Simply fun...

On Thursday, Emma had persuaded Chris and I to take her and her friend Karen to a "Summer Bash B96" concert in south Chicago last night....a six hour concert with bands like Far East Movement, Joe Jonas (I have heard of him of course), Chris Brown (girlfriend beater), Big Time Rush, Lupe Fiasco, New Boyz, Pitbull, Jay Sean and Keri Hilson...who are these bands?! 

When Emma wants to do something, she goes all out.  Thursday night, she presented to Chris and me a one page, in color/very cute, summary of her "points" and "explanations" of each point (she said pros and cons didn't work because there were no cons!).  Her points were (summarizing below - each explanation was long):

1.  only $50 (explanation: she would pay)

2.  AFTER the ACT she took yesterday a.m. (explanation: she will focus and not be distrracted...)

3.  Several different performers (explanation: not just a Jonas obsession...)

4.  It's fun!  (explanation - need to include the full explanation..."This is a spontaneous, spur of the moment, random, FUN thing that Karen and I would love to do.  This is the summer before our SENIOR year..OUR LAST YEAR TOGETHER.  This is the time to do fun, random, SAFE, stuff like this.  Be thankful we like concerts, not drugs and alcohol.")

In closing....

"PLEASE think about this.  I love to do stuff like this.  This is something that doesn't conflict with school, swimming or work and it's simply FUN.  For all the work I put into swimming throughout the summer, and the pain that I go through, I need fun breaks like this.  It's a spontaneous, last minute thing that is just fun!  Please think about it HARD before you say anything!  I love you to the moon and back.  XXO Emma"

Of course we were impressed, laughing, touched and said yes.  It popped into my head that Peter might like to go (he's never been to a concert like that) and she said no problem!  That sealed the deal.  In my mind, if she is willing to include her 15 year old brother, she deserves to go!  Peter was so excited!

They left around noon (I decided to stay home)...checking in practically hourly!  Got into the concert around 4...by 8:30 Peter was ready to leave.  Chris had been hanging out in Oak Brook and went to a movie.  Emma was texting that "Peter was lame" and Peter was texting that "he was surrounded by very trashy people."  Chris picked up Peter while the girls stayed until 11....got home at 2:30 a.m, saying they had the BEST time....needless to say, they are all still sleeping as I write.

She can't fully appreciated it yet, but these are great, great days...days of "simply fun"...just like she said!

Heidi