I have the bestest husband person in the world. Just in case you guys didn't know that already. When I heard the news that The Offspring would be returning to SA I went nuts. Like high-school-girls-squealing-nuts, and then, to top it off, Green Day is coming with them???? Oh MY GOD.
If you're from South Africa you'll be triply excited to know that local LEGENDARY band, Fokof Ploisiekar (directly translates to "fuck off police car" from Afrikaans) will be opening for these Gods of Rock who represent the BEST of the 90s and early 2000's and everything alternative and grunge.
We geriatric Millennials and GenX'rs will be out with our Zimmer frames and ibuprofen, en masse! Gen Y and Gen Z watch out 😂
The whole thing makes me feel 20 years younger and like a freaking ancient person all at the same time. While I probably won't be recreating this photo from exactly 20 years ago that appeared on the front page of our national Sunday paper the day after the concert and got me disowned 😂😜😱. At least I can laugh about it now.
I remember frantically calling up the paper (after being sworn at by my devout Christian mother-in-law) and speaking to a million people every day till I got through to one of the editors and he was like, listen. We took thousands of pictures of that night. And the picture in the paper is yours. I know it It doesn't feel like it now, but trust me one day, you're going to tell your kids or your grandkids about this and you're going to be so proud you were a ROCK REBEL. And he was right. Also, this wasn't the internet where something could be taken down. The papers were out and the cat was out of the bag. It was the most awkward Monday at work though. I was working as a personal assistant for a property company at the time (I was 19) and we advertised properties for sale in that paper every Sunday. Everyone knew. Everyone knew I was going to the concert and everyone read the paper. And there were copies in the office. I got a few smiles that people couldn't hide, but that was it. I kind of thought I was going to get fired over it, but everyone was so chilled. My boyfriend's mother at the time and my boyfriend, however, thought I was a terrible person and they both made me feel like shit. My boyfriend (who was supposed to be at the concert with me but was having his man-period) forgave me after a week or two, but his mother, who I considered to be like my own mother, wouldn't speak to me for 6 months. She phoned me once, directly after the concert, and called me some godawful word that I've blocked out.
But now? I have the clipping laminated (my friends in the picture had that done for me because they knew about the horrible backlash I got from my "family." And guess what? Everyone in that picture is still my friend and the kak (crap) boyfriend and I broke up a few years later anyway. I need to have it framed and put up somewhere to remind myself of who I really am. Because that's it. That's the girl. That is exactly who I am.
I will have the absolute pleasure of going with almost all the same friends, and some one ones, but most importantly I'll be rocking it out with the love of my life. With all of our back, knee, elbow, joint, and other aging issues I don't think I'll be climbing on anyone's shoulders, but I do know that even if I did decide to try to recreate the photo @zakludick would love me anyway. Maybe I'll get the photo printed on a t-shirt or something.
Anyway, after finding out about the concert, Zak went and booked us tickets straight away. And considering what we've been through and how careful we have to be and all kinds of adulting crap we should be worrying about, I am SO FUCKING grateful. Babe. I love you. I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby like you.
