My internal compass is always right on the money, forever bringing me to the right places at the right times. I’ve only technically been lost once and that was trying to find a boy.
Go figure…
I’m sure I’ve shared this story but just incase you haven’t heard it, here it is.
I was nineteen and had just fallen head over heels for this boy I just met. He was in a rock band (of course…) and had invited me to a show they were playing on an upcoming Friday night. He said he’d put my name on the list and all I’d have to do is show up, show my id and rock the night away.
I’ll never forget that night.
The show was in downtown Minneapolis, territory I was unfamiliar with. To make matters worse, I hadn’t ever heard of the Qwest or its location and to make matters terrifying it was Halloween weekend and I’m a chicken shit.
I don’t do scary. Once I was at this haunted hayride location that was hosting a band I wanted to see. I went for the band but ended up being chased by a cornstalk that came at me from NOWHERE. I screamed and beat it with my purse. Seriously the cornstalk was on the ground and I was throttling it with my clutch.
Turns out it was a chick in the suit and they don’t appreciate getting their ass kicked by a bystander. I almost got thrown out and charges pressed but luck was on my side that day.
I digress…
Apparently genetics play a big role in me being a scaredy cat. Among other phenomenal traits I get from my dad, I also get being a chicken. Go figure.
While I’m not thrilled to be traveling to the city, by myself, on the scariest day of the year, I also don’t want to miss out on a chance to hang out with this boy and see him doing something he loves. I left at a reasonable time but ended up frustrated by the one way streets of Minneapolis and no matter what streets I took I couldn’t find the damn place.
Nerves set in. I started thinking about things I would say to him when he asked me what I thought of the show. I couldn’t possibly tell him I missed it because I couldn’t find the joint! I mean, what’s a girl to do? I did what I thought anyone in my situation would have done.
Parked.
I can walk in any direction I want but I was only able to drive certain directions. It made perfect sense. I parked and walked and STILL couldn’t find the place. I ended up flagging down a taxi driver and though I could hardly understand him he pointed in a general direction and I did end up finding it.
I didn’t even miss the show. Turns our the guy I liked was the guitar player for one of the most popular local bands in Minneapolis, they were headlining. I hung out with him, walked around by myself, saw some other local acts that night… there were two stages in the same venue. Then I saw him play. It was unbelievable.
Their energy, stage presence and crowd participation was amazing. Sober me was intoxicated.
Afterward, he gave me a sweaty hug and asked me if I wanted him to walk me to my car after he loaded his gear up.
FUCK.
It was at that exact moment I realized I had NO idea where I parked.
FUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK.
“Um…nope, I’m fine!” Is what I said to him and I left at that second. All I could think was, I’m going to be SO embarrassed if he finds me wandering around Minneapolis trying to find my car. I CAN NOT let him see that.
By the end of the show, the zombies, goblins, monsters and slutty nurses were out in droves. I’ve never been so scared in my life.
Until last Saturday.
The day started out magically. Coffee, my bestie, crystals…what more could you ask for? Then we headed to Monster Jam.
My little man LOVE monster trucks. He sets up tracks around the house and races his toy trucks all the time. We had a great view, ran into some people we knew and enjoyed the show. My little man was mildly disappointed because his favorite truck – Son-uva Digger had some transmission problems. He just wasn’t putting on the performance that my little guy has seen him do in the past. Although, they were able to fix the truck in time for the free style event, he wasn’t able to finish his full two minutes because his truck broke again.
El Toro Loco – a Minnesotan chick driver, stole the show. Although she didn’t land a double backflip this year, she did land a backflip and won the freestyle competition.
My little man and I gathered our garbage and headed down the stairs right as the show ended. He was on my left side, I through the garbage away and looked up toward the stairs to see if my husband and other little man were coming. I didn’t see them yet, but when I looked back to my left Lijh was GONE. Seconds had passed. I just glanced away for a SECOND and he was swallowed up by the sea of people.
I.
Was.
Frantic.
Survival mode went into full effect. There’s a dudes bathroom RIGHT where we were, I thought maybe he went in there. I started searching the halls but people we filling them so quickly I couldn’t see anything.
I saw someone I recognized and he started helping me search. My husband and son came down and they looked in the bathroom. I went to a closed vendor and asked them for help and what I should do. They told me to stay where I was and they’d call security. My heart was pounding.
My worst nightmare was coming true and I didn’t have any control of the situation.
But God is good.
The women at the vendor station called security and my little one had either been directed to or found a cop on his own (I’m not really sure) and we were united! It felt like a month had crept by but it was probably around 10 minutes.
I saw him before he saw me and he looked SO brave walking toward me but as soon as he saw me his face unraveled. We were both shaking as the adrenaline left our bodies and he clung on to me for the rest of the night.
Thank you so much to the strangers and Us Bank Stadium staff that helped reunite us. Although I feel like I aged 800 years in 10 minutes, we are all safe and sound at home.
* * *
A big thank you to our Guardian Angels too. I’m certain they whispered in his ear to help him find an officer and I’m certain they helped me find my car all those years ago.
Namaste,
Jes xoxo
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