Moms Without Blogs has moved!

You will be automatically redirected to the new address. If that does not occur, visit
http://momswithoutblogs.com
and update your bookmarks.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Craigslist, Good People, and Dave Matthews

Written by Lee

I've written before in this post about strangers how I generally have a clean slate mentality about people in life.  Like why not give them the benefit of the doubt? Like most people cruising around the world truly are good people so why not operate from that belief instead of assuming that people are out to screw you.  

Well, even though I try to put my clean slate foot forward, there have been plenty of instances where life has thrown me a curve ball and I realize that my trusting instinct has become jaded. In my recent Expressing Motherhood performance, I actually spoke about this very aspect of life for me - becoming skeptical about the intention of others.  

As a mother, the pressure and responsibility I have to set forth a set of beliefs and a course of action to my kids comes into sharp focus.  Do I want them to first question the validity, intentions, and safety of the situation or do I want them to first believe that all is right in the world and to move forward with trust?  

I know parents who constantly remind their kids of the potential evil lurking around the corner and that any stranger could mean danger.  I've made a conscious decision not to over-enforce the concept of "stranger-danger" because I want my kids to feel safe walking in their world. 

Their world.  

Sure, I want them to be aware. And to use good judgement. But if a child can not skip through their neighborhood park feeling carefree and safe, then I feel they are being robbed of an essential childhood right.  Of course as their mama, I am right behind them watching my kids skip carefree through the park but I don't want to burden them with heavy thoughts as they live in their bubble of youth. The bubble of optimism and trust and faith in humankind.

As an adult who has traveled wide and lived fairly long, my bubble of optimism has been poked and prodded and busted a time or two, but when a new situation presents itself to me, I try to pump up my bubble and start fresh.  And more often than not, the stars align and the good people of the universe pull through to show me that having faith in them is indeed the way to go.

Case in point:

I love Dave Matthews. I just dig that dude and his tunes. I've had plenty of epic DMB live moments including one exceptional one on a warm Las Vegas October night at the first Vegoose music festival.  Whenever Dave comes to Los Angeles for a show, I usually drag my dude there to dance with me.  Next week DMB will cruise into town to play his first concert ever at the memorable Greek Theater in the Hollywood Hills.  My man and I have shared many a musical adventure under the stars at the Greek so I knew I did not want to miss this show.

Now being an overwhelmed mama of three, I never ever have it together enough to actually buy tickets when they go on sale.  I rely on Craigslist for all of our late concert ticket buying. There's been plenty of bad press on all kinds of Craigslist evil and for good reason.  But when it comes to people selling tickets to concerts, I have had nothing but good luck.

So this past weekend when I started my DMB ticket search for next week's show, I had my usual high hopes that I would get decent seats for a decent price.  What I didn't expect was to find another soul out there who had a little of his own faith in humankind.

When this particular seller and I had agreed that he had what I wanted to buy, we tried to coordinate the exchange.  Tickets for cash.  But after a couple phone calls and some busy weekend plans, we were having trouble finding a time to make it happen.  

And that's when he said - "Hey, why don't you just give me your address and I'll send you the tickets? When you get the tickets, you can send me a check.  You sound like a trustworthy person."

Well, right. on.

Yesterday, my tickets arrived in the mail. I emailed him to let him know that I received them and I told him I will put a check in the mail for him today.  And I will. And he knew that.  And I knew the tickets he would send would be good for some groovin' under a warm September LA sky.

And you know what?

That's exactly how the world should work.  And I think it does work that way most of the time when I let it.  


••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Summer has taken its toll over at MWOB.  But Fall promises a new and improved scene over here. My kids start school tomorrow and within the next two weeks, we will have a plan in action for posting and some new stuff to reveal.  Thanks to all of the killer faith-filled MWOB readers. This little community is alive and well. :-)

25 comments:

  1. Oh YEAH!!! I was hoping for a happy ending on that story. You know the securing tickets for something you LOVE is near and dear to my heart. Way to go and right on to the seller from CL who trusted you.

