I’m not even close to being a perfect parent, but one lesson I am proud to teach my children is: Always say yes to a concert.

When my daughter was six, I tried to take her to a Cyndi Lauper concert. This was back in the day when you still got your tickets mailed to you, so it wasn’t until weeks later when the tickets arrived that I realized the show was being held in an 18 and up only club. Undeterred, I called the venue and asked if I could bring my daughter anyway. “It’s not like anyone is going to mistake her for 21 and serve her a drink,” was my argument. Unsurprisingly, I was denied and I promised my daughter I would take her to see Cyndi one day.

That day came on November 1, 2024, when we traveled to Nashville to see her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell concert. It was incredible seeing so many mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sister trips, best friends’ outings all dressed to the 80’s nines and singing every word to every song.

The setlist was phenomenal. At 71, Cyndi commands the stage with the energy of someone half her age. In between songs, she shared stories about the people she’s loved and lost along the way. She talked about closing this chapter of her life (the performing and touring) and what is next (songs for the upcoming musical of Working Girl).

She also spoke about the importance of making her own path: that she found her people, her sound, her voice in life by trying new things. That trying new things is the only way to find out who you are (and aren’t). That actively appreciating and acknowledging the people who support you and the opportunities you are given is the only way to continue to have support and opportunities.

Saying yes to this concert allowed me to fulfill the promise I made to my daughter 13 years ago, as well as the precious opportunity to spend time together making memories. And it wasn’t just us. I can’t think of another concert I’ve been to where I saw not only a wide range of concert goers, but cross-generational groups of attendees: grandmothers and grandchildren, grown children with their parents, sister trips, best friends’ weekends, friend groups from all walks of life. Cyndi created a welcome, safe, joyous, celebratory space for everyone to make memories with the people they love.

Saying yes to this concert reminded me that chapters begin and end all the time; it’s up to each of us to write the pages between.  It also reminded me to have fun and take time (after time) to appreciate being present in the moments I’m going to remember for life.

Thank you Cyndi for 40 years of being so unusual. I had so much fun.