Christmas Ball 2024

December 12 – 16, 2024

Before I even come close to telling you about this year’s Christmas Ball shows, you need to hear the backstory of what I’ve been dealing with in my personal life the few weeks leading up to the shows, and since, in order to understand why I’ve never been so miserable and yet so thankful to be at a Hanson concert (or two). If you’re my real-life friend or follow my personal social media accounts, you’ve likely already heard this story, so feel free to skip ahead if you’re tired of hearing about it.

About three weeks before Tulsa weekend, I was in a really bad car accident. My brain has blocked every memory of it, and I’m thankful for that as I haven’t been afraid to be a passenger in the time since. (Though I haven’t driven myself anywhere yet, over a month later, since I haven’t had the time to look for a new car.) I remember getting ready to walk out my door and meet a friend for trivia, then my next clear memory is being wheeled out on a bed into the hallway of the hospital where another friend was waiting to see me.

I had to piece together information from the police report and the hospital report, but the short version of the story is that I was involved in a 4-car pile up. When I was late for trivia, my friend pulled up my phone’s location and saw I was at a stand still, then saw there was a wreck in the same location, and then saw my phone’s location move to a wrecker service. She notified my other friends who started calling hospitals until they found me. Once I was alert in the hospital, I had them call my family and message some other groups of friends.

After seeing my car, I’m still in disbelief that I’m even alive, let alone without broken bones or the need for stitches. I did have a few small cuts on my left arm and stomach, as well as really bad bruising on my left arm, left chest, stomach, and right leg. Writing this a month out, I still have a few bruises as well as a huge hematoma on my leg. However, the biggest concern was a small brain bleed which kept me in the hospital for 24 hours while they monitored it. I had a follow-up a couple weeks ago and got the all-clear from the doctors. But, between the hematoma and the impact of the wreck to my back, I’m still in quite a bit of pain. I’ve also been an emotional mess the past few weeks, which leads us to Hanson weekend.

As soon as I got on my first plane to Tulsa, I started crying because I was so thankful that I was still able to be doing what I love, traveling and going to concerts. I then proceeded to cry a total of 14 times throughout the weekend: pretty much every time I saw a friend who made a comment along the lines of “I’m so glad you’re alive”, when a group of friends chipped in and surprised me with a generous gift, while writing thank you notes to my local friends who brought meals that first week out of the hospital, and throughout 6 of the 20 songs Hanson played on night one.

The reasons I was crying throughout the concert were varied. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand throughout the whole concert, but sitting for too long hurts my back, so I didn’t want to be in the ADA section either. So, I chose the bleachers in the back where I could sit or stand as needed. But that first night, no matter what I did, I was in pain. So I started crying because I couldn’t even bop around to the songs and it hurt too much to lift my phone up and take a picture of the band. Then, I started crying because I felt guilty; some people are never able to dance around at a concert, my situation is temporary, and I should be thankful that I was able to be there at all. And then I would start crying again because ultimately, I was thankful that I was there at all. And then I would cry angry tears because none of this would have been an issue if the accident had never happened. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Honestly, I barely even remember the concert, and what I remember the most from when I wasn’t crying, was being distracted at the small children who were throwing temper tantrums near me because their parents dragged them to a show they clearly didn’t want to be at. I remember the second night better, and I was able to enjoy that show significantly more. I wasn’t in as much pain, so I was able to move around a little. However, the bleachers that night were another round of Hanson Fan Day Care, hosted by Dads Who Didn’t Want To Be There. The kids on night two were honestly pretty well-behaved, but the adults in the back were super chatty. Both nights, Cain’s was sold out (or at least very close to it), and it seemed the whole back half of the venue was just there for something to do and decided to talk throughout the whole concert.

I was able to go to a few shows on both the “Finally It’s Christmas” and “Wintry Mix” Tours, but I have never heard the “Silent Night Medley” live. I was hoping there was a chance to hear it this year, but I wasn’t surprised when it, or “Happy Christmas”, were left off the set list. I was surprised, however, at how many other songs were left out: “Please Come Home”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and especially “Joy To The Mountain”. If it were any other Hanson concert, I would have been disappointed by these omissions, but to Hanson’s credit these particular crowds would have ruined all of those song choices anyway.

Despite the crowds, the children, and the physical pain, I really am so glad I was able to be there and have never been more thankful for the opportunity to travel and see my favorite band and a lot of my friends. Writing this recap a week later has brought even more recovery, and I hope by Back To The Island I’m feeling a little bit normal. But if you see me ironically crying into my Jamaican Smile, you’ll know why. In the meantime, have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light. From now on, our troubles will be (hopefully) out of sight.