(This post is inspired by Reverb10)

“Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)”

While on vacation at Disney World in Florida, the wife and I decided to go see the Cirque Du Soleil show. We walked in, paid $97 for two bottles of water, and took our seats. The show began, a grand parade of chiseled bodies and extremely limber people, and it was magical. The music, the acrobatics, diabolo girls. It was absolutely incredible.

But then something else happened. As we walked out of the LaNouba theater into the busy Downtown Disney, we noticed the House of Blues had its ticket counter open. We made our way over, to see who was playing. It was only one of my favorite bands ever. The Flaming Lips.

We worked our way into the crowded room, already bumping shoulders with the other concert-goers, as we got as close to the stage as we could. The excitement in the room was palpable. People were all chatting, laughing, the din in the room was loud before anything even began.

As the opening act came out, the crowd only got louder, singing and swaying along with the sound, everyone pressing in on each other, always trying to be a little closer to the action. Every so often, the guys from Flaming Lips would show up on the wings of the stage, causing the crowed to erupt in cheers. The lights were bright, the crowd was loud and hot. The opening act finished, and the roadies came out to begin setting up the stage for The Flaming Lips.

Tension continued to mount, and more people kept streaming through the nearly bursting door. Pressing closer, hotter and hotter, louder and louder. It took probably 35 minutes for the crew to set the stage, but it felt like an eternity. I couldn’t wait. I had always heard about how amazing their shows were, but this would be my first experience at one of them. The whole experience was just a little surreal. I mean, how do you top Cirque du Soleil? But Cirque AND TFL in one night? And all on my birthday? It was incredible, to say the least.

The show began with Wayne Coyne in that giant bubble, rolling out over the crowd, music blaring and strobe lights flashing. He made his way back over to the stage, and off they went, just completely rocking the house for the next 2 hours. I have never been to a concert at which the crowd was so incredibly into the show. Costumes, and interaction, and screaming so loud I thought my ear drums were going to burst.

By the end of the night, I was tired, sweaty, and I wasn’t able to speak. But I was on top of the world. I just finished one of the most awesome nights of my life, and there was nothing that could bring me down.

In my overactive brain, I rarely find myself lost in the moment. But this night, I was able to let go. Let the music and the emotion of the crowd just wash over me, and I was there. I was alive. I was in the moment, and I was the moment. What an incredible feeling.