MOC4#13

298 words, not counting title:
The Night My Mom Crashed Sinatra
It was Saturday, October 26, 1974, when the sports and entertainment venue dubbed "The Palace on the Prairie", Richfield Coliseum, held its grand opening with a concert by Frank Sinatra. His are the first songs I can remember hearing. He is and always will be the definition of "music" to me. I decided I HAD to go.
My mother made the trip with me, although she did not have a ticket to the sold-out event. We drove to northeast Ohio early because we had no real idea where we were going (just a map, no GPS way back then) and she didn't want me driving around alone in strange territory, especially as it got dark.
We had no problem finding the place. It was out in "BFE." NOTHING around for miles! Just this big structure surrounded by a huge parking lot, off an interstate highway.
We sat in that lot for awhile. Then, my mother decided we should see if the doors were open. They were! We entered and wandered around the seemingly empty arena. (Can you imagine that happening in today's era of near-strip-searches to enter almost any building?)
Eventually, it became time for the place to officially open to the public. Attendants were handing out medallions to the concert-goers as mementos of the event. My mother joined me near the door as I went over to get my "prize." They handed her one, too!
As I enjoyed the concert from my seat, she enjoyed it from the concourse area!
The venue always had location problems, and this first night was no exception. As we left the concert, cars were parked all along the highway entrance ramps. And people were still streaming into the coliseum, AFTER THE SHOW WAS OVER!
It was a night I'll never forget.
CREDITS: COLISEUM/SINATRA PHOTOS: web; KITS: Birthday Love and Happy Travels by hg d by Laurie Ann; 2016 Manifesto by Little Butterfly Wings; FONT: Traveling Typewriter and Comic Sans