Today, August 2nd, 2026, is my Dad’s birthday. He would have been 84 years old. So I thought today would be a good day to tell the whole story of the best birthday gift I ever gave him.
It was the summer of 1994. I had been working at KGON/KFXX radio for about 2 ½ years selling advertising. One day there was a memo released from the programming department to all staff that a MAJOR concert announcement was coming in a few days, but staff had a limited opportunity to purchase tickets before they went on sale to the public.
Contrary to popular belief, working in radio rarely resulted in free concert tickets, but the buy before sale was common through an allotment from the concert promoter. It was announced the Eagles were coming to the northwest as part of the “Hell Freezes Over” tour. I was a fan, but not to the level of hard-core Eagles fans, but I knew I had to have tickets and go, regardless. The show was coming to the Tacoma Dome in early 1995. The tickets were an astounding $105 each to my recollection.$105!!!!
I had gone to many concerts up that time, and had seen almost everyone I liked from that era. I believe the most I ever paid for a ticket was around $45. OMG, sticker shock, but it’s the Eagles and I had just started making better money than my Les Schwab days, so I could afford it, barely.
All along I had no idea who I was gonna take, but probably thinking about some young woman I could impress and maybe turn into a dream date. Eventually I started thinking with my Big head, and decided I would take my Dad. His birthday was coming and hadn’t got him anything yet. At his birthday dinner, without tickets in hand, I announced in front of the few friends there, Dad, for your birthday this year, Im gonna take you to see the Eagles. Youre gonna see the fucking Eagles live in concert!!! His eyes got as big as saucers and his confused face turned to pure joy.
This became the theme for the next few months. No matter what upset him, I could always say” but yeah, youre seeing the Eagles soon”. When the announcement came out publicly, he heard about the show, and the ticket prices, and came to me and said let me pay for my ticket, I said no, of course and now we wait 5 or so months. In that time we decided the plan was drive up day of show, get a hotel room, have a nice dinner, then the show. He insisted on buying dinner, to which I gleefully agreed.
We made it to the venue with so much time to kill, Dad was always early. Annoying as fuck sometimes, but he was never late. We waited outside for a long time, but about every 20 minutes I would say:” hey dad, youre gonna see the Eagles tonight!” I know buddy, I cant believe it!
Once inside the arena, I remembered that the only other time I was in that building was for a Boston concert around 5 years earlier A completely different crowd, vibe and intoxicant.
We got to our seats, and he couldn’t sit still. Fidgeting and bouncing his leg/heel like he always did. We hardly talked. He soaked in every element of the evening. I would look over occasionally just to see his expression. I had never seen him this excited and I was so proud I was the person responsible for it.
Once the show started, everyone within 10 feet of us learned how big of a fan he was. Literally singing along at the top of his lungs every god damn song!. The concert sound was amazing, and not too loud, so everyone near could hear him and put up with it. This was the entire night, until they played “peaceful easy feeling. About half way through the song, he went silent. I turned to look to find out why. what I saw was overwhelming. He was bawling like a little kid. Tears cascading off his cheeks onto his shirt. He caught me looking and grabbed me and hugged me and said” I cant believe im finally seeing the Eagles. Thank you thank you buddy.
Words cant describe how into the Eagles he was, thus, so was everyone around him. It was always the Eagles greatest hits 8 track in his Chevy Blazer or at home, or coming out of his mouth while hiking to a fishing spot.
“Happy Birthday Dad, Im glad we are here to share this.” I said as I got choked up as well.
That was all I can remember from that night, and quite frankly, the only thing that mattered.
Happy Birthday Dad. Im so happy I finally got to the point when I could share our great times together. They weren’t all great, but today, on his birthday, I chose this memory to share. I wish he could read this, as I know he would be bawling again.