Concerts and kids…Three Dog Night, Doobie Brothers, Niel Diamond…those were the days.  Fun, loud, lots of people…exciting times.  Then I turned into a grandma and “loud and lots of people” no longer add up to a good time. 

The Hafen Theater at Tuacahn is a nice compromise between youth and having more experience under your belt.  We can navigate the parking lot and getting to and coming home is doable.  We got tickets for “Beautiful” which is a play about Carole King’s life and music. At first, I thought it was Carole King in concert, and I wondered if an 80-year-old Carole would still have it.  As it turned out a young cast played Carole, Gerry Goffin, The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Righteous Brothers, Little Eva and a slew of their contemporaries.  I knew things had changed when we entered the theater and walkers and wheelchairs were parked along the wall.  Mobility may be an issue, but celebrating our icons is not.   

We settled in and did a little people-watching before the play started. The octogenarian in front of us had a tattoo on her left arm, which was sagging, but her spirit was vibrant.  The couple to the side were sharing a 64-ounce Diet Coke which they jokingly said was needed to keep them awake. I don’t think it was a joke. It also necessitated trips to the restroom and climbing over a half-row of people with mobility issues, but anything worthwhile takes some sacrifice!

When the play began, we were drawn into a story of perseverance and surprise.  Did you know Little Eva was Carole’s babysitter?  It was more than a trip down memory lane.  Gerry Goffin wasn’t a name I was familiar with, but I know him now.  We took Brent’s little sister, Cathy, and her husband, Scott, who are almost a generation removed from us and were the youngest people in the theater.  As we left, Scott said, “I loved that, and I didn’t even know who Carole King was.”  So, we spent a great evening with good people, good entertainment, and good memories.  

“I Feel the Earth Move…Under My Feet” has layered meaning now.  Carole King is more loved than ever, and this septuagenarian is going to keep sacrificing to get to plays.  I might even try a concert.  It’s a Good Life!