Concert Tickets

My husband and I stand in a long line anxiously waiting for our number to be called. We've decided it's time to go to the big concert people have been talking about forever. There are two lines. One line is for those whose numbers have already been called and who are waiting for entry. The other line is for people who hope that soon, their number will be called as well. Anticipation fills the air! The unknown is the only certainty. Some people get their tickets right away. Who knows? Maybe we will be one of those lucky people.

A few months pass, and no call. It's okay. We can wait; there's no hurry. A few couples have moved to the other line, and a new couples have joined ours. Several more months pass but still no call. Should we be worried? No, it's okay, others tell us. Sometimes it takes a while, but don't worry, it will happen. We take comfort that there are still people we know in line. They are waiting too.

After a year goes by, we realize that something may be wrong. Maybe the ticket booth didn't get our original request. We head over to the ticket master who tells us to fill out some forms and sends us on our way. And what do you know? The next month--our number is called! It is so exciting and such a relief. We eagerly run to join those in the other line.

Before we have even have time to get used to the idea, we receive notice that there was a mistake! Those tickets weren't meant for us. They will be going to a different couple, and we will need to go back to the end of the "waiting" line. I cannot believe it! How did this happen? We were ready; we deserved those tickets! I was looking forward to that concert so much. Most of my friends have been there, some more than once. Why weren't we allowed to go too?

Nobody we know is in the "waiting" line with us anymore. They have all received their tickets.

The waiting begins again. The ticket master assures us that there is no reason we won't get tickets. Just relax, and be patient. Each month when the numbers are posted, we pray that this will be our time. The waiting becomes more painfully intense. The hardest is to see all the people in the other line holding their tickets. People tell us that it will happen, but we are no longer certain. We've heard that, sometimes, people don't ever get tickets.

One year passes, and behold - the magic has happened once again! We are going to the concert!! We happily move to the other line, however, this time, it is done more cautiously. What if these aren't our tickets? Could they take our tickets away twice?

Apparently, they can. We cannot believe it is happening again. This time, the disappointment and loss of hope is almost more than we can bear. Everyone around us is sad too. They wanted us to join them. We return to the back of the "waiting" line, again.

This time I decide to stand at the end of the line for a while. I still want to get tickets, but if I do, I don't think that I will be able to take another disappointment. I will just bide my time here for a while and try not to think about how fun the concert would have been.

Over a year passes, and one more time, our numbers are called. Instead of rejoicing, we hesitantly switch lines and wait cautiously. We don't take it for granted that we will possibly hear the music live.

After a very long and difficult duration of standing in line, we are FINALLY allowed entrance into the stadium!! We made it! With all of the disappointment leading up to this moment, we know that we are going to stand here a while and take it all in.

The concert is everything we hoped and dreamed it would be -- and even more. At times the music takes our breath away, and we can hardly believe it is real. But it is, and we know that it was worth the wait.