we could go watch a movie. She said we could go do whatever I wanted. But, I said I wanted to stay. I was determined. I wasn't going to let someone else dictate whether I could enjoy a concert -- which this statement is totally aimed at the people who made the seats, btw. So, up we climbed, again, while I'm struggling to even BREATE. We found our seats, once again, and once again, couldn't fit in them. I thought maybe something would change. I don't know why, but I did. So, I got embarrassed. I got even more upset. I was distraught. I got these tickets for my mom's Christmas and birthday gifts and then we weren't even going to enjoy the concert. I don't know what I was thinking.

We get back out onto the concourse and I'm bawling. I'm blowing my nose. I'm trying to figure something out. I had even looked earlier about buying new tickets and having them on my phone for me and her to just move down another section at least. Because at least then when we stood we wouldn't feel like we were about to fall from a massive distance. Alas, though, Jeremy, my guardian angel, appears. Who? You're about to find out.

While I was ugly crying, this worker walks over to us and asks what the matter is. I'm not able to speak and my mom explains. She explains everything. To which, he responds, "I've got some tickets to some seats that are lower that the arm rests raise up to give you some more room." WHAT. HOMEBOY SAID WHAT. You read it. We got new tickets. We got upgraded. I say it's because of my ugly crying, but my mom says it's because of praying. It's honestly probably both. (Earlier, we had been told to go talk to customer service, but I didn't think they could've helped, so I told Momma we'd just wait and go back to our seats when more people went up there.)

So, Momma and I went down an elevator and ended up ELEVEN ROWS FROM THE STAGE. That's right. Us and other people we noticed from being way up on high started trickling into our section. Now, it wasn't a sold out show, so that helped. We got to our seats before the openers ended.

Then, the real show began. What had once been one of my worst concert experiences ever had been turned into the best, and I was ready for Cher to come out. And, boy, did she. She came out singing "Woman's World" and my life was changed forever. She is such a role model and encouragement to women everywhere. I cried so much due to not believing what I was seeing. I couldn't believe a woman I've looked up to my whole life had waved at us before the show (oh, yeah, that happened and I died) and I was experiencing it with the woman who has always believed in me and took care of me.

Cher performed so many great songs and all of her classics. She never missed a beat -- even with all the costume and wig changes. She did a lot of monologues and shared so much wisdom. She was everything I imagined and more. It is hands down THE best concert I've been to (and I've been to a lot, mind you). It is a night I'll never forget and have no regrets of staying up really late and playing hookie the next day of anyone who called me to sub. I have no regrets listening to her and semi-singing and totally dancing with an infected ear.

Cher will always have a special place in my memories and made me realize that I now have a great excuse to buy super expensive seats and sit super close. She also made me realize that this is a "Woman's World" and I just simply have to find my place in running it.

(And, yes, I have shed SO MANY tears while writing this. It's such a bittersweet memory at times but one that is so cherished by me.)