A Night of Music, Memories & Pure Joy: My Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert Adventure
Today was one of those days where the anticipation alone carried me from morning to night. I could barely focus at work because all I could think about was the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert waiting for me in Durant, Oklahoma. It’s been years since I’ve been to a live show—honestly, I think the last one might’ve been Tim McGraw back in 2009—and my excitement was overflowing.
Jessica, Blake, and Sherry (Jessica’s mom) picked me up right at 4 PM as soon as I got off work from the call center. We loaded up the kids—Brooks, Hattie, and Logan—and headed toward Waurika to meet Brittany so the little ones could stay with her for the night. Once they were settled, we continued on toward the Choctaw Casino, but first made a stop at our hotel, the Brick Street Hotel on Main Street, to freshen up and get ready. A quick Uber ride later, we were on our way to the venue, and my heart was already happy.
Arriving at the Concert
The trip to Durant was simple and smooth, and thankfully I didn’t have to drive in the dark—my eyes just aren’t what they used to be. I visited with Sherry in the back seat and even read a little on my Kindle during the ride. Before long, we were stepping inside Choctaw Casino and riding the escalator up to the concert area.
We had amazing seats—a table slightly raised off the main floor on the left side, with a perfect view of the stage and giant screens. Now, I’m not the biggest Lynyrd Skynyrd superfan, but I’ve always loved their classics: Simple Man, Gimme Three Steps, Sweet Home Alabama—those songs just hit the heart differently when they’re live.
The concert lasted a little over an hour and a half. When the lights went down after what seemed like the final song, I had a moment of panic. They hadn’t played Free Bird! The crowd clearly felt the same because the entire place stood, clapping, cheering, chanting “Free Bird! Free Bird!” The energy was electric.
And then—they came back out.
When those first notes started, my whole soul lit up. Free Bird is nearly ten minutes long, and those ten minutes felt like magic. It truly made the entire night. And to share the experience with Jessica’s mom, along with Blake and Jessica—it just made everything feel even more special. My heart was honestly full.
Casino Fun After the Show
After the concert, we wandered into the casino where me and Sherry both got $10 in free play. I budgeted myself $100 and enjoyed every minute, people-watching and just soaking in a rare night out with no schedule. Eventually, hunger hit, and me and Sherry walked a good distance to the food court—she grabbed pizza, I got chicken. Blake and Jessica met up with us, and before long, an Uber carried us all back to the hotel. I’m not entirely sure what time it was—maybe close to midnight—but I knew it was definitely past this mama’s usual bedtime!
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