After the novelty of the evening wore off, I found myself disappointed and wasn’t sure why. Why had I been so excited about driving 2 + hours in the snow, hanging out on a college campus and watching a show I’ve already seen (Matt doesn’t have new music yet)? I had fun, I did enjoy the show, why in the world was I disappointed?

I had expectations, I suppose. I didn’t know what those expectations were until after I forced myself to figure them out, but I had expectations about how the evening was supposed to go, and they clearly weren’t met. I had made more out of Matt than he was; I expected a charming, fun-loving ball of energy who was eager to meet the gals who saved his tail.

Not that Matt wasn’t charming, but he certainly wasn’t what I had envisioned. I had somehow, in the mix of all that is Nashville-in-Upstate NY, elevated him to “everything you could ever want in a guy” standard. Not in a romantic, “marry me now” way, but in a “I have the best neighbor in the world” way. When Cassi and I finally met him, he was tired, sweaty and trying to figure out what time his flight for LA left in the morning. So we parted ways and Cass and I drove home.

I didn’t have much time to think about being disappointed on the way home because of the weather, but the next morning I was desperately trying to figure out why I was so melancholy. I had just lived out a tiny bit of fantasy, what could possibly be wrong with me? It wasn’t until I started talking to some coworkers that I realized what was going on in my brain.

Yes, Cassi and I had fun. We didn’t involve ourselves in any sinful activity and we had some great quality time in the car (except for when she yelled at the deer). I was disappointed  because we had spent all that time (mostly in the car) having fun and there was no eternal value. There’s nothing wrong with going to a concert and having fun, but I had somehow, subconsciously, elevated all the novelty of the evening to “kingdom of heaven” status and was sorely disappointed. Matt? He’s just another sinner saved by grace. Just another sweaty boy. Excellent musician though.

I don’t get this video though; let me know if you do. Dave Barnes is playing the drums at the end. See what I mean about the mafia?

So when I was given the opportunity to enter into that world while being here in Upstate NY, I was thrilled. However ridiculous and embarrassing it is, here what made the Matt Wertz concert so awesome to me:

1. When I called Amanda back (see Part 1) I had officially made my first phone call to Nashville.

2. Upon the end of our conversation with Amanda, she said “Ok, so I’m going to call Matt and tell him that you girls are coming in to save his tail.” She was going to tell one of my favorite musicians about us. By name.

3. We were given Matt’s tour manager’s cell phone number (super-nice guy). Also a Nashville area code.

4. Before the show started I was handed the set list, and asked to keep it quiet. I then came home and washed it with my jeans before I could take a picture. I took a picture anyway.

5. I was able to meet and serve part of the Nashville mafia by selling merchandise to college kids.

6. When we finished selling stuff and were cleaning up, the tour manager came up to Cassi and I and asked us if we wanted their spring rolls from dinner that they hadn’t eaten. Matt Wertz’s leftovers? Yes please. They served a great purpose in keeping my stomach from imploding on the long drive home.

7. Matt actually said to me, “hey, thanks so much for helping out.”

So before you think I’m completely ridiculous and immature, I would just ask that you wait to make your judgments until you read Part 3. But for now, here are some photos:

Thanks Cassi for taking all the photos!

In other Nashville news, Dave Barnes has a new album coming out with his new label on April 1st. Word on the street is that it’s going to be stellar. Even more awesome than that photo of those spring rolls above. In the name of all that is Nashville, I’ve been asked to help spread the news of a bargain. If you pre-0rder Dave’s new CD Me and You and the World, Razor & Tie will give you a deal. Deal number one or deal number two. I think the BFF and I are going to opt for door #1. I haven’t told her that yet. Surprise!

Enter stage right: massive snowstorm.

Now winter and I are normally best buds, but not recently. That’s a post for another day. I told Cassi (an old roommate/new neighbor) early Tuesday afternoon that I was 99% sure we weren’t going. Syracuse was already getting snow, and it was just supposed to get worse through the evening. Cass was great about it; I was 50% sad, 50% glad that I no longer had to bail out on bible study. Three hours later I get an email from Wertz’s management asking if I would be willing to help sell merchandise at the show. Ex-squeeze me? Baking powder? I never thought I’d be saying this but, praise the Lord for Facebook.

My response: Amanda, It’s a dream come true – turned nightmare. I’d love to help you out in any way possible, but with the storm coming in I’m afraid I can’t make it to the show. I live 2 hours away and refuse to drive my tiny car in “heavy snow.” It really does break my heart to tell you no, and to even put it in writing that I can’t make it. I’ve always tried to catch a Wertz-show in my travels to Philly and was so excited that he was coming this far north.

My second response a mere 30 minutes later: Scratch that. I’m in. My friend Cassi can help too. We’re leaving now, so if the weather’s not too bad, we’ll be there well before the show. Can you call me when you get this? Thanks!

I had talked to Cassi, we talked to our respective bosses and decided to leave work early to beat the snow.

Enter stage left: Ridiculously random road trip.

So we made it to Syracuse in enough time to park and eat a quick dinner. Then we ran the merch table for Matt Wertz with two other lovely ladies, shook hands, kissed babies (just kidding about that one) and drove home.

Ah… the drive home… Words cannot express how silly we were when we decided to drive in a snowstorm. Just in case the weather was too bad I had called a friend in the area to see if we could stay with her, but when we left the show it wasn’t snowing. We decided to brave it and drive home. It was the right decision when we saw the weather the next morning but it still was pretty rough. Even though we didn’t see a single flake fall to the ground, the roads were still ridiculous. Depending on what county you were driving through they ranged from bad to really really bad.

At one point in time there was a deer on the side of the road and when I slowed down I lost control of the car (don’t worry Mama, I know now how to handle these situations). I said to Cassi, “Cass, I don’t have control of the car, and I sure don’t have control of that deer.” She responded, “Go away, deer,” in her “leave me alone, I’m grumpy” voice. It was pretty funny. Especially at 2:30am.

So we made it home safe, deer free, at 2:45 am. Would I do it again? Nope. Was the trip worth it? You’ll have to wait for Part 2 and Part 3 for the answer.