Way back when the tickets went on sale. I tried and I tried. I spent hours hovering over the computer and had two phones going at the same time. As the website kept crashing, I took a last ditch effort and drove to the “Sports Experts” by the time I got there, there were only singles to be had. By the time I got to the desk the girl just laughed at me.

I felt terrible, as I was trying to get tickets for a friend as well. Which makes this just as hard. But, due to some friends of a friend having to attend to family business in Winnipeg, my dream has come true. Well, if you haven’t guessed yet, then there is just plain something wrong with you (just kidding of course)! We are going to U2!!!!!!!

When they played Ottawa many years ago, I had to make a choice between a concert or a commitment to play at a concert. I played the cello, many moons ago and if I had gone to the concert, our Orchestra would have been down to one cello. It would have been very bad, needless to say, I got a very good mark. And I always thought I would see them again. I did have a ticket when they played Montreal in ’87 or ’88 (those years are a blur) but, my loser boyfriend gave/sold it to a friend. So, here I am at 35 more excited than I thought I would be to see a concert.

“U2” has always been my favorite band. John “Cougar” Mellencamp has been my favorite artist and I have seen him in concert (so far the best one I have attended). Bruce Springsteen was a runner up for many years and won the battle of second place after I saw him in concert while pregnant with “J”. It was crazy as my vertigo had really taken over me, but it was a great concert and I felt like I was back in the ’80’s with the screaming chick with the big hair behind me. Now, I don’t know if we will ever be able to top seeing “U2”. I am afraid I might cry. I have been a faithful singer, oops, I meant follower since the ’80’s. I stayed tried and true, even when they were a little off in their path. When “J” would cry in the car as a baby, only U2 would calm him down and bring him peace (mostly the song “Grace” on the “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” album). There was one trip with a girlfriend when both our kids were crying and both of us were almost there too. What did I do, yep you guessed it, put on a little “U2”. They were asleep in minutes, it was great!

So here I sit at the crack of Dawn, excited as all can be, because I am realizing one of my Dreams. Silly eh?

Do you remember the days when “O Canada” was played in the cinemas before a movie?

Every (or almost every) morning from Monday to Friday, I get to hear our National anthem sung by “Giselle and Sticks” on TVO Kids. At 6am to start the day, they sing “O Canada”. Sticks adds a little extra umph at the end, which is a hoot because at 6am I can’t always sing along. It is great. My little guy is now learning our anthem and he doesn’t even know it.

It has me thinking this morning though. Why is it that we don’t hear it as often anymore? I truly think I only hear it at sporting events like Football and Hockey and on Canada Day. We used to sing it every morning at school, but I am not sure they even do that anymore. Has “O Canada” gone away with the Lord’s Prayer? I am not actually sure how to get more of it in our lives other than singing it ourselves. It really had me thinking of all the times I heard it growing up, both in English and French. I guess this morning I really missed the patriotic side of me that used to hum it at school while doing work in class.

Here is a brief little summary of the history of our National anthem. If you want the full story you can go directly to the website and read all about it :).

“O Canada” was proclaimed Canada’s national anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer; French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The song gained steadily in popularity. Many English versions have appeared over the years. The version on which the official English lyrics are based was written in 1908 by Mr. Justice Robert Stanley Weir. The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unaltered.

Perhaps, I have you humming along with me now that you have read this?