house of joy...

Friday night, the Captain, Goom and I went to The House of Blues on Sunset to see my boss’s band called Petty Theft, a Tom Petty cover-band. However, we had to go under the guise that it was just “dinner” because Goom had expressed a fear of live music.

Now, you might be wondering who the Captain is? Well, the Captain is my boyfriend. Yes, I have boyfriend. Saying it makes me giggle a bit. I’m still getting use to the idea but it has been unfolding in the most profound and surprising way. I feel very lucky and blessed but I will tell you more about that later. As for Goom’s fear of live music, I have no idea where it stems from but I can guess.

Back at the House of Blues Goom, the Captain and I sat down for dinner and immediately started the process of calming Goom’s live music nerves. There was a curtain dividing the space between where we were eating and where the band was going to play, which helped us ease into the situation. Soon I saw my boss and asked if he’d come over to say “Hi” in hopes it might help Goom conquer his fears.

As the band started to warm up Goom would peek through the curtain to see what was going on. Progress was being made. By the time dinner was done I was pretty sure we were going to have success. We crossed over to the other side with a few friendly nudges and a lot of loving support. Unbeknownst to me several friends from work (with their kids) were already anticipating the bands start. This helped Goom even more. Seeing other kids was proof it might not be too scary.

Before the band started, Goom ran out of the room a couple more times but with a little gentle and loving coaxing from the Captain, by the time the band took stage Goom was sitting front and center, just feet away from the stage. When my boss took stage, with blond wig, top hot and Tom Petty’s token round sunglasses, Goom sat mesmerized and didn’t move. He watched taking it all in flanked by the Captain and me.

When it was over Goom wondered when my boss was going to be on stage. He didn’t realize that he had been on stage the whole time in “disguise”. We all laughed, including my boss. After saying our good-byes we drove home with an enthusiastic Goom telling us he wanted to go see live music all the time.

The next morning Goom said, “I learned a big lesson last night. When you have a good team behind you, it is easier to be brave.”

I couldn’t think of a wiser thing to say...and how blessed are we that the Captain has become a part of our team.