Sounds dramatic, I know. But it’s the truth. Kind of.
So I had this HUGE surprise planned for my girls. The kind of surprise that they will remember forever. On a whim, I bought an entire box of tickets to the Taylor Swift concert at Time Warner Cable Arena scheduled for tomorrow night. One email yesterday ruined my whole gig.
Some moms do Disney. I do music. I live for tunes. I was the first of my friends to own an iPod – still have the first generation white honkin’ beast from 9 years ago, along with three newer versions, an iTouch, an iPad, an iPhone, all rigged with my latest tunes. Once I had children, I became known for my cd party favors that chronicle our family’s latest and greatest musical faves over the years. So you can imagine my excitement when Taylor Swift entered my playlists. I downloaded her first songs for my girls and immediately loved the music. So much that some of her songs snuck into my “Jen’s Jamz” workout tunes. How often does that happen – mom and kids genuinely jamming to the same artist, especially a tween/teen artist?!
Earlier this spring, I was killing time in carpool line and got an email from my contact at Time Warner indicating that she had deals on Keith Urban and Taylor Swift tickets. Knowing that Taylor’s Charlotte show sold out in 8 minutes just days earlier, I jumped on the phone to learn more about this “deal.” The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi, yes, I’m calling about your email with Taylor Swift tickets. So what’s the deal?
TWC: We have one box left for the TS concert in July.
Me: Oh, a box, I can’t do that…Umm, but tell me more about it. How many tickets are in a box?
TWC: 20
Me: So how much will that run me?
TWC: $4,000
Me: Yeah, that’s not going to work out for me.
TWC: Well we do have a buy one get one offer…..
Seven minutes later, I am the proud owner of $4,000 worth of Taylor Swift tickets. I did not call my hubby because I knew he would just walk me off the ledge. I started thinking about my network and how in demand these tickets were and I just rolled with it. Luckily, I had no problem selling what I needed to sell, hubby was ok with my insane-over-the-top-completely-irrational decision and it was game on to pull off the surprise of a lifetime for my girls. When is the last time you can remember enjoying your favorite concert in a box with 12 of your closest buds?!
So I have been counting down the days until this concert. Seriously, I have hardly been able to contain my excitement. The cat was not out of the bag and I threw myself 100% into this fun surprise project that I was certain would put me as “Coolest Mom EVER”, or at least for a day! I hand-painted these super cute tee-shirts for all of the girls, arranged for a surprise unveiling at Brixx downtown with a “Taylor Swift or Bust!” sheet cake after dinner, then off we would go to our swanky box suite. Who knows? Maybe we could have bumped into Taylor herself in her pre-game festivities. Wouldn’t that be something?
Nope. Not gonna happen. Taylor has postponed three shows for the first time in her career: Louisville, Charlotte & both Atlanta shows. And that’s just my kind of luck. Bronchitis happens. I don’t fault her. But I am laughing at my own version of punk’d. My girls still have no clue at all about the surprise, but I’m not sure this thing will stay a surprise until November.
Today was a Fairytale…
14 comments
Oh Jen, I feel your pain, I was taking my daughter and it was a surprise-she had no idea. My plan was not as elaborate as yours, but still this a big disappointment. I guess we will have to wait until November!
You ARE the coolest mom ever! 🙂
Spending that much money on anything but a trip over seas would be grounds for divorce in my house!
I can’t believe this has happened! Boo!
That stinks – but what a cool and fun idea. You rock.
#firstworldproblem
Must be nice to have $4K available to drop on concert tickets…
I figured that I might get called out on that! Funny part is, i dont ever have that kind of coin readily available. However, it’s all on paper. And if I really wanted to, I could have made $ on that transaction. Until she came down with bronchitis…
I think that’s an AMAZING surprise, and you totally win coolest mom in the world for that! I had friends and family members whose parents showed their affection/love by buying them whatever they wanted and never spent any time with their kids. Yes, 4Gs is a lot to spend; however, you had this whole fabulous evening prepared to spend WITH them to SHARE your love of music, made shirts, got friends lined up… I think if I that money readily available I would’ve done the same thing. And you are SO right. It will be (I say keep this a surprise until November if you can. Find clearance tanks and more paint for Nov. shirts!!) a cherished “Mom” memory they will keep forever. Rock on, Rock Star Mom!!
To the anonymous girls who are afraid to reveal their identity:
We can all read through right your superficial, catty comments. The jealousy shines through with every word you type.
Why don’t you go find another sandbox to play in. Cool kids only in this one.
We had tickets, too, and my daughter is bummed. I think it is intetesting that the comment above mine makes fun of others for posting anonymously and then did the same thing! I don’t think it is jealousy. I think people choose to spend their money in different ways. We have always splurged on concerts!
Oh Jen! I could cry about this for you! I’m inspired though/and hope to do something like this one day for my girls.
Oh bummer, Jen! I know how much you were looking forward to this experience with the girls. She will reschedule though, right? I know you’ll make the best of tonight! Happy summer to you and the fam.
we splurge on music in our house too (2 years ago my hub & i flew to dublin to see coldplay). love the spontaneity — love that it will still happen in november — love it all even if the surprise is leaked {maybe the anticipation could even amp-up the fun?}
ps totally agree w/ tracy — most everyone splurges, just in different ways
So sorry about this! You guys will have a great time in November!