Talk About Throwback Thursday!

              We all grew up with different families and different surroundings, which means different backgrounds of our childhood. Many of my friends loved Disney as a child and others loved to travel, and others fell in love with cartoons, but my childhood was a little bit different. I didn't watch cartoons, or movies, or even T.V for that matter. The rule of our house was "No T.V until Dad comes home," when dad came home it was 4 o'clock which meant the news, supper, and bed time shortly to follow. My friends always tell me how I "missed out" on a certain part of my childhood, which is quite possible, but in my eyes there is always that part that they missed out on too!!! Anybody ever heard of Tom Pease? No?! How about Randy Peterson?! Have you ever gone to "Sweet Street"? My point here is that these are the things I grew up with. Tom Pease came to my school when I was really little, and I barely remember him, although I'd love to meet him again sometime soon! Randy Peterson? Well, there is a little bit of a background story here, and this is where my overall blog post begins.
              When I was little, every year around Halloween, Shopko Hall would host "Sweet Street." You dressed up in your Halloween costume and walked around to different booths and stations and did an indoor trick or treat. There was also a stage located toward the back that had entertainment for all. I don't remember meeting Randy Peterson for the first time, but what I do know is that I loved to go see him multiple times a year and most certainly at this occasion. Randy performs concerts for children and families alike, if you ever get a chance to stop in somewhere to see him, I most certainly encourage it. He doesn't just perform a concert, he tells a story and a very valuable one at that. He gets both the young and the old involved in his concerts playing guitars or shaking shakers and still today it puts a smile on my face. Randy has inspired me my whole life and has sparked my love for music, the most rewarding part is that I can still go see him today and get the same inspiration and I know that when I play, even in concert band, I want to have a passion like he does. 
              It has been going on for a while and has spread online from various social medias, but the concept of "Throwback Thursday" still lurks around. I don't recall ever posting anything for a #throwbackthursday, but my mom was looking through pictures and found one of Randy and I from when I was little. Recently I visited two of his concerts at the Outagamie County Fair. This performance location is one I hope lasts as long as the music itself does because it is really the only location that I can attend to see him. I have gone for the past two years to meet up with him just to say "hello" and listen to a few of my favorites from a couple years back. It is nice to catch up and visit and remind myself why I do what I do. I have a passion for many things, and I help others and share this passion because I've seen how Randy has inspired me, and I want to be the person to inspire someone else like so. So, for today's #throwbackthursday, Randy Peterson everybody! You can visit his website at www.randypeterson.com and also go to the site to view a schedule of his upcoming performances. This is a part of my childhood I will never ever forget and I will continue to revisit each and every year. Thank you Randy for being such an inspiration to me and keep on doing what you do because day in and day out I see you continuing to inspire others! 


Here are the pictures of Randy and I! 

Today I invite you to:

Keep Calm and Visit Your Childhood

What ever or where ever that may be for YOU! 

A.B