Have I Ever Told You About…
The time we went to a Rolling Stones concert that never happened?
It was in 2022, just after the world reopened following the COVID-19 shutdown. We were wandering the streets of Amsterdam when we found ourselves in a Rolling Stones-themed pub/diner, where everyone was talking about the big show that was happening that night. The Rolling Stones Limited European Tour.
Mr. Whaldo looked at me and said, “Want to go?” I really didn’t care either way, but The Stones are one of his favorite bands of all time, so I got on my phone and bought the tickets.
That afternoon, we jumped on the train to the arena, and it was full of people headed to the same show. Once there, we walked into a packed restaurant. We put our names on the waiting list and went directly to the bar. After about an hour, we were seated at a tiny table squeezed in among the many others added for this momentous night.
Suddenly an eerie hush fell over the restaurant, and slowly, whispers began to carry from table to table.
“COVID…”
“Cancelled…”
“Oh no…”
“Cancelled…”
When it reached two tables over, a man yelled, “Feck off!” Then, one by one, all our phones chimed.
Everyone dragged out their phones as gasps and groans echoed through the restaurant.
“We regret to inform you…”
“FECK!”
“Mick Jagger has contracted COVID-19.”
“Bloody Hell!”
“… concert is cancelled. We will reschedule, or if unable to do so, you will receive a full refund.”
My dear husband looked at me, and I shrugged. C’est la vie.
We exited the restaurant and fell into the throngs of people walking back to the train station. We waited patiently for our turn to get on the crowded trains heading back into the city.
Once on the train, we expected to see a lot of disgruntled people. Instead, the atmosphere was still filled with the same party mood. Suddenly, a couple of young men started singing Rolling Stones songs.
“I can’t get no Satisfaction…”
One by one, people joined in, and soon, the entire train car was filled with people singing along.
“Start Me Up…”
Everyone laughed after each song and easily broke into another.
“You can’t always get what you want…”
We happily joined in and sang at the top of our lungs right along with everyone else. By the time our stop came up, we were smiling from ear to ear and felt like we had just had the time of our lives.
Although we went to a Rolling Stones concert that never happened, I’m now a Stonehead because of all the fans we shared that night with.
It’s only rock and roll, but I like it.
-J.S. Whaldo
