Dear Keifer and Shawna,
Oh, how my husband and I love your music. We love the way you look at each other when you sing, the way the words you’ve written seem to mirror our lives and the way your love is growing through your family. Cooper is a sweet little boy. Just look at the video you made with him for “You Make It Look So Good”. We all fell in love with that little boy right away. It’s obvious you put him first.
And that’s what my husband, Chad, and I are doing tonight…putting our kids first.
You see, tonight you play a free concert in Lewiston. When we heard about it we were so excited! We were going to go and sing our hearts out to ever song loudly. Ok, maybe I would be singing loudly. Chad would be quietly appreciating the concert and my efforts. Our song is ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” and I walked down the aisle to it. We sing the song together at our gigs. When the song comes on the radio, the listeners here in Maine instantly think of us and it warms our hearts when they tell us so.
We first met you 2 years ago the day after we were married thanks to my good friend Bob (who was actually my boss at the time). He had won meet and greet passes for you at the Taste of Country Music Festival and he gave them to us as a wedding present. Our honeymoon was in Nashville so we took the scenic route and was able to make your concert and the meet and greet.
You remembered us that day. We had tweeted you a video of us singing two months earlier and when you saw us Shawna said “Oh, you’re the two from the video! You just got married!”
We were stunned.
How could two such popular and busy entertainers remember a couple like that?
After we had our picture taken with you and you signed our wedding invitation we thought life couldn’t get any better than that.
But it has.
You see, when we married, we came home and blended two families. Chad has his son, Bradley, and his daughter, Jayden. I have my son, Anderson. And they all get along. ALMOST everyday. Every family has a few hiccups, right?
Because we’re a family it means putting yourself second and the kids first. And tonight is one of those times.
Tonight, Chad has to go in early for work so he needs to be asleep around 7pm. He drives truck and works an hour away from home. We’re lucky, though, because he’s home every night. Not many truck drivers can say that.
Tonight, Anderson has his very first soccer practice from 5-6. After that, I get home and make a quick dinner for the family before Chad heads to bed.
Tonight, we miss your concert.
And that’s ok. We know you’ll be back to Maine again. You have many fans here and two of your biggest will be at home making sure homework is done, library books are up to date, spelling words are memorized, showers are taken, ice cream is consumed, teeth are brushed and 3 children are tucked into bed.
Children come first with us, too.
So thank you for entertaining the thousands (and there will be thousands there) tonight with your wonderful music. And the next time you sing your first #1 single, we hope you’ll think of a couple in Clinton, Maine, that follow you, your family and your music and wish you all the best.
Here’s To Being Here…in Maine.
Sincerely,
Sharon R. Hood
