I'm in the Dog House

I opened my email this morning. The subject line for a message from my best friend was a simple question mark. I didn't think anything of it because she's a woman of few words. But then I opened it. She started her message by asking if I was mad at her. She continued, "I was kind of upset that we had plans and you canceled at the last minute with no explanation. I hope you're not having an emergency..."

For Captain Fun (her nickname)to write such a message meant something was terribly wrong. Then it hit me. I committed not one but TWO mortal sins in her eyes.

Mortal sin #1: don't EVER cancel plans. It's one of her pet peeves. Even though I canceled two days before the planned event, which is not canceling at the last minute, I know how she is. In her rule book, once you've agreed to do something you should stick to it.

Mortal sin #2: It's bad enough that I canceled, but I backed out of going to an Elton John concert. Elton John is her guy. She has been a fan since she was a little girl. She plays the piano, so one year her sister bought her an Elton John album for her birthday. She's been hooked on him ever since. I would guess that Captain Fun has gone to 60+ Captain Fantastic shows and not just in the NYC area. Syracuse, Albany, Philly, Baltimore & Las Vegas are just the other cities I ventured to with her.

So going to an Elton John concert is as intense for her as a Red Sox fan going to last year's world series. Or a crazy left wing liberal meeting Michael Moore. Or an equally crazy Traditionalist Catholic getting Mel Gibson's autograph. (you get the idea)

Back to the scene of the crime. Captain Fun asked me last week if I wanted to see EJ at Madison Square Garden. She had 2 tickets for Wednesday (last night). She called again the next day. She was going to sell her tickets and try to get better seats. She explained that this meant she may not get any tickets at all and therefore I may not get to go. I said fine.

I could live without seeing him again. Don't get me wrong. He puts on a GREAT show. But I'm not the intense fan she is. And I'm not wild about spending $130 to see him, again. I'd rather go to a fine restaurant. Of course, I don't mind going. Part of the fun is watching Captain Fun at these concerts. She usually gets front floor section seats. She brings flowers, his latest cd, and a few Sharpie markers. She also buys a program. Elton (I've seen him so many times myself that I feel we're on a first name basis)is great at signing autographs and shaking hands in between songs. She gives him flowers, he shakes her hand and he signs either her CD cover or program. (She even got an EJ baseball cap signed for me.)

While doing errands Monday, I was contemplating if I would go. She didn't have replacement tickets yet and I knew that if I didn't go, she'd get someone else or go alone. She wasn't home so I left her a message. I'd explain myself later.

She asked me Tuesday why I wasn't going. I was busy at work so I told her I'd email her. But I got involved in other things and forgot to send a message.

After reading her message this morning, I called. She went last night with her boyfriend and sat in the first row. I apologized for canceling and tried to explain myself. Foolishly, I mentioned that she didn't have tickets yet when I canceled.

"But you KNOW I always get tickets!!!" She shot back. An Elton John concert is also part sport for her. Captain Fun has gotten good at getting excellent seats to EJ concerts. (TO MY READERS: I CANNOT divulge how to get great seats. If I did & she found out, this would be my last blog & last few moments on earth.)

You may be thinking that this woman is just a crazy fan who was demanding too much from me. She wasn't getting stuck with a ticket. Two days is enough notice to tell someone not to buy you a ticket to a concert.

But Captain Fun isn't just any friend. She's like the sister I never had. If I had to list the people I trust the most, she's #1. We have copies of the keys to each other's apartment and we list each other as emergency contacts at work. When I came out to her, she poured each of us a glass of wine and proposed a toast to both of us finding that special someone.

We've been friends for 12 years and this is one of the few times she's been upset with me. I didn't do anything wrong, but I should have known better. She loves it when we see EJ together.

There was only one way to get out of the dog house. Back to today's phone call:
I asked if she was going to Saturday's show too.

"Well, I don't know. I don't know if I want to spend the money either." She said in a slightly upset tone.

"Okay," Think fast, "I'd like to go Saturday. I'm going to work on getting tickets."

"Yeah, fine. Do what you want. If you want to, go get tickets. I have an interview, I'll talk to you later." And she hung up.

I'm out of the doghouse...

I smiled to myself. That was the exact response I was looking for. Let me translate. What she was really saying was, "You're going Saturday and you're going to help me get tickets? GREAT!!"

Being friends with Captain Fun has been good training for dating women. You have to know how to read them. Makes me wonder, am I like that??

An hour later she called back, with a very upbeat tone. She told me how great the concert was (he played for 3 1/2 hours - ugh!), what songs he did and how she can't wait to go again Saturday.

If I have any stamina left when I get home after the show, we'll see if Saturday night is alright for blogging. Anyone what his autograph? Hehehe!!!