The Night We Met Steven Curtis Chapman

As I sit in the car on our drive home, I am totally floored at last night's overall experience. For lack of a better way of describing this sensation, I will ask this: Ever been high before? On anything? I have, once. Don't smoke K2 people. That crap is dangerous. If anyone tells you otherwise, WALK AWAY! Not a great experience in terms of after effect however, the initial sensation is like walking on clouds. I feel like I'm walking on clouds but I'm so overwhelmed by the sensation of it, I could cry with joy. The feeling was much stronger last night obviously. Just as I start to come off this high, I replay last night in my mind, and the sensation comes right back. I met my musician hero last night; my inspiration for music writing style. I met Steven Curtis Chapman. I just typed that....Woh....Saying it out loud sounds even more crazy.

We started off the evening waiting outside the doors at the VIP entrance with the other VIPs. Of course, David is a popular baby. He's adorable, what can I say? There was an awkward encounter with a woman who nearly had Momma Bear bite her head off though. She asked if I paid for a seat for my 2 month old son. Weird. No? What kind of question is that? I informed her he's breastfed so he doesn't leave me like, EVER. And then she said I may have to buy him a seat. Really? He's 2 months old. He doesn't sit up. By this time, I'm feeling the sarcastic side of me inching herself closer to my mouth to spout off...Then she asked if we have a sitter. I flat said no, reiterated my son nurses, to which she replied she bottle fed her kids. By this time, Paul was inching away so I had an excuse to walk off from her. People, open your ears more often and LISTEN. Maybe you'll learn something. Ya know, something like minding your own business. ANYWAY--luckily we did not have another encounter with her.

Upon getting inside, we were taken right to our seats, where we were told how we'd line up and the rest of the details for the VIP Meet & Greet. I was disappointed to learn SCC wouldn't be signing his autobiography or anything else. But the reason was because he likes to talk to people. He prefers to be personable with everyone. I love that. He has a lot of names to sign too when you think about it. I got over the no signing real quick. I was gonna meet the guy. That was more than exciting itself.

While waiting for our turn to meet SCC, the head of the VIP proceedings whispered to me that he would get my book signed. Do you have any idea how difficult it was not to scream "YES" at this guy? Or dance for that matter. I was as giddy as a school girl last night. After we made our way back to our seats following the encounter with SCC, the overseer came by and nonchalantly picked up my book off the diaper bag and walked backstage with it. He brought it back several minutes later and again, nonchalantly laid it back on top of the diaper bag in Paul's chair. I was nursing David next to a girl who I was making conversation with at the time. She was disappointed she couldn't get her book signed. I momentarily felt a bit of guilt because I was staring at my book, knowing there was a signature in it. It took so much effort not to pick it up and goggle over it. I couldn't let her know what had happened. I just nodded my head in sympathy.

Anyway, when it came our turn to talk to SCC, guess who was at his side first? Yeah, ME! Bahahaha! I shook the man's hand and introduced Paul and David. I received a proper handshake by the way. He's from Kentucky. I expected no less. Thank you so much for not holding the tips of my fingers like I'm some dainty flower. I am anything but dainty. Even so, I was taught to properly shake hands.

After that, I FROZE. Yep. I was at the starstruck state of mind where I couldn't open my mouth. The situation was quickly remedied. SCC asked about David. Good save. And then I asked him if I could ask him a question. Dude....I've been asking myself the last 24 hours where I learned to speak. Paul has laughed at me every time it's been brought up. Thank you Love, for laughing at my expense. Anyway, my question was if he would look over the lyrics to one of my songs. I had it stashed in my back pocket. He was genuinely interested. I told him when he had time, to look it over and give me some feedback. Can't imagine how busy the guy is.....Some of y'all are yelling at me as you read this. I did not hand over a copy of my lyrics without taking the necessary precautions. The copyright has been paid for, I have a timestamped email to Paul that can't be back dated any further, I have the handwritten original with the finish date, and I have a voice recording. I also sent the recording to 2 of my musician friends. I got dis, alright? Stop yelling. I wasn't hatched yesterday.
After that, we had pictures taken that were less candid, and shook hands again. The encounter itself went so fast. And it was weird cuz ya know, I FROZE. Okay, maybe it wasn't entirely weird. It was me feeling awkward because I couldn't open my mouth. Paul and SCC saved the conversation, just saying. Paul and I were discussing that as we walked back to our front row seats--Well, Paul talked. I was staring off into the distance at a Tattooine sunset like Luke Skywalker.....When I came back to the proper planet, Paul was smirking at me. He made his joke that when I become famous, I have to buy him a Corvette. Alright Love, you'll have a Corvette. Can I have a property with a deer stand on the back 40? I almost didn't give him my lyrics. He thought I wasn't going to either. I did it though. Yeah, I did that. And I met my musician hero. Wow....

