True Confessions of an Overthinker

The anticipation hung in the air that evening. We breathed it in and felt giddy as we finished getting dressed for our date. I wore a fancy dress, tights and shiny Mary Jane shoes. White gloves too, for the very first time!  My date and I were preparing to go to a concert. I was joyfully excited about it, even though I had no clear idea of what to expect. I'd never been to a concert before. I was only six years old.  Ray Charles was performing in our smallish town on that unforgettable night in 1969. It was a very big deal! Ray Charles! Mama wanted me to experience the magic with her. She understood that we might not have another opportunity like it again. It was a rare for Mom to indulge in special events like that. She was a single woman with two young children, struggling to make ends meet. Honestly, I don't remember much about the performance. I have foggy bits and pieces in my memory bank: holding Mama's hand as we hurried from the parking l