Some might say I am a groupie, I say I am a fan!

I know some people probably look at me and think I am nuts, maybe I am!  I look at it as an escape, a time to just be me and to enjoy travelling to new cities with my husband.  We started travelling last year to watch our favourite band, Pearl Jam play. 

We leave the kids at home with their grandparents and not feel guilty about it.  I gave them a solid 4 years to my kids, where I devoted everything I had to them.  Probably my biggest mistake because then I hit rock bottom and realized that this mom was in desperate need of taking care of herself.  How could I be a good mom and take care of them when I was not well myself? 

I knew they were both old enough to leave.  Yes I know there are people who leave their kids as babies, but remember above, I was not that!

We made the first real trip last spring to see Eddie Vedder perform solo.  We took a road trip in my husband’s red sports car and it was exciting, just the two of us.  No kids fighting in the backseat.  I even slept for part of the trip, it was heaven.   My poor husband, I can’t seem to go for a long car ride without falling asleep!

Once in Albany we checked into our hotel and headed to the pre-party.  Yes I said pre-party, these Pearl Jam fans are hard core!  We enjoyed a little dinner and then walked over to the venue where we picked up our tickets and we were 4^th row centre.  We were so excited, we got great seats!!  Pearl Jam has a club for their fans called the 10 club.  They give preferred ticket purchasing to them and have lottery draws to the best seats in the house. 

There were some fans hanging out at the side door waiting to meet Eddie, we wanted to find out how to get a drawing that our son drew for him to him so we headed over too.  He thought that asking us to do that would have been an easy task, not knowing we were not good friends with his idol Eddie! 

We started chatting with some great people and found out that he was sitting on the tour bus parked right there, we knew he had to get off at some point so we hung out.  Met a great guy with a little baby; he was local and just popped over to see if he could meet Eddie.  He didn’t even have tickets to see him play.

And then all of the sudden the bus door opened and off he came.  We could not believe that Eddie Vedder was standing right there in front of us.  I felt like I was in high school!  He looked so different up close and in person.  He was handsome, and so nice.  He took the time to come say hello and shake every person’s hand.  He had such soft hands!  I snapped photos and my husband gave his body guard Kal’s drawing after telling Eddie how much he loved him.

We were amazed that all just happened and headed in to watch him play from our amazing seats.  You could feel his spit we were so close.  Don’t worry I am not that much of a crazy fan, later I did wash my hands and spit covered clothes!

It was a great trip, and we had amazing memories.  We could have not asked for a better way to start this adventure of travelling together, to see a band that has brought so much to our life and relationship.  I was a fan when Pearl Jam first started, even before, and I turned my boyfriend (now husband) on to them.

I learned through these new found adventures that we all need different ways to recharge ourselves, and that having a busy plate as a mother, wife and very hard working entrepreneur these trips are essential in healing my spirit through one of the greatest mediums I have ever known – music.

Later that summer we saw Pearl Jam in Toronto, and then hopped on a plane to see them back to back in Chicago.  Three concerts in 5 days, it was crazy but an amazing trip.  We were tourists in Chicago, we took hundreds of photos, and we took tours, ate in many restaurants and shopped the Magnificent Mile.  We also met a great group of friends that we will be friends with forever now.  We look forward to seeing them again in a month when begin another adventure as we head to NYC for 4 days to see their next tour.  But that is after we take another road trip in our new “magic bus” to see them play in Buffalo.

Through all this, we have realized the importance of “keep on rocking in the free world” my 3 year old daughters favourite song (Neil Young/Eddie Vedder) 

Where will the Jam take us next?  New York City for the long weekend, to see 2 concerts.  Yes I know we are crazy!