All I can say is WOW...

Okay, I think I can say more than just wow...but, as my kids say, "wowie, wow, wow, wow" might just be it.

Last night a good friend of mine and I attended a most spectacular Josh Groban concert. I have been to a number of concerts over the years, but none have come close to this incredible experience. I told this friend that CDs will so pale in comparison to two hours of total soaking in of Josh Groban's romantic tenor voice...sigh.

As we entered the Energy Solutions Arena (still don’t like the name of that place…ahem former Delta Center) the intro band was playing. I won’t go into that much because I really didn’t care much for the music.

Then they announced that the Josh Groban concert would be taped for the Awake Tour DVD. They had chosen Salt Lake City as the location for that taping.

As he came on stage I was suddenly a teenager all over again. Each performance brought screams, sighs and applause from yours truly. You could almost see the crescendos build and flow in waves from the front to the back of the arena and hit us with full force. WOW!!

We also discovered that Josh has quite the sense of humor. At one point, sitting at the piano and donning a cowboy hat began to sing, “I’m a cowboy. On a steel horse I ride.” After a line or two he stopped, switched to some funky glasses and did a little Elton John impersonation. He joked about doing Karaoke, but then said that we had paid to hear him sing and had better get on with the concert instead.

During a violin solo Josh slipped off stage. After the solo the spotlight showed Josh among the audience, just a short distance from us. Huge screams could be heard from all those around him. BIG SIGH!!

This is a video clip of Josh in the audience.


Two hours and three encores later I told my friend I could die happy now.

Life moments

Earlier this week I had just climbed into bed. As I lay there looking at the ceiling the tears fell. These tears were a mix of happiness and sorrow.

At about 2 pm that day I had just arrived on the 6th floor of a local hospital when I learned of the passing of a family friend. I had been asked, by the daughter of this good man, to come and sit with her mom as she sat in vigil at the side of her dying husband.

Rather than sit with her mom, as I had planned, I was now there to help console other family members as they arrived at his bedside. I was available with my cell phone to contact others who were needed at that time.

I was also able to witness some very tender moments with the family as they said their preliminary goodbyes to their husband, brother and father.

As I lay in my bed that night I was overcome by gratitude for the opportunity to be there with them.