Change the Point of View

I always enjoy being with my friend, Robyn, as she is easy-going and appreciates good food, good wine and good conversation.  She is happy to get out and do things but is also content to hang out at home and watch something silly.  If that wasn’t enough, she always puts up with my moods as she has been known to catch me being a bit more emotional.  For example, when I came to Minneapolis in 2011 to see Duran, she knew that things were not great in my world.  Instead of pushing or complaining about the bad spot we found ourselves for that general admission show, she did what any good friend would do.  She got me drinks, many drinks.  Then, she gave me a hug after I cried about the then recent deaths of my beloved cat and grandmother.  Therefore, I always know that visiting her means that I will have a great time no matter what!

She was up for a visit when I contacted her and was even open to going to see the Duran show with me.  She went with the idea of meeting with others for dinner as she has many other times I have visited her neck of the woods.  We had a good time last night and I know that we will have a great time tonight at dinner, at the show and whatever we decide to do afterwards.  I look forward to hearing her thoughts about the show itself as she isn’t a huge Duran Duran fan and will, in fact, blog about what she thought of the show tomorrow.  All that said, there is a big part of me missing the other half to our little duo here.

It feels strange to be going to a Duran Duran show without my partner-in-crime.  Rhonda and I are a well-oiled machine at this point.  In fact, we have been to almost 30 shows together, which really is pretty good considering that we don’t live anywhere near each other.  We know when to get ready.  We know to get drinks and what kind.  We know who stands on which side.  We have traditions that we follow on tour.  I dare say it is easy to tour together and it always has been.  We didn’t struggle or negotiate the little things.  I’ll give an example.  I have gone to shows with friends who like to get to shows late, right before Duran comes on stage.  I struggle with that.  I get nervous.  Antsy.  Rhonda doesn’t like to be late either.  Now, with my friend, Robyn, it is different.  She has no stake.  No opinion.  She will let me set the pace, which is fine, but not the same.

Then, there is the show itself.  When I’m with Rhonda, we exchange glances at certain moments.  For example, we both tend to look at each other with dread when Simon saunters to the front of the stage with his mouth filled with water, ready to douse the crowd during White Lines.  Both of us might find ourselves screaming for the really hot DoJo moments or laughing when Simon dances in the way that only he can.  Robyn will appreciate the show, for sure.  She has in the past, but she is watching from a different point of view, a different perspective.  In some ways, it is and will be refreshing to see the show with someone who is seeing the show for the first time, with fresh eyes.  In other ways, I will miss sharing moments with someone who totally gets why I think something is funny or hot or ridiculous or whatever.

So, I will go to the show with excitement to see the show with someone with a different lens.  I know that we will have a good time.  I am also glad that next week, I’ll start the second leg with the other half of the Daily Duranie.  I’m getting the best of both worlds.  I’m lucky that way.

-A