Guggenheim Grotto

Donal and I took Nora to her first rock concert. Just kidding, it was just a small concert at a local venue in downtown Ann Arbor.

Nora was very new to the whole rock concert thing. She had a great time bopping and mouthing along (much better than the kid behind us who sang along with every song…outloud) and getting excited at each song that she recognized. The band was an awesome duo out of Ireland called "The Guggenheim Grotto". They were very good with the crowd, joking with each other and having us sing and clap with them.

At the end of the show they walked off the stage and we were all standing and clapping. Nora asked why everyone was still clapping and screaming, I informed her of the concept of an "Encore". She was astonished and said "You mean they'll play more songs??" "Only if we keep screaming and clapping". Within seconds she was jumping up and down shouting "MORE MORE MOOOOOOOOORE" with the best of us. Of course the guys came back out and Nora turned to me in awe… "It worked!"

After the show we went to check out the merchandise. Nora was thrilled to buy a tank top. She was even more thrilled when I told her they would probably sign it. Sure enough we turned around and there were Mick and Kevin! Mick is the one on the right. I headed over and told them theirs was my sister's first rock concert. Mick apologized and said "don't worry they get better." Nora was bouncing up and down and asked him to sign her shirt. They both signed it and Mick put a big smiley face on it. Then as we were thanking them one last time Donal and I shook their hands and Nora did the same. To her surprise and delight Mick took her hand and pulled her in for a nice smooch on the cheek! She turned pink and said "ooooohhhh bye!!!!!" She skipped to the car and talked about the concert (and Mick) the whole way home. We were happy to have been able to give her such a memorable experience!