Thank You Mr. Schmidt

Yes. It is true. I'm on Jon Schmidt's e-mail list...and every once in awhile someone will send off an e-mail and inform us of Mr. Schmidt's life and activities.

And it just so happened that Mr. Schmidt's life and activities included a concert in Nibley City on June 19 at 7:30 PM...for free! There was no doubt in my mind that I would be attending one way or another. Jon Schmidt is my hero, Nibley is only 10 minutes away, and it was free. Done. What excuse do I have not to go?

But seeing Jon Schmidt in concert is so much more fun when you can share it with friends...especially since I have seen him in concert/church firesides at least six times prior to this event. What good would it do me to go by myself?

So I asked Bill to tag along with me. :)

One day Shanna and Ashley sent me duo texts trying to bribe me with popsicles to come down and see them back home. They said that they saw more of me when I was in school than now -- when one would think I have no life. I couldn't help but laugh...for this was very true. But I had plans for that weekend to see the free Jon Schmidt Concert...wait a minute! What a perfect excuse to see them!

I tried to convince Shananaba and Ashery to bring dates up this way so they could go along with me and Bill, but they flipped it on me and asked me to find them dates. Then they would come. Fine. :) I had Bill who knew people. We could set them up on blind dates.

And so that's what came to fruition!

Shane and Ashery

Shananaba and Weston

Bill and I

We made it to the park in Nibley where Jon Schmidt would be performing and we laid out a picnic blanket on the hillside. We bought some Little Caesar's pizza and poured carbonation into cups. Pizza and piano music. Excellence in many forms.

With my seeing so many JS conerts prior to this event, it's no surprise that I have all his routines memorized. Jon Schmidt leads into each of his songs the same way each time, so I found much entertainment in ruining the surprise for everyone about what song was to come up next. (Sorry guys...heh heh)

We laughed and joked and talked and listened to the piano music that evening and were given the opportunity to be in each other's company. I was so content with the world!

And then we were astounded with a surprise announcement: Fireworks!!! What a bonus! We realized halfway through the concert that the whole reason Jon Schmidt was in Nibley was because the city was celebrating their "Nibley Days." Of course "city days" ALWAYS have fireworks!

At the end of Jon Schmidt playing through his music, we picked up our blankets and moved to the opposite side of the field to get a better view of the fireworks display. The family that sat behind us had these adorable little kids (who snatched our pizza boxes!) and ooed-and-aahed over each burst of a firework. It made us all laugh and reminisce over the excitement we all had as a kid...and then it dawned on me that I still have that sort of excitement for fireworks.

Hooray for good times. I got to see Ashery and Shananaba at last, I got to know Shane and Weston (Ash and Shanna's dates) better, and I got to spend time with Bill.

Thanks for the lovely evening Mr. Schmidt! I have you to ultimately thank.