Looking for Neil; found Tilian instead

What's your dream?

This is a question I'm asked regularly by Shulamith's five-year-old son, Swen. My answer has to be just right. If I tell him something that has actually happened, he says "That's not a dream, Her. That's a 'real.'" If I can't remember a legit dream, he doesn't like that either, so often, I have to make stuff up.When I ask Swen about his dream, he usually talks about things he wants to happen, his hopes for the day.

So what about those kinds of dreams: our hopes, our goals, our wishes for the future, either near or distant. We all have them. I sure do. For example,

1. I dream of going to Europe, especially Germany and Austria.
2. I dream of taking a road trip across the U.S., visiting church historical sites along the way and culminating in the South, visiting Eli's mission.
3. I dream of serving a full-time mission for my church, hopefully somewhere foreign, an opportunity neither Gerald nor I had when we were younger because we weren't yet members.

Some of my life dreams have already been realized, including watching Broadway shows in NYC, and seeing Neil Diamond in concert (that one's happened three times!), and being the mom to five amazing kids.

Today, Eli fulfilled a decade-long dream: attending Vans Warped Tour! Since he was 14 and a freshman in high school, he's dreamed of going to this event, but apparently Billings isn't cool enough to host Warped Tour, so he never could. Today, he and Amanda just happened to be here in Salt Lake the very day Warped Tour was here. How could he pass that up? He couldn't.

Not a super fan of post-hardcore rock, I debated whether to go with them, but ultimately, there's not much I wouldn't do to hang out with my kids. Visit a snake farm? Probably not that. But just about anything else.

It was quite an event. Seven different stages graced the Utah State Fairpark, along with tents for each band, selling t-shirts and other swag. Eli bought a Warped Tour shirt, along with (count them!) three "Dance Gavin Dance" t-shirts.

I looked for my guy, Neil Diamond, but instead found a beautiful young man with solid dance moves named Tilian Pearson, mononymously, Tilian! Lead singer (clean vocals) for Eli's favorite band, Dance Gavin Dance, Tilian is seriously talented. The only problem is, it's so hard to hear him. Most of the time, he is efficiently drowned out by blasting-loud music and other band members screaming. But every now and then and not often enough...sometimes at the start of a song, sometimes at the end or even in the middle, all that loud music and screaming subsides. And you hear Tilian sing. That part. That part is lovely.

Even lovelier for me was watching the pure joy on Eli's face when this band played. Just like Shulamith and me at a Neil Diamond concert, Eli knows every word to every song.

It was hot and crowded, and I had mild claustrophobia, fearing I might die in the mosh pit, but nothing could keep me away from Eli and watching his utter euphoria! Indeed, we moms are happy when our kids are happy. Eli and I were happy today!

We watched a couple other bands he likes. I was excited to actually recognize one song: American Authors' "Best Day of my Life." We danced and clapped and sang along. We ate good food, applied and reapplied sunscreen, and drank copious amounts of water to stay hydrated.

What's your dream?

Eli realized one of his today.

I looked for Neil, but found Tilian instead.

And it was good.

Farewell, Sir Elton John - Thank you, Ruth Ann and Isaiah

When I was 13, I joined a girls' service organization called The International Order of Rainbow for Girls. This organization has many officers, but the five top ones progress through what is called "the line," and once a girl starts through that "line" holding the office of "Faith," she continues through, holding the offices of "Hope," "Charity," "Worthy Associate Adviser," consecutively, and ultimately becomes the "Worthy Adviser," who leads the assembly for four months.

Our assembly, Kellogg #92 was brand new, so they had to find all five line officers at the same time, rather than just electing a "Faith," and letting her progress through. From the same high school, they found the top four, all girls who were between their junior and senior years. But I guess they couldn't find a fifth, so eventually, they asked me to be "Faith." I was headed to 8th grade and ridiculously excited about Rainbow, but if that wasn't enough, getting to hang out with these four "older" and incredibly cool girls was almost more than I could handle. They were so nice to me.

I became especially close to one of them, Ruth Ann, who held the office of "Charity" in the "line." She was so beautiful! She had perfect hair and makeup and, well, everything! She would come pick me up to do stuff, because she could drive and even had her own car. it was the first time I ever rode around with a teenager. I wanted to be just like her, so when she introduced me to the music of a rock & roll singer named Elton John, I was all in. Looking back now, I can't tell you whether I truly loved Elton John from the start or if I just loved him because Ruth Ann did, but somewhere along the line, that passion became my own.

Fast forward a few years till now, and Sir Elton John remains one of my favorite artists. When he first announced his final tour "Farewell Yellow Brick Road," I immediately thought, "Well this is it. I have to go. If I don't, I'll never get another chance."

Then I checked the price of tickets...

...and quickly convinced myself that it might be okay if I didn't see him.

His performance here in Salt Lake City was two nights ago, and yes, I was there, thanks to my favorite third-born child ever, Isaiah. In many ways, Isaiah and I see life through a similar lens. We're both passionate about politics and social justice. We both love to travel and eat Asian food (he just gets to do it way, way more than I do). He has turned me into an over-the-top Utah Jazz fan.

And we both love Elton John.

So Wednesday, while I was in class at SLCC, he texted me: "If I buy them, will you go? Consider it a combined birthday and Christmas present?"

What???????????????? Of course I'll go!

We rode Trax downtown to the Vivant Smart Home Arena, where we've gone many times to see Jazz games, but this felt so different. I was crazy excited, but not one bit nervous. Usually, my nerves are completely on edge, hoping so desperately for a Jazz win. Instead, I could just relax and enjoy the anticipation with no fear.

I struggle to put into words what we experienced. I've seen Neil Diamond three times, Barry Manilow twice, and other outstanding live concerts, including Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, and Donny & Marie.

But there is no contest. This performance Wednesday night was in a league all its own. For three solid hours, with just two five-minute breaks to change his clothes, Elton John played the piano and sang song after song after song, holding the entire audience in the palm of his unbelievably talented hands. Isaiah and I were squarely centered in one of those palms. We kept looking at each other in awe, as if to say, "Can you even believe this is happening to us?"

With only three songs we didn't recognize, we sang right along. Every time I thought I'd heard every famous hit, he began playing another, and we'd look at each other and mouth, "Oh yeah. I forgot about this one!" We knew he'd close with "Yellow Brick Road," and sure enough, after three hours, that time came. I might have been a little sad to see it end, but when he explained why this would be his final tour, he said,

"I never thought I would have a family of my own. And now I do."

And that's enough for me.

So thank you, Ruth Ann, for introducing me to such talent. Thank you, my dear Isaiah, for a night I will never forget. And thank you, Sir Elton John, for the magic.