Kenny Chesney was in concert last night at the Rose Garden in Portland, and anyone who knows me knows that this was one show I wasn’t about to miss for anything. Normally, I don’t like going to concerts by myself, but my partner in crime was out of town (“Girls weekend” at the beach? What’s up with that?), and I wasn’t about to pass on a chance to see one of my favorite musicians (The first song I learned on my guitar was “In A Small Town”). So, I bought the cheapest ticket I could find ($25…actually a helluva deal for an arena concert these days) hopped a light rail train, and headed to the Rose Garden on a beautiful summer night.
The thing about the cheap seats, of course, is that you generally end up in a part of the arena in which supplemental oxygen is recommended. So, there I was, in Section 323, Row R, Seat 14. I was literally at the very top of the Rose Garden; I could lean back and rest my head against the arena wall. Still, I was glad that I was able to get a ticket, even if my seat was in a different area code than the stage. As it turned out, though, I wasn’t destined to be there for long.
While I was chatting with the people on both sides of me- a group of four young girls to my left, and a young couple on a date to my right- a roadie came up to us and struck up a conversation. Before we knew it, he gave all seven of us upgraded tickets- Row 16 on the floor, less than 30 feet from the front of the stage. After a few moments of speechlessness, we managed to say our thanks and we all headed down to the floor of the arena before he changed his mind.
I was happy just to be in the arena, especially when it cost me all of $25. To have someone hand me an upgraded ticket, and to end up so close to the stage…well, that made for an evening I doubt I’ll ever forget. I managed to get a few pictures; they’re not great, but, hey…I’m a writer, NOT a photographer….