This concert was different from the others I've been to. Mind you, I haven't been to many. Maybe 4....I think. Most concerts have a lot of music and little talk. This concert had a lot of talking and a lot of music. This particular tour is Steven Curtis Chapman by himself--The SCC Solo Tour. He talks about his autobiography quite a bit, his faith, and the Show Hope organization he and his wife founded. Although I read his autobiography, it was nice to hear him verbally tell it instead of simply reading it. I read the book over the course of 2 flights to and from the Bahamas a couple years ago. I think that was a rough total of 10 hours in flight. I slept about 4 hours of that. So between the hour wait in the airport (I bought the book in the San Diego airport), and both flights, I finished the book in roughly 6 or 7 hours. I like to read. heheh
During the concert, SCC used his music to narrate the milestones in his life from the autobiography starting at the beginning of his life up to the present. It was a unique way to do a concert. The below pictures were snagged from his Instagram account. I didn't take pictures during the concert. We were sitting front row just off center. The view couldn't be beat. I wasn't gonna spend all night watching it though a camera lense.

After intermission--also known as "pee break," SCC did something totally crazy. He said it was crazy and I agree with him. He said he would take song requests from the audience. WHAT?! How awesome! I didn't raise my hand to make a request. I was content with everyone else making requests and listening to the verse or chorus he did of each song. Now, there were a couple requested from the start of his career that he had to work hard to remember. Everyone has brain farts. It's totally okay. He did warn everyone that might happen being put on the spot for songs. We all enjoyed his candor nonetheless. He has a bubbly personality. He's a joker type person. The whole idea was laid back although he was clearly nervous about taking song requests. The girl next to me requested "What I Really Want to Say." It's one of my favorites. Of course, "Be Still" was requested. Several of the others requested were ones I had never heard before. Makes me want to go buy every one of his CDs and listen to them over and over to learn the songs. That's how I memorized the "Speechless" CD. I walked around with that CD in a lime green CD player with a spikey haired, fish net hose wearing punk rocker on the front of it, the lyrics insert from the CD case in hand, and singing each song like they were mine. True story.

Interjection about the mini man cub. He was amazing through the entire concert. SCC was solo--only him and a guitar or the piano all night. No worries about being overly loud or needing headphones for David. It was such a laid back concert. SCC mentioned that in the beginning actually. Specifically that when you don't have a drummer, you can stop in the song whenever you want to talk for however long you want without risking upsetting your drummer. There was also mention of things being thrown at you when you chat too long, specifically drumsticks....Anyway, the mini man cub. His favorite song is Cinderella. There was a day I had him upstairs with me while folding laundry. He was NOT happy that I wasn't holding him. When I turned on Pandora, the first song that came on was Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman. He immediately quieted and listened to the song. I decided it was the perfect time to sing to him and dance to Cinderella. He was very happy to hear Cinderella sang last night.

At the end of the concert, SCC said a prayer for all of us who attended the concert, as well as the volunteers, the crew, the venue, his family, and Show Hope. His faith is the root of his music. It was an honor to be prayed over. After finishing his prayer, he started strumming "Dive." Another one of my favorites! We jammed from the front row, singing every word. When it was all over, SCC tossed me the concert guitar pick. And guess what? I missed it. Yep. I did not catch the pick. In my defense, I was holding David and was still in that starstruck state of mind. It landed at my feet though. It wasn't gonna go far. I took that as my sign to start on guitar again. And that it's time to retrain my left hand to play piano as well. Time has gotten away from me in the musical world for sure. Life is empty without music.

In closing, thank you Steven Curtis Chapman for hosting a concert close to where we live. Thank you for being genuine. Thank you for being totally chill in my obvious starstruck awkwardness. Thank you for taking my lyrics. I hope you find them as beautiful as my musician friends have. Thank you for the work you and your family do for orphans. Thank you for telling your story, even the dark stuff. It has not only inspired me (a lot) because of our similar upbringing, personality, and mindset, but your story has inspired everyone else who has heard it to be more caring to others in the world. People like you shed the light of hope on the darkness in the world. Keep shining!