    Similarly, I didn't have much luck last weekend while my "dude" and I went downtown San Diego and stood in the cancellation line for WICKED for two hours trying desperately to get in. I even stood by the elevator as people were descending upon the theater saying "tickets, extra tickets, anyone got extra tickets." Boy have times changed. Oh and by the way, it didn't work. We didn't get in. Boo hoo.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've got good karma Lee! I'm not surprised by your happy ending.

    You and your Dude go rawk it!

    *smile*

    ReplyDelete
  3. you are so right, that is how the world should work, all the time.

    I am SO happy that MWOB is going to be back, I have missed you all.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are so right! That is the way it should work and the way it does work as well. That was a very happy post. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amen to mankind! Anyone dealing in DMB transactions is clearly going to be an honest kind of guy/gal!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am with you! I like to believe that most of the world is good and don't let the little part that isn't hold me back. I don't mind walking alone through a big city with confidence. People go around being paranoid all the time really miss out. It is important to be smart but if something is going to happen it is going to happen regardless. I have also had great experiences both buying and selling on Craigslist and all this bad press lately is silly. It is too bad a few rotten apples start to ruin something good. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a great story, especially for here in LA. I like DMB too but just do the CD route.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh Lee, this is fabulous. I need to be more of the "let my kids run and play and stop freaking out about it" Mom. I let them play on our block, but they are not to go anywhere I can't see them. Of course they are still very young too. It's a balancing act isn't it?

    I would have done the same thing with the DMB tickets, as either the seller or buyer. I just believe in the goodness of people.

    This post was perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Every single thing you brought up, I was thinking about today. NO LIE. There is some weird cosmic thing going on here. Lost innocence. Lost MWOB, even your DMB drama- Only because they cancelled their concert here. see, it's freaky weird.

    I am so relieved to see you back. happy sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  10. the only thing that would make the DMB better is if Chris Mann joined them.

    you have such a benevolent spirit, lee. add that to the list of things i love about ya.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow that is awesome Lee! I agree, I think that is exactly how the world should work! Hope you have a blast at the DMB concert! :P

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yeah! Have fun at the concert.

    What about the Flat Belly Diet?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I gave you my phone number, right? How much more proof do you need that you're an extremely trustworthy person :-)

    Wonder how it would have worked out if the tickets were for, say, Britney Spears?

    DMB gives you automatic good Karma. Have an incredible time!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is a VERY trusting soul! It is good to see there are still people in the world like you and I and others who refuse to see everyone as evil.

    Enjoy the concert with your wonderful seats!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That's awesome :-)

    I had an experience just like that this past spring. I was having loads of trouble breastfeeding (supply issues). I joined a group of like-minded people on Livejournal. My mentor suggested I try a medication not prescribed in this country (though perfectly safe). It was going to take upwards of 2 weeks to get the meds and I was running out of time. Low and behold...another mother who had been through the same thing had an unopened package of the drug...and she was in FL. She mailed me her supply and when I got it, I mailed her a check. I was blown away by her trust...because it's so rare in the world we live in today :-)

    Hope you have a wonderful time at your concert!

    ReplyDelete
  16. that IS totally how the world should work and it gives me hope. i love it. have fun at DMB!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I wish the world worked that way all the time...glad to hear you're getting your MWOB mojo back:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for the smile that is now on my face smack dab in the middle of a crazy afternoon. YES, people ARE good...you are so right. It's simple, but so easy to forget. Have a great time at the concert. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I share your resistance to freakdom--but it is a struggle.

    p.s. Dave Matthews thinks you are a BABE. I do too ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I just love how you think.

    And I love Dave Matthews too.

    And I love the Craiglist story.

    Oh, and I love YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  21. My first visit, and I find a fellow DMB fan. Serendipity-doo-dah!

    Never seen him though. Have all the DVDs but have never made it to a show. One day . . .

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gosh, I'd be tempted to throw in a $5 Starbucks card as a treat for being a cool human! That rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  23. funny Lee, because when I met you, I immediately thought, "NO way can I trust this chick"

    Seriously now...
    what about the SASSY WATER????????

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails
 
Blog Designed by : NW Designs