Thursday's Birthday Surprise

Posted: Monday, May 02, 2011 by Travis Cody in
20

So my actual birthday was back on 11 April.  Pam and some friends treated me to a great dinner at Daniel's in Seattle.  That makes for a pretty good 47th birthday celebration.

Little did I know that Pam had a surprise up her sleeve.  She told me to leave work no later than 15:00 last Thursday and go straight home.  So I did that but when I got home, nobody was there.  I knew something was coming and although my Cub Scout career lasted just a few months and I never did get to be a Marine, I did learn my lesson to always be prepared.  I quickly showered, shaved, and changed out of the clothes I'd worn to work.

Just about an hour later, Pam and those same friends who took us to dinner showed up at the condo.  Without telling me where we were headed, I got in the car and away we went.  About a half hour after we got in the car, we pulled in at Snoqualmie Casino Resort.


I still had no idea what was coming, other than dinner at Falls Buffet.  It was Brazilian night and the food was delicious.  Part way through dinner, Pam handed me this


If you've known me for about five years, or if you've glanced through my sidebar, you'll know I am a member in good standing of Taylor Hicks' Soul Patrol.  The only time I've gotten to see him live was when the show Grease came to Seattle.  He was the Teen Angel in the show, and after every performance he got to perform his song Seven Mile Breakdown.  Other than watching every Tuesday and Wednesday night during Season 5 of American Idol, which included dialing for votes until the phone lines closed, that's the only time I'd been able to see him.

Until last Thursday.  If you can read that ticket, you can see we were in the sixth row, just slightly off center.  If you can't read the ticket, this is how close we were.


I don't know how Pam kept the secret for over a month.  I don't know why I never saw that he was coming to the casino.  I'm usually very aware of when I might get a chance to see a favorite performer.  But this time the surprise was total.

He put on a great show.  And it was wonderful to be in a room full of Taylor fans who understood and shared my delight at getting to see him live.

After the show, our friends shoved me into line and handed me a couple of $20s for one of these...


...because even though he had a plane to catch, and even though I already have several copies, Taylor still was going to sign merchandise.  I felt like I did when I was a kid standing along the 3rd base line at Candelstick, waiting for my Dodgers to finish batting practice and come over to sign autographs.  I still have an old glove and a baseball signed by Ron Cey and Dusty Baker and Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes.

And now I have this



I don't know how I'm going to top that for Pam's birthday in a couple of weeks.  I'll have to think on it.

20 comments:

  1. Anonymous says:

    You're just a youngster! I can say that because I'll be 49 this year.

    Yep, your Lady nailed this birthday head on! I can only imagine how excited you were. I would bet that speechless over the whole thing would describe it well.

    This makes me smile... Thanks! I needed it!

  1. I can only imagine how good Taylor is, live in concert. And yes, you have your work cut out for you to make Pam's night as special as she made yours. Good luck with that.

  1. Akelamalu says:

    What a fantastic surprise for you! Well done to Pam for keeping it secret for so long.

    Get your thinking cap on Trav. :)

  1. Marsha says:

    How exciting for you, that's so cool of Pam (and friends) to pull this one off for you!!

  1. Jeni says:

    What a great birthday surprise -thoughtful as well as very exciting!
    I'm sure though you will come up with something to equal that for Pam's birthday. I have utmost faith in your ability to do that, Trav!

  1. You are definitely young at heart. Your enthusiasm is contagious. I'm glad you had a great time. Better keep that wife of yours. :)

  1. Anonymous says:

    NO WAY~!!!! What a GREAT surprise. Way to go Pam. Happy birthday Trav. Wow!
    goodnightgram

  1. Cherie says:

    Well, Happy Birthday there, Trav! What a great surprise. Those are the kind of surprises I like. :) You know, girls can be tricky. ;)

  1. Unknown says:

    YOU MET HIM! Woo! GO TRAV! I'm so happy for you! You'll never give Pam anything that could top that!

  1. Meribah says:

    Woot! Oh Trav, you are soooo lucky! The closest I've ever been to Taylor is through my TV screen. He really needs to come to Atlantic Canada! :D

  1. Sounds like a great night. And happy belated birthday! Those look like great seats. He puts on a great show.

  1. Travis, happy belated birthday. Mine is the same day as yours.

    Pam has outdone herself in getting those Taylor Hicks tickets. Wonderful!

    I know you will find something equally as grand for her birthday.

    Thanks for sharing such a lovely night with us.

  1. I was so glad to read this because I'm a fan of Taylor, too. I was so tickled when I got to see him as Teen Angel in Grease. Yet people look at me as though this should be a shameful, guilty pleasure!

    And Happy Birthday. I'm glad your celebration was so perfect.

  1. FABULOUS!! What a good story. I love a good birthday surprise, even if it's not my own. Happy Birthday last month! I'm glad your lady made it special!

  1. j says:

    I have this weird satisfaction that Taylor Hicks grew up in a town about 30 miles from my hometown. It's like a connection, you know? Or maybe not :D

    It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I'm so glad!

  1. Thanks for the well wishes gang! And Pam appreciates that y'all know she did good!

  1. How Awesome! That Pam is really something!
    <><

  1. Sorry I have been so absent here. I am so thrilled Pam did this for you and I say once again PAM ROCKS!

  1. TopChamp says:

    Well done Pam!!

  1. Julie says:

    So glad I came here to hang out a bit...what a wonderful surprise and such a tender way that you shared with us! I was pretty sure that you hadn't attended a concert of Taylor and was SO happy to hear the news!