My First Taxi Ride

I listen to music a lot.  I don't watch TV unless it is a movie I pop in. My life is consumed by music. One day last year I heard a song, I loved it so much that I played it on repeat. I decided to listen to more songs by the artist. I found out they were coming to Texas. I knew I had to go to their concert. I put my days in at work. When they got approved I booked my hotel. When I paid for it I knew I couldn't back out. I still hadn't bought my ticket for the show but I told myself if it was meant to be then it will be. I live life this way. I plan for the randomness. The day came my first trip alone in fifteen years. I was both excited and nervous. I was going to drive myself by myself to my destination. The time came and I don't think my sisters believed I'd do it. My friends were excited for me. When I told my parents they thought I was going with someone. They were like, "Yeah right you are going alone". I said, "dad I'm following the music. I'm okay".

The Church I had stopped to photographed

Judah and the Lion

my latte from Espressivo Coffee

I left on time and arrived early. Did a little exploring downtown. Then I went to the venue to buy my ticket. It was meant to be, had the ticket in my hand. Every where I went I was surrounded by nice people. Even when I did my exploring, I stopped to ask questions. I left a poem I made in an exhibit held at the Culture Commons Gallery. My stops included a burger joint, a coffee shop, and a museum. The night came and the clerk at the desk told me it was cheaper to get a taxi to take me there. I waited for my taxi for forty five minutes but it still hadn't arrived. I wasn't going to make it on time. The lady at the desk asked if it was okay for them to take me. They don't have this service but didn't want me to miss my show. They took me and I made it two minutes late. They didn't want to take my taxi money.

the poem I left at the gallery

the Hope Outdoor Gallery

At first it was weird being by myself. By myself in a room filled with people waiting to see the performance. Once there I went to get me a drink. While I was at the bar a staff member came up to me and asked how I liked the venue. It was my first time here, I told him. He wanted me to have the best experience so he upgraded my ticket on the spot. I couldn't believe it. Once upgraded I made new friends that were there from Austin to hear them perform. When it was over it felt like I was in a movie script. I had found a way to get there but wasn't concerned on how to get back to my hotel. I know I don't have the Uber App. My sister telling me once there to down load it. I like doing things spontaneous and doing things the old way that I just told her I'd find a way. As soon as I walked out of the venue there was a taxi right in front of me. I asked if he was picking up, I got in and just like that I knew it was meant to be. The whole experience was special to me. I was never alone. You see when I went exploring downtown I went exploring down the wrong part of downtown. When I asked someone for directions he suggested I not be alone. He told me it wasn't safe for me to be walking alone. When he said that I looked over him and saw a statue of Jesus from the church I had just stopped to photograph. Every where I went on this trip I wasn't alone. I never am alone. Maybe there is a reason why that taxi never came to pick me up. I did call it twice to see where the driver was but they couldn't place him.

I will never forget this experience. My first of many to come. I told myself last year that I wanted to travel more this year and do things I still enjoy doing. I'm already planning my next one for March. I'm following the music up north. Of course if it is meant to be it will be. I've come along way from my past. There is a saying that goes "things happen for a reason". I believe they do. If you live your life right nothing but good things happen. I believe that we fall the hardest to make us get up and see what is truly meant to be. We don't understand the why until the mind is set free.

On my way back home I stopped at the Hope Outdoor Gallery. Somewhere I'd always wanted to go to for years. Its turning lucky forty this year and it will be demolished this June. What a coincidence.

What band was it that made me follow them to San Antonio...it was Judah and The Lion. It was an amazing show. They interacted with their audience and they love to dance. I'd do it all over again.