Fun Squad
As a child, I loved Neil Diamond. I grew up listening to his music, whether it was on my parents albums, or at my aunt’s house where she had an 8-track player. Songs like “I Am, I Said” and “Shilo” and “Forever in Blue Jeans” played over and over throughout my childhood. And I loved them all.
So in August when I found out The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise was coming to Boston for its pre-Broadway debut, I knew I had to get tickets for me, my mom and my Aunt Beverly. I had heard the show was terrific, and that it really captured Neil Diamond’s life through decades of his music.
I called my mom first. “Mom, I was thinking of getting tickets for The Neil Diamond Musical.” Her immediate reaction was, “Oh Amy! You need to call Auntie Bev about this!”
I assured Mom that Bev was next on my list.
Bev picked up her phone immediately. “Auntie Bev, I have an invitation for you and I really hope you’ll say yes. I just saw online that The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise is coming to Boston and I want to take you and Mom with me.”
“Yes! Yes! Of course!” She exclaimed before I could even share the details. I went on to explain that my plan was to leave town around 9:30am, drive two hours to Boston, go out for lunch, and then be at the matinee for 2pm. I wanted to be clear that this was going to be an all-day commitment in case that seemed like too much for her.
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything! You know how much I love Neil Diamond!”
She was an immediate and enthusiastic yes.
For the weeks leading up to the show, I received text messages regularly from Mom and Bev telling me how excited they were, what they were planning to wear to Boston, which songs they had been listening to, and confirming that they were practicing all the Neil Diamond lyrics to their favorite songs.
Our big day arrived. On a sunny Saturday morning in August, I picked Mom up first, then we drove to pick up Auntie Bev, and the three of us set off on an all-day trip. From the laughs in the car all the way into Boston, to the “best clam chowder ever” at Legal Seafood, to the show itself, the day was epic.
The show began with one of my favorite songs and ended with Bev’s favorite. The three of us joined everyone in the audience in singing every song (sung blue…) We laughed and cried as the actors portrayed Neil Diamond’s life story with such respect and admiration. At the end, when everyone was on their feet singing Sweet Caroline, three three of us concluded it was one of the best performances any of us had ever seen— and we’ve seen a lot of shows! We all loved the day so much. Total Confetti Moment.
What’s important to mention is that mom will be 75 next month, and my Auntie Bev just turned 80. Despite their ages, they both accepted my invitation without hesitation. Bev even chose to cancel other plans to make the date work. They committed to a nine hour adventure and their energy didn’t let up the entire day. They both dressed in adorable outfits, wore comfy shoes, and were prepared to tackle downtown Boston.
On that day, after so many laughs, I knew Mom and Bev were officially part of my Fun Squad.
Do you have a Fun Squad? These are the people in your life— family or friends— who are always a yes for whatever invitation you’re offering.
When I turned 50 last year, Kim and I invited a whole bunch of friends to go to Nashville for the weekend. Many people declined, understandably. It was a big ask. But it took no time at all for Maureen, Nicki, Michelle and Jenn to be an enthusiastic yes for my trip. Why? Because they’re part of my Fun Squad. They’re always a yes when it comes to being up for an adventure.
When I have an extra ticket for a country music concert, I can count on my friend Sarah to be a last-minute yes. She shows up in her shorts and cowboy boots— even when there’s only a few hours’ notice. She’s been part of my Fun Squad for 15 years.
As many of you know, Kim and I typically go to 20+ concerts every summer. We have season tickets to a local venue and we love live music. And we invite people to join us for each show who are in our Fun Squad. They might be family, friends, or clients— but they’re definitely the people we know we can count on for a great night.
Every single time.
Whether it’s a Kiss concert, a Phish concert, or a Morgan Wallen concert— we know that the people who say yes are going to bring the fun.
My mom has a group of girlfriends (they call themselves The Muthahs) who have lunch together every Thursday. They go to the same restaurant, order the same meals, have the same waitress, and laugh together the whole time. No matter what health issue or family challenge any of them might be dealing with that week, they know that if they show up for lunch, they’ll likely leave feeling great. They are each other’s Fun Squad. And they are all in their late 70’s and early 80’s.
Important fact: You don’t have to be young to be fun. Just ask The Muthahs.
When you think about your friends and family, who are the people you consider part of your Fun Squad? Maybe a whole bunch of people come to mind. If that’s so, then terrific! Ask yourself, do you have a time booked on your calendar with these awesome people anytime soon? If not, maybe it’s time to bring your Fun Squad together.
Perhaps you only have a couple of people you’d consider part of your Fun Squad. That’s okay! You don’t need a lot of people— one or two will do the trick. Just ask Mom and Auntie Bev. Believe me, they are fun.
And if no one comes to mind when you think about Fun Squad candidates, ask yourself, are you someone who’s fun? If not, trust that it’s never too late to change your reputation. What if this is your opportunity to organize an activity that has inherent fun built into it? I’ll bet if you invited a group of grown-ups to go roller skating one afternoon, or gathered some couples to go bowling on a Friday night, people will show up and participate. And those people— the ones who are an enthusiastic yes for your invitation— are your Fun Squad.
