Opportunity...

Wow -- this weekend was one of those don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it weekends!
We had just loaded our gear into the vehicle to leave for a gig on Friday when I got the phone call -- another band had a last-minute cancellation, and we suddenly got a golden opportunity to play Saturday night at a venue we'd been trying to get into for months! Was this really happening? Could this be our very own Christmas miracle? 
Friday's gig was a private Christmas party with some great Marine buddies. We got to catch up with old friends, make new friends, and just have a good time playing music and hanging out. It was going to be our last show before we'd finally be able to catch our breath and get ready for Christmas -- this was the last weekend before Christmas. Hold that thought -- the last weekend before Christmas. Christmas weekend, you might say.
Saturday's gig (which quite literally fell into our laps) was at the KOA Campground. A family-friendly, always-fun place where there's always a great crowd of party people and their kids. On Christmas weekend. One of the, if not THE absolute best, most awesome family party times and places you could imagine!
I still can't believe we were given such an awesome unexpected opportunity! Christmas weekend. Outside. Party people. Kids being kids. We gave away so much merch that I completely lost track -- beanies, coozies, ball caps, shirts, mugs, tumblers, and especially stickers! I can honestly tell you that this show was one of the most memorable ones I've ever played. I don't know if it was the Christmas spirit, or the fact that most of the kids thought I was Santa Claus, or what -- but I saw some real magic this weekend!
But there's a back story here. At first, I had doubts about taking Saturday's gig because of all the personal stuff I had going on -- another Christmas party with friends; last-minute shopping to do; getting the house cleaned up for family Christmas. Sure, I missed out on some fun with friends. But I almost allowed excuses and changing plans to talk me out of a great experience that showed up out of the blue.
The lesson for me in all of this is pretty clear. When a great opportunity shows up on your doorstep, do whatever you have to do to make it work out. Your future self will thank you.