The surely epic bucket list item I won’t get the chance to check off today has finally lost enough pain for me to talk about it. Tonight I would have stood on hallowed concert ground in Morrison, CO with all four of our sons and Michael’s wife, Janice Rice Venable, one of my dearest childhood friends, Craig Hospital Occupational Therapist Perry Ann Williams, and her husband retired landscape architect, Keith Gartin; Principal Architect and Senior Partner Sam Andras, of 2WR Architects, his spouse, educator Victoria Andras, and a host of their friends, band mates, lighting and sound professionals and advisors.
Today we all would have watched our son, Adam Venable/Obeah, perform with Daily Bread as they open for Pretty Lights on the Red Rocks stage. If you know about Red Rocks, you can likely conjure my deep loss for having to miss it tonight. If you don’t know Red Rocks, think Carnegie Hall and and I’ll conjure my deep loss for having to miss this tonight. I’ve had to unwind a 12-day walkabout while in the midst of enduring 2 surgeries, a CT scan, an MRI, some sweet Jesus pain and chronic nausea and vomiting. Thanks to my medical team, everything on that list has been fixed or alleviated. But without time on my side and the sensibility of putting the importance of my health first, tonight, my best hope is to be able to live stream the show, if they can figure how to send it.
Adam, I hope you leave a raw, bloody piece of your soul on that important stage tonight. That it comes from a place so deep that it shocks people to know you kept things like that in there. You have worked hard for this and you deserve your hard work and dedication to make an audience swoon. I will be joined with your spirit in the Colorado breeze. I could not possibly be prouder of you, son, and your brothers and that sold out show will watch the virtual walls come down in the foothills tonight. Now go out there and kill!
Andrew Merriam says
So proud of Adam! When I lived in Colorado for 10 years, I dreamed about playing at Red Rocks all the time. I hope you keep on fighting the good fight, and I hope Adam continues to grow and grow.
Becky Ivey says
Praying for livestream success.
Chuck Cumiskey says
Wow!
Having visited Red Rocks, I can truly feel the pain you’re going thru having to miss this experience. This is bigtime. Plus, Denver in August! What a time to be there.
Good luck with your recovery, Mike. Always in your corner, buddy.
Guy Sims says
So sorry you could not be there. I hope you were able to live stream it.
Robbie says
Sad and also glad for you, Mike. I know you’re proud of Adam. Red Rocks is hallowed ground. I My sister and I ran up and down those steps hundreds of times as children growing up in Colorado.