Why Rock Stars Really Rock

Dear Rock Stars,

You always thank us regular people, but here is a regular person thanking you.

It's easy to think about how glamorous the life of a professional musician must be. It's in the Hannah Montana song (limos, hottest styles, every shoe in every color, movie premieres, etc.). Doing something that you (hopefully) love has become your livelihood, with the help of your adoring fans. The truth is, almost everyone wants to be in your shoes, and you know it. (As a side note, thanks to those of you who have not let this fact go to your head.)

Every situation has its backside (pun intended), though. Rock stars put up with a lot:

-Long hours on the road

-Being absent from their families for long periods of time

-Rarely getting a home-cooked meal while touring

-Stalkers

-Creepy blogs detailing their personal lives, style, every picture of them ever taken

-Stalkers with creepy blogs

-Total invasions of their privacy and personal space (Mat Kearney had his butt grabbed in the crowd at a concert, see Matt Thiessen being touched by the crowd above--that takes a strong stomach)

-Tabloids/paparazzi

-The potential of never having a normal love life

-Having to be hesitant/distrustful when making new "friends"

-Signing autographs until they have carpal tunnel

-Playing their songs over and over until they get sick of them (see "Cartoons" by Chris Rice)

-Stress-related illnesses and ailments

-Squealing fans that are in love with you, despite being 1/3 your age

-Having to spend large amounts of time figuring out how to keep putting God first

With all of that going on in your lives, I don't know how you do it! Sometimes I wish that I could make that quiet homemade meal for you, just to show you how much you are appreciated in a way other than what your looks, money, talent, and fame have to offer.

Rock stars, you rock.

P.S. If you guys want to take me up on that homemade meal thing, give me a heads up. I'd be glad to, and no one would ever have to know.

[Picture by me, at a Relient K concert some years ago]