tree hugger: Heroes

We all have a hero or two right? For whatever reason, we often put certain people up on a pedastool because he or she inspires us in some way or another.

I was introduced to one of my heroes several years ago during my Women In Literature class. It was custom for our teacher to start off each class with one of her favorite songs to try to get us into the mood.

When she played "When I Was A Boy" by Dar Williams, I remember sitting there, listening to the lyrics, anxious to know who this musician was and how on earth I had never heard of her before. I was so excited! I mean, I have always been a huge fan of music and I love love love to "discover" new artists, especially those that aren't "famous" in the pop-culture sort of way. This woman's lyrics were so endearing. And it was like she was inside my head.

My teacher then played another song by Dar called "The Babysitter's Here" and I was hooked! It was that same sort of feeling one gets when he or she finds a four leave clover out in the backyard. I couldn't wait to find and buy and listen to everything this person had ever written.

It's not everyday that you find an artist who is so diverse in the subjects she writes about; from childhood to being a woman to rivers to science experiments, politics, the environment...all of the subjects I personally hold so dear.

From that day forth, she has been an inspiration in my life.

A few years ago, I was able to go see her in concert at the Orangepeel in Asheville. I. Was. So. Excited!!!! The guy I was dating at the time (he who shall not be named...little inside joke there), and I arrived extra early so that we could get a good seat. I was jumping up and down from anticipation and acting like a complete freak/stalker and he was complaining about the girls standing in front of us.

"They better sit down when Dar comes out!'

In my head I was thinking....Who does he think he is calling Dar Williams by her first name? I mean really! She's DAR WILLIAMS!

I ignored him...come to think of it, I did that a lot...hmmmmm...hindsight's 20 20.

But anyway. The crowd goes silent and she arrives on stage. I am taking in the moment when suddenly I hear "he who shall not be named" screaming at the girls in front of us because they haven't sat down yet...

I.Could Have Died.

And there was Dar Williams, a bit distracted and she heard him and asked him what was wrong.

"Don't you think it's rude Dar when you arrive early to a show and people come and stand in front of you blocking your view?"

There he was calling her by her first name again. Thoughts of murder were running through my mind....this was my idol. And he was ruining it!

But because she's Dar Williams, she simply exclaimed "It's only rude if the people who showed up early are upset by the ones who showed up later and stood in front of them..."

The girls immediately sat down and the show began.

It. Was Perfect.

There she was, singing all of the songs I knew and it was over much to soon. We were yelling and clapping and screaming "Encore! Encore!!!"

And she finally came back out.

Within the first note, I knew what song it was and I started jumping up and down. She was playing "The Babysitter's Here".

Oh. My. God! Incredible!!!

I looked over at "he who shall not be named" and....

The bastard was crying...

CRYING!!!!!

Seriously!

How selfish can one be to put me in the position of having to "take care" of him once again during a true historic moment in my life.

Did I mention he was a bastard?

But the concert came and went and it would be a few years until I had another chance to see my inspiration play once more.

That time came only a few weeks ago when my mom sent me (because she's awesome like that:) an email informing me that Dar Williams would be playing a show during Bele Chere this year...for free!!!! And outdoors!

Finding this out was like being told I would be able to go back in time and experience Woodstock '69.

Only better.

So Andrew and I immediately decided that we could not miss this show. I had to be there!

She was playing on a Friday night and I had to be at work early on Saturday but I knew it would be worth it. I mean. We're talking Dar Williams!!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

We drove to Asheville Thursday night and spent Friday morning and afternoon with my parents. Then we headed out to Downtown Asheville where the event was to take place. We walked around some. (I've always loved Bele Chere and I hadn't been in a few years and Andrew had never been so he was excited as well). We stopped by the booth I used to always work at during my more pronounced "hippy" days and I saw a friend of mine I used to work with. Then we headed to the stage.

A whole hour early.

What? I wanted to get a good spot.

We plastered ourselves directly in front of the stage and waited.

And waited......

And waited...................

I was starting to get a little antsy when I looked up and saw her.

There she was. On stage. Doing her own sound check (how cool is that?). And she was eating.

"Oh my God!!! Look Andrew she's eating! I got a picture of her eating!"

Did I mention I'm just a bit spastic?

Andrew just laughed and smiled at me because he's wonderful and he would have been the same way should it have been Jim James from My Morning Jacket eating right before his eyes.

I will just mention here, this normal everyday activity may not seem so exciting to a normal person.

I'm not normal.

And seeing Dar Williams chew her food right there in front of me was magical.

Simply magical.

Then the concert began...and let me just say.

Best. Concert. EVER!!!

She played every single one of my favorite songs, old and new and she was so great with the audience. She even took several requests. The kicker of it all was that she played "The Babysitter's Here" and when I looked over at Andrew....

HE WASN"T CRYING!

Because he.....IS NOT....a bastard:).

Other than this, my favorite part was when she strummed the first note of "When I Was A Boy" and I was taken back to being in that classroom once again, hearing her music and lyrics for the very first time. This woman was the whole reason I ever picked up a guitar in the first place.

And alas. Again. It was over much too soon.

I was grinning from ear to ear and bouncing up and down and I noticed a few people walking back stage. I looked at Andrew and we followed suit.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting but suddenly Dar Williams was standing right in front of our small group and asking us casually if we could walk around to the other side.

I was a zombie. I just followed and it was like watching everything around me in slow motion. The gate opened slowly and the security guard stepped out and said "Just don't crowd her." And this is when it hit me...

I was about to meet Dar Williams. My hero. My idol. My favorite-est "star" in the whole wide world.

I say this with complete elegance.....

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!!!!!!!!!"

Ahem.

I stood there shaking, trying to figure out exactly what I was going to say when Andrew, lovely fiance' that he is, stepped out and got her attention,

"Dar. I want you to meet your biggest fan Mary." (It's ok that Andrew called her by her first name because she and I were about to become best friends and start touring together anyway!)

I looked at her. She looked at me and she said "Nice to meet you Mary." And held out her hand.

I shook her hand and said......

"Bllehew hwhkksj dsahdksjaklkl;"......

Yeah....I couldn't tell you what that means either.

However she did seem to understand somehow that I wanted her autograph as I handed her a random piece of paper I had found in my purse in a nice, cave-man like manner.

I do remember spastic-ly asking her if I could have my picture taken with her and she said "Oh! Of course! Who's taking it?"

It took me a second to find Andrew because to be honest in the whole moment, I had forgotten anyone else was there....

But he was standing there waiting for the moment. I smiled my biggest smile and he took the picture.

I looked at Dar (remember...we're best friends now so I can call her that) and said "Thank you." And then....

I think I hugged her....

Yep. I'm pretty sure I did. (Sadly. I don't really remember....?) But yeah. I think I hugged her.

Did I mention how spastic I am?

When Andrew and I walked away (let's be honest...he walked, I skipped and jumped and acted like a 5 year old again screaming "I just met Dar Williams! I just met Dar Williams!".....can you say restraining order?....that poor girl...),But I knew I would never forget that moment.

Thank you Dar Williams for putting up with your fans...both normal and crazy. You truly are the best and we love you!!!!