Amazing

A couple years ago the Awesome Fiancee and I were wandering aimlessly about our wonderful city window shopping for nothing at all. We dropped into a store that sells all sorts of weird knick knacks and trinkets like hot sauce that vows to burn center parts of your anatomy or aluminum Batman lunchboxes. We were puttering around the store when we noticed the music wasn't mindless drivel or elevator music. It had substance. It had strength and sincerity. The singer was clearly talented and we played the guessing game on who it might be. It doesn't sound like Aretha Franklin or Sheryl Crow, certainly not Madonna. Her voice was full, rich and strong and on top of that the song was simply beautiful. We kept listening wondering who is this? We finally asked the shop keeper, it was Ingrid Michaelson covering an Elvis Presley song, Can't Help Falling In Love.

Fast forward to the present day, we now own a cd of hers and are more familiar with her amazing work. We heard Ingrid would be doing a show near our fine city right around our wedding, so we marked off the day in our busy pre-wedding calendar. We arrive at the venue and after a little snafu with our seats we eventually get settled in. About 45 minutes into the show Ingrid settles down at her piano and reads from a piece of paper that someone named Brian is asking her to the prom and that he can't wait. Cue funny banter and jokes about being too old. She then says it's a wonderful thing when this song is sung to or for someone very special and launches into Can't Help Falling in Love. After the last chord had been struck and the applause subsides for her cover of The King's work, still overflowing with joy and emotion the Awesome Fiancee holds up her phone and points to it saying, "I asked her to play that." "What?! How'd you get her phone number?" No, the Awesome Fiancee didn't call or text her. She created a twitter account for the sole purpose of reaching out to her directly to request that she play the song as a surprise for me.

I am the LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE.