Things are continuing to stay very hectic around here. Yesterday was spent, for the most part, in preparation for today, and today was a very busy All Saints Sunday. On my last post I promised to share with you my favorite Barry Manilow Concert story. (Actually I think it is my only Barry Manilow concert story)
Karen and I had received free lawn seating tickets to Deer Creek (It’s now the Verizon Center) to see Barry. This wasn’t our first Barry Manilow concert, so we had a pretty good idea what to expect, although it was our first time to go to Deer Creek. Of course, we arrived even before they opened the gate in order to get the best possible first come first served lawn seats. After picking out just the right spot to put down our blanket we decided to wander around a little bit and check out what Deer Creek had to offer.
After about thirty minutes we found our way back to our blanket and I noticed that there was a young couple who had located right next to us. Now as someone who understands the etiquette of male to male conversation, especially at a venue such as a Barry Manilow concert, I was careful to keep the conversation with the young man next to me to the level of …….. Silence.
After a little while, his wife (girlfriend, or significant other) got up and left, followed shortly after by Karen getting up and leaving. This of course left the most difficult and awkward of male bonding moments, do you speak or just continue to ignore each other. Of course, in case you are wondering, the same protocols of silence exist in the men’s room as were being honored in the concert venue.
Now, there is one type of communication that is acceptable in this type of environment, and that is the male to male commiseration over being subjected to such an emasculating event. I don’t think that Tim the Tool Man would approve of a Barry Manilow concert. So, sensing that the moment was right for such communication, I turned to the young man and said, “It looks like I’m not the only one who was drug here this evening.” I was of course expecting the typical male response of, “You got that right!”
Instead, by the expression on his face, you would have thought that I shot an arrow clear through his heart. With a shocked and disappointed look on his face he simply looked at me in disbelief and said, “Oh no! I love Barry Manilow.” Now it was my turn to have the shocked and disappointed look on my face. I realized in that moment that I was being punished for violating one of the Man Laws, and that there was only one course of action available to me and that was to turn around and not look at him the rest of the night. I realize that there may have been other recourse's available to me under Man Law, but I really am not interested in violence, besides he would have probably beaten me up.
Anyway, I thought that it was important to tell you this story, since I was concerned about what you may have thought of my last post admitting that I actually like Barry. However, let me say in conclusion for those of you men who may be single, if you are interested in finding a significant other, let me recommend a Barry Manilow concert. There is at least a 3 to 1 ratio of women over men, and 99% of them will be disappointed that they weren’t selected to go up on stage and sing with Barry, that could just possibly be your opening.
Good Luck and be sure to remember to follow the correct male communication protocols.
Blessings
Karen and I had received free lawn seating tickets to Deer Creek (It’s now the Verizon Center) to see Barry. This wasn’t our first Barry Manilow concert, so we had a pretty good idea what to expect, although it was our first time to go to Deer Creek. Of course, we arrived even before they opened the gate in order to get the best possible first come first served lawn seats. After picking out just the right spot to put down our blanket we decided to wander around a little bit and check out what Deer Creek had to offer.
After about thirty minutes we found our way back to our blanket and I noticed that there was a young couple who had located right next to us. Now as someone who understands the etiquette of male to male conversation, especially at a venue such as a Barry Manilow concert, I was careful to keep the conversation with the young man next to me to the level of …….. Silence.
After a little while, his wife (girlfriend, or significant other) got up and left, followed shortly after by Karen getting up and leaving. This of course left the most difficult and awkward of male bonding moments, do you speak or just continue to ignore each other. Of course, in case you are wondering, the same protocols of silence exist in the men’s room as were being honored in the concert venue.
Now, there is one type of communication that is acceptable in this type of environment, and that is the male to male commiseration over being subjected to such an emasculating event. I don’t think that Tim the Tool Man would approve of a Barry Manilow concert. So, sensing that the moment was right for such communication, I turned to the young man and said, “It looks like I’m not the only one who was drug here this evening.” I was of course expecting the typical male response of, “You got that right!”
Instead, by the expression on his face, you would have thought that I shot an arrow clear through his heart. With a shocked and disappointed look on his face he simply looked at me in disbelief and said, “Oh no! I love Barry Manilow.” Now it was my turn to have the shocked and disappointed look on my face. I realized in that moment that I was being punished for violating one of the Man Laws, and that there was only one course of action available to me and that was to turn around and not look at him the rest of the night. I realize that there may have been other recourse's available to me under Man Law, but I really am not interested in violence, besides he would have probably beaten me up.
Anyway, I thought that it was important to tell you this story, since I was concerned about what you may have thought of my last post admitting that I actually like Barry. However, let me say in conclusion for those of you men who may be single, if you are interested in finding a significant other, let me recommend a Barry Manilow concert. There is at least a 3 to 1 ratio of women over men, and 99% of them will be disappointed that they weren’t selected to go up on stage and sing with Barry, that could just possibly be your opening.
Good Luck and be sure to remember to follow the correct male communication protocols.
Blessings
PS: I might also recommend the above T-shirt. My guess is that it might just do the trick for you!
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