We, as a society, are always quick to ask, “Do you remember where you were when you heard…” I am usually not the kind of person that remembers where I was. I usually reserve those brain cells for more important information like where the best happy hour is. However, due to an epic moment I know I will remember where I was when I found out Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter for the Twins…

I was front row against the barrier at the over-capacity Paul Simon show in First Avenue.

After spending almost two hours lost in a haze of Paul Simon I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face . After he left the stage (and knowing that he would be back in mere moments for an encore) I whipped out my phone to check my texts. My inbox was filling up with “JEN! Liriano pitched a NO HITTER!” type messages. The smile got even bigger as I proudly held my phone up for others to see and waved the security guard over to share with him. Man! Could the night get any better?

Yes it could.

Paul Simon came out for his first encore. Just him and his guitar and a beautiful rendition of The Sound of Silence. I am not a crier…but damned if I didn’t sniffle and wipe imaginary dust from the corner of my eye. That lead into an almost an anthem-proportion cover of George Harris’ Here Comes the Sun. It went a little something like this…

Paul: Lil’ darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter…
Crowd ROARS
Paul: Lil darling, it feels like years since it’s been here…here comes the sun…
Crowd sings along loudly: Here comes the sun and I say…it’s all right…

As a Minnesotan who has recently survived an intense winter, this song hit a spot inside me that felt like, yeah…it IS all right.

So, that’s where I was when I heard Liriano pitched a no-hitter. Ask me again in 10 years and I’ll give you the same answer.

Please note: music and baseball make me really corny so I apologize