Train

So a few months ago I was on Train's website looking for information on the upcoming concert and I discovered they were have a contest. They wanted someone to Skype in and propose to their girlfriend during the concert. I read the rules of the contest and came up with a different idea. So I sent this email.

***I have an interesting proposal for you. My hubby Chaz and I met in 1999 and married in 2001. We have 2 beautiful little girls and we are all huge Train fans. Chaz and I say "I'm About to Come Alive" saved our marriage and now has even more meaning. Over the course of our relationship, we noticed that Train's music became the soundtrack to our lives. "I Am," "Landmine," "Homesick," and so many more have helped us through some very hard times. You can find several Train CDs in our cars at any given time.

On January 22, 2011, while on a dismounted patrol Chaz stepped on an IED. He lost both of his legs above the knee and broke his elbow in 7 places. I rushed to be at his side, but chose to leave the girls in TN to finish out the school year. Beginning February 2nd, I started flying back and forth between DC and TN spending a week in each location attempting to divide myself between my family. On Feb 23, Chaz and I spent our 10th wedding anniversary at Walter Reed. We didn't care where we spent it, because we are lucky enough to still have an anniversary. Now the school year is ending and my family can finally be together. Actually my mother's day present to myself is to fly my mom and our daughters to DC so I can have everyone together for that weekend. Chaz is doing amazingly well. He is actually already walking on his prosthetic legs. Everyday we get closer to going home. You can read more about us at www.facebook.com/GoTeamAllen at any time. I attached a picture of our girls and of Chaz and I from back in February. You can see more current ones on the Team Allen site. You have been warned though, my hubby is amazing!!

My proposal is I want to renew my vows to my amazing husband. One of the lines in "Marry Me" says "today and everyday" so why not do a renewal. It would be a dream come true for me to renew my vows with our girls by our side and at a Train concert, oh my. Just be careful, my girls know all of the words to every song! Thank you so much for offering this opportunity to the Armed Services. I hope you will entertain the idea I am proposing.***

I thought what the heck, the worst thing that can happen is that I hear nothing back from them. My sister and I went on and bought ourselves 2nd row seats and Meet and Greet passes because we decided we deserved a little fun. And we planned to just go and then I received this email.

***Hi Jessica,

Thanks so much for sending in such a great, heartfelt submission.  Hope you were able to have a great Mother's Day with your family.  We wanted to contact you to let you know that you're one of our finalists!  If you are selected as the contest winner we wanted to make sure that you would be able to attend a concert in order to do the vow renewal "proposal".  I checked out your Facebook and it seems like Chaz has been able to come back home to Tennessee.  There is a concert on August 17th in Nashville - perhaps you would be able to do it then?   Let us know and we'll keep you updated!

Thanks!***

So instead I got the opposite. I was stunned. I thought there was no way this was going to happen! We got this email on June 10 which was when we found out we had to return to WRAMC because of Chaz's staph infection. I confessed to my hubby what I had done and I expected to be in a ton of trouble. Instead he said, well that's pretty cool, I wonder if we'll get it. I told him I doubt it, but we can hope. Then we were rushed back to WRAMC and had a few things to keep us busy. Then my friend Demetria and her hubby Ray brought the girls up to us. We went out to dinner and I got this email.

***Hi Jessica,

Just wanted to let you know that we've chosen you as the winner!  You should be contacted soon, hopefully by next week, by either Train's manager or tour manager with more details.  

Congrats!  Hope your family is doing well and that you all have a great time at the show!***

 

I just sat in shock. Demetria looked and me and I just gave her my phone so she could read it herself. I began shaking. I was so freaking excited. Chaz just smiled. He is so funny. So we confirmed we'd be back and all was good and we've been waiting for calls and emails with details. I got that email Monday and then called their manager.

 

So here we are at the big day. We are supposed to show up at 4 in Nashville. I do not know what all the day holds for us, but I know it is going to be another day we'll never forget! I gave my 2nd row seat to my mom so she can be there. Demetria and her hubby Ray will be there and I have many friends who will also be out in the crowd. I don't want to think about how many people will be in that audience. Yikes!! Chaz and I had planned to go to Vegas this summer and get remarried in the Drive-Thru Elvis place. It just sounded like something fun and crazy to do. But this is going to be way better!!!!! Don't worry I'll fill you all in later and I know there will be pictures and videos!!!