I love Christmas. All.Of.It. The cheesy and the traditional. Hallmark Christmas movies. Christmas Vacation. Home Alone. I’m watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as we catch up. Decorating all the things. Tinsel, lights and ornaments, oh my. Magic everywhere you turn. Gingerbread and apple cider. Wearing all my hand knitted treasures. Being all cozy. You’d almost think I like winter. Ha. No.

This year started early. Way back in November, well before Thanksgiving, when this handsome fella popped in for a haircut one Thursday afternoon.

So a little back story here, the salon I work at downtown is smack in the heart of things. Next to the Hotel Kansas City and looking across the street at the back side of the Midland Theater, we see a lot of tour buses and an eclectic mix of traffic. People watching level 3000. 

And in walks Mike. Definitely wasn’t the typical equipment driver type. Tells us he’s a singer and yada yada. Aren’t they all?! So here we are, kicking off a stellar haircut, just my normal chatterbox self, assuming he’s some back-up singer, the typical 21 questions about his family, holidays, life, etc. I’m just not that girl losing her noodles over performers. People are just people. Unless you're Paul Hollywood or Bradley Cooper. He tells me he has tickets if I want a couple for the show that night and of course, Yes-Woman reporting for duty, before even knowing what I was saying yes to. He says, “We’re a men’s a cappella group.” I know my face did a little thing. Not at all what I was expecting him to say. Not even close. So here we are committed to this situation. I am panicking inside. I have a 3:46am alarm Friday morning!! Is a men’s a cappella group worth missing my 8pm bedtime?! What in the Lort have I done. Real first world problems.

After we do a little creeping and a little push from my gals to get sparkly and just flipping GO. I busted out my vintage sequin maxi and red lips (did someone say Christmas?!) and headed to my first concert at the Midland Theater!!!

Would it even be me if I didn’t make friends with some amazing gals on the corner of 12th & Baltimore before I even arrived at the theater?! Nope. We’ll credit the skirt for opening up the conversation and will you just guess where they were going?!

“Have y’all heard of some Christmas a cappella group?!”

“STRAIGHT NO CHASER?!”

Ohhh bet, did these gals know!! Cindy and Kathleen are super fans and made a real big deal over me cutting Mike Luginbill’s hair. They immediately adopted me for the night and took full responsibility for me to have THE BEST FIRST SNC experience ever!!

Y’all. Ok. Two things. The Midland. It’s amazing. Pics do it no justice. Book a show, any show and go!! Second here, if you haven’t stopped and asked the Google who Straight No Chaser is, I’ll hold for 3. And then check out my favorite Christmas mashup snip-it from that night!!!

You’re not mad are you?! I know. And just imagine in person.

I was blown away. They killed it. Mashups, remixes, 90’s to oldies and even some T.Swift (when in Rome), my favorite was probably Michael and then…after a little intermission we got all Christmas up in there. Seriously one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. No instruments. No previously recorded bs. Talent. Pure God given talent. My soul was officially in holiday mode!!

Cindy and Kathleen made my night. After singing, having our own dance party, grabbing swag {bc I was now officially a super fan}, and just having the best time ever, we headed to PS for a nightcap and some picture sharing. What.A.Night. Just good clean Christmas make your heart full kinda fun. Y’all. So good.

I know it wasn’t like some major pivotal life changing day. But it was a BIG memory for this gal. I’m such a sucker for the little details in this season of life. And you know who text me today?! Cindy. With some SNC news. But you know what else?! Because of that haircut and leaving this apartment for another solo adventure, I made an unexpected friend. I have another cheerleader in my corner and this kind soul that supports me from a few states over, reading my blog and thinking of me when she has Christmas cheer to spread. How cool is that?! I’m telling y’all, something about this city + Christmas cheer. It’s bigger than other places. You just have to come experience this for yourself. That Thursday waaaaaaay back in November was just the beginning and one of my favorites from this First Christmas in KC extravaganza!!!

Next stop, Scene 2. Alllll aboard the HOLIDAY TRAIN!!!! I’m just going to leave you with the word breakdancing.

Until then.

Xo

Midwest Ging