G-L-O-R-I-A

Tonight will be a musical milestone for me. Since high school Van Morrison has been one of my monolithic favorites, and I made a vow of sorts to see him if he ever got within striking distance. For 17 years, the striking distance never came. VM has a way of only playing about 5 gigs in the U.S. every five years, and they are always northerly and westerly of my global positioning. Early this past year, however, Van the Man dipped down into Grand Prarie, Texas in the midst of his little tour outing. I tried, but I just couldn't find a way to make it happen, driving all the way up there on a Monday night by myself. I felt like I had let myself down.

Enter redemption in the form of the Austin City Limits Festival.

Van Morrison will take the stage tonight a mere three miles from my house! [That's striking distance even by Hezbellah stadards.] Jolie bought me a single one-day pass for my birthday a few weeks ago, willingly taking on the kiddos so I could make my pilgrimage. And now her charity is being rewarded, because I recieved two 3-day VIP passes this week from Heineken as a thank you for my diligence as the beer specialist at Central Market! My Mom and Dad will be here within the hour to take care of C 'n C for us today and tomorrow night. Bonus: our Abbey-mate Evan will be sitting in with Okervill River at 5:00 this evening!

P.S. I know Van is old and fat, but this is the equivalent of seeing the Irish Johnny Cash near the end of his prolific career.