Let it Be (Just Kyle and me)
Some moments happen only once in a lifetime and I was fortunate to experience one of those special moments last week.We were in Pittsburgh, there was an original Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, some awesome music and even pyrotechnics. But more than that, it was my fav dude and I sharing our annual end of summer trip and making memories.
I have to say our weekend in the Steel City will rank up there with the top five things I've done in my life so far. And it may not be why you think. Sure, who doesn't love going to a sold-out arena to hear a rock 'n roll legend jam for over two hours, performing 35 of some the best songs ever written. Standing, clapping, dancing and singing at the top or your lungs, to classics like: "Get Back," "Live and Let Die," "Jet," and "I've Got A Feeling" gave me a high like no drug ever could. It was a true rock concert in every sense of the word. There were no gaudy dancers parading around the stage doing funky dances and weird choreographed moves. There was just rock 'n roll — and that was all you needed. But I got even more than I bargained for out of my weekend with Sir Paul McCartney.
Kyle and I left Ohio bound for Pittsburgh Thursday afternoon, and we were ready for the Thursday night concert. Sir Paul would be performing at the brand-new Consol Energy Center. His concert on Wednesday christened the arena, so Thursday night's show would be only the second event to take place there. We were excited to say the least. Kyle has been a longtime Beatle fan and since he plays guitar and has mastered many Beatles songs, seeing a "real" Beatle has its own special meaning for him.
For me, I was excited to get out of Dodge for a few days and getting the opportunity to spend time with Kyle was perfect. Coupled with seeing a Beatle in concert, well, that was just the proverbial icing on the cake.
Each year, since I can remember, Kyle and I leave Corey behind and take off somewhere for a mini-vacation, just the two us, before school begins. It's just a mother-son kind of thing. So this year, going to Pittsburgh was our time. And we were going to make the most of it, thanks to Sir Paul.
As we arrived in the 'Burgh, anticipation grew for the upcoming night's performance. I must admit I was getting more and more excited. I was going to see a legend. Now that's cool. We got settled in our hotel room and before we knew it, we looked out our window and we could see people starting to pile into the arena. We grabbed our tickets and headed over to the complex.
As we entered the Consol Energy Center, the excitement grew and by the time we reached our seats, we were ready for the music to begin. Before we knew it, the lights dimmed and the show began. And what a show it was.
The rock legend hit the stage and never looked back. It was one hit after another and we were on our feet, grooving along with the thousands of other McCartney fans who packed the joint.
As the concert hit top speed, I looked at my soon-to-be 15-year-old son and realized he's not a little boy anymore. He's so much more. He's becoming the man I've wanted him to be. Sure, he has his moments, but he is growing up before my very eyes. I certainly don't want him to change and grow up too fast and not get to experience the goofy, crazy teenage years he has left, but he's evolving into the adult I had hoped he would be. I'm not too naive to think that he's already mature, but he's on the road that he needs to travel.
As Paul handed his stagehand his famous Hofner semi-acoustic bass, he walked over to the piano (see accompanying photo) and began to play one of my favorite songs, "Let It Be." As Sir Paul played this legendary ballad, I glanced over at my fav dude who was standing swaying to the music and singing along to every word and I knew at that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. The earth stood still for a few minutes until the song concluded. It was during those few minutes that all was right in life. I was with my son and he was with me. We may have been surrounded by thousands of people but it was just the two of us - mother and son. And after all, that is sometimes all you really need in life - you just have to let it be and share every moment you have together, because you never know when another moment like that will come along.