I got my miracle last night

Deadheads used to have a saying: I need a miracle. That just meant that if they were without a ticket for that night's Grateful Dead concert, they needed someone to give them a free one.

My miracle wore a cowboy hat and boots Thursday evening.

See, I wanted to see Gretchen Wilson's show at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, but two things swayed me against it: work and the $44 price tag for a ticket.

Well, as it turned out, things were slow at the office and I was scheduled for a half-day. Getting all my work done early, I left and headed directly to Mahoney's, where WRWD was having a pre-show party and giving away four pairs of tickets.

I signed up. I waited. I had a quick drink with my friend Corinne. And I watched ... four other people win the tickets.

Polishing off my Budweiser, I sullenly walked out of Mahoney's when I heard my "miracle" asking her parents, "What am I going to do with the extra ticket?"


It seems this girl in her early 20s (I feel bad; I never even got her name) and her parents already had tickets for the show. She was trying to call a friend to go with them when I walked by.

I figured I'd take a shot. So, using my most sheepish voice and ask, "Do you have an extra ticket?"

Looking as pathetic as I could, I explained how my GF isn't a county music fan (I'm not, either, but Gretchen passes my "hot country music chick" rule) but she told me if I could get a ticket, I should go and enjoy myself.

Hearing my predicament, my sad story of woe, this person I'd never met gave me a ticket and told me to enjoy the show. I shook her hand, thanked her and went to go see Gretchen.

For more than 90 minutes, from "Here for the Party" to "Redneck Woman," she played non-stop, complete with a trailer (uh ... mobile home) and plastic pink flamingos on stage. Gretchen even pulled up two young fans — Elizabeth and Taylor — to sing one of her songs with her.

Looking throughout the crowd, I found the family that gave me my ticket and asked if I could at least buy them something to eat or drink, but they were content to know they did their good deed.

So I got to go to the show and even got a high-five from Gretchen during one of her songs. I also got to snap some pics with my camera-phone (sure, the one concert where they let you bring in cameras, and I left mine in the car, thinking they wouldn't allow them!). I wasn't sure I'd be able to take pictures until my friend Caitlin came back from the stage and said of the security guard, "It's OK. He's real chill."

More than the pictures, though, I have a great story to share. And a big THANKS again to my "miracle."