Our big news from yesterday was our
adventure into Houston. As the result of
an incredibly generous gift from a Seasider, we were treated to a performance
by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Toyota Center.
Now, I can’t really remember the last time
I went to a rock concert. Maybe it was a
presentation of portions of Jesus Christ Superstar back sometime between
January and August of my senior year in high school. I’m pretty sure Chris and I never went to one. She was more of a country music kind of
gal. But I have certainly never been to
a performance like this one.
The first half of the show was a loosely
connected collection of songs and some Christmas carols tied together with a
narrative that rhymed about some guy meeting an angel in a bar. That story line was really hard for me to
follow. The music in this part was
pretty good, though. I especially
enjoyed their rendition of Joy to the World.
By far the best thing they did. It
was loud, though. Really loud. A veritable blast from the past …
literally. I had to just take off my
hearing aids. Guess that officially
makes me an old geezer … Like I wasn’t already aware.
The second half of the show was a full-on
rock concert. Lots of pyrotechnics and a
very cool, huge electricity spewing orb that rose from the floor and spit fire
as well as arcs of electricity amidst the lasers and flashing lights. Oh, and speaking of lasers, we were warned
not to attempt to use any binoculars.
Those things can put your eye out quicker than a BB gun in a Christmas
movie. There were some songs that just
didn’t appeal to me. They came across as
depressing, or at least not appropriate for the type of show we were
expecting. But all in all, it was an
amazing display.
Now I do have to speak to the venue. I learned something. I will never attend a Houston Rockets
basketball game there. Nothing to do with
basketball, other than I don’t like whatever it is they try to play in the NBA. It’s just that those seats are incredibly
uncomfortable. Now, I’m not a very tall
guy, but I had virtually no leg room. My
knees were very cramped, and my feet couldn’t move more than an inch or two
from side to side. I guess they expect
people at NBA games to be on their feet cheering. My new knee got so uncomfortable that I had to
get up, causing the five people between us and the aisle to have to leave their
seats and wait in that aisle for me to get out.
I ended up walking around in the back of the room for a long time just
to recover enough so I could sit with Chris for the last part of the show. And I wasn’t alone. I never verbalized the purpose of my
presence, but there were certainly more than a few others who had made their way
to the back for the exact same reason.
So … good and bad. A metaphor of life. But definitely an experience I’m glad we had
the opportunity to undertake. Thanks so
much to our benefactor.
Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on
whom his favor rests.”
Father, thank you for our gracious
benefactor and her heart to share this amazing experience with us. Bless her with a beautiful Christmas. Amen.
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