Where does YES take you? Part 4, YES goes Punk!

Part of an ongoing project called, "The Yes Project", where I resolve to say YES more to opportunities that come my way.  Click here to see the other posts.

I've mentioned many times that I love my brother dearly, but I am crazy bitter that he stole all of the musical genes, the dimples, and the good teeth.   I got the leftover mutant genes, for example if the doctor says there is a one in a trillion chance that we will run into a rare complication during some routine procedure, I will be the 1 in a trillion.  In spite of him hogging the good genes, I love him.

   

My brother is a musician by trade, he is amazing and unbelievably talented.  My brother makes a living doing what he loves and it is inspiring.   When I was in high school my brother was in an awesome ska band that was "Huge in Utah".   Whenever I was in town I would go to their shows, and anytime they played a California show I was right there in the front row by my brother.

In February my brother called me, "Twinkiehead! (his endearing nickname), my band is doing a reunion show in Salt Lake this summer, you have to come!"  My answer was, "YES! I am there!"  I told Mr. Man that I wanted to go to this show and his response was, "I wanna go too, let's take the whole family!"  Wait..Whoa... Really? What happened to my homebody husband?

I can not tell you how much I love watching my brother play and I wanted my children to see their Rock Star Uncle in action.  We took the kids to sound check where they got a taste of what it is their Uncle does for a job.  AK was instantly at ease with the rock star lifestyle... and when the music started she couldn't help but dance

It's crazy to me that my brother is rocker by trade, because that evil "Rock Music" was banned in our house when we were growing up.  I actually missed all of the 80's music and pop culture, because of my nutty folks. Imagine the disdain  my 80's  husband felt, when he heard me mispronounce the name of his favorite band, Depeche Mode. ( I pronounced it De-Peach Mode.)

The Lead Singer and Moi

Being "with the band" while growing up has had many perks and I'm not going to lie, I totally took advantage.   I see it as payback for all the years I had to sit squished in the back of my mom's Buick with an Upright Bass hanging out the window.  

When I am at one of my brother's shows, you can find me up in the very front, dancing my heart out in front of my brother.   One time I showed up late to a show at a small club.   I squeezed my way up front and was baffled by some crazy wench who kept elbowing me out of her way.   She kept making googly eyes at my brother... *gross* but that wasn't uncommon at his shows.   Finally, after being elbowed for the fifth time, I gave her a shove and the death stare.  Then I went back to dancing and all was right with the world.   After the show I was talking to my brother and the crazy wench approached us.  My brother put his arm around her and said, "Twinkiehead, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Crazy Wench!"  I gave her a polite handshake, a "How do you do?"  and coolly said, "I believe we already met on the dancefloor."   It didn't work out between crazy wench and my brother, because nobody... and I repeat nobody gets in my dancing space at my brother's shows.

The night of the concert after dinner with some of the Ya Ya's, I left my children behind, turned off my cell phone and slipped into some plaid.  I left my 35 year old motherly self at the door, and was back to being my high school self, except this time I was much happier.  

I danced my heart out that night and sang along with the band.  Our dear friends the Irish's from LA showed up and that was the best surprise.  I loved being able to share this part of my life with them.  We had a blast and I was reminded what saying Yes does for me.   For one night, I was Wendy... The Band's Little Sister,  not mom, and I was reminded just how much I love ska music, live bands, and especially dancing.   Even if I'm terrible at it... because of course... my brother hogged the dancing gene too.