The piano man

Chelsea and I celebrated Valentine’s Day early last night by going to the Bass Hall concert of one of her favorite artists of all time, George Winston. It wasn’t our typical kind of concert — no beach balls bouncing through the crowd, no fans holding up lighters, only a couple of people screaming their adoration after songs — but we still enjoyed it very much.

I knew George played the piano, but was surprised when he took out his guitar for a couple of songs and his harmonica for a couple more. He got his biggest applause when he played his version of Canon in D — which Chelsea loved because that’s the song her bridesmaids walked down the aisle to. He got his biggest boo when he mistakenly called a song “The Dallas Shuffle” in front of his Fort Worth audience. Party foul!

As the intermission was ending the couple next to us asked us how long we had been married. They had noticed us holding hands and sitting close during the first half of the concert.

A little over a year, I said.

They had been married 47. Chelsea asked her usual question of the secret to a long, happy marriage.

Give 100 percent of yourself without expecting anything in return, and you’ll get greater blessings than you could ever imagine.

I think our new friend is on to something. The reason the concert was so great was that I had a front-row seat to see Chelsea’s face shine as George played one of her favorite songs. I just wish I had my lighter.