As Claire and I were coming home today from running some errands, one of my favorite songs came on the radio. It’s catchy, has a lot of bass, and borders on rap. Or is rap. Depending on who you talk to. Still…it makes me smile…and not for reasons you may suspect.
You see, when my hubby and I first moved to this state, we found a radio station that was rather progressive. It prides itself in finding new artists and playing new music. It was early 1999, and one evening, we were cruising around downtown looking for a parking space. We were going out on the town with our friends, like we did most weekends.
We’d decided to listen to the radio, rather than our CDs, and imagine our surprise when we heard the DJ call my name. I’d been listed as a winner, and I had x-amount of minutes to call! To win my free stuff! I was ecstatic. I’d recently procured a cellphone to use only in emergencies, and this *was* an emergency! I called the radio station, was properly enthusiastic and was told that I’d won tickets! To a concert! For a musician we’d never heard of! Still, since I was on air, I was pretty excited, and I remember sitting in the car and listening to myself on the radio. Plus, what are the odds that we’d be listening at that moment, hear my name, I’d call and I’d win!
To get the tickets, I’d have to go back downtown to the radio station and pick them up. We looked at each other, knowing that the odds of us jumping through the hoops to actually get the tickets were pretty slim…especially for someone we didn’t recognize…but it was nice to win.
I remember getting to the restaurant and telling our friends that I’d been on the radio! I’d won tickets!
“To what?” they’d asked.
“I dunno…the M&M concert…?” I’d said, still excited, but knowing I wasn’t going to go.
“M&M…like the candy?”
“Yeah. M&M, like the candy. I guess? Have you heard of him? I think I’ve heard of him, but I can’t be sure…is he that guy that sings that one song? Hmmm, maybe not? I’m not sure.”
“Are you going to go? I mean, they are free concert tickets…”
“Nah…it sounds like a hassle…and for someone who isn’t even well-known. I think we’ll pass. Still!! I’m SO excited that I won! It’s too bad they weren’t tickets to someone famous or that we actually like…”
…and we went on with our evening. The tickets went un-picked-up.
And “M&M**” went on to go triple platinum by the end of the year.
So, every time I hear his music, I smile. I coulda been there…before it all really took off…for free.
*sigh*
**And, yes, I know he doesn’t spell his initials, er, I mean his name that way.
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