Special Concert For A Special Lady
Lisa Patrick
Ashland Beacon
Karina McBride has been a fan of the country music singer/songwriter, Jeff Bates, since she first saw him in concert seventeen years ago. When she turned twenty-one, her mother surprised her with a large party at the Skytower including a private concert by her very favorite artist.
This year, Karina turned 27 and she had decided a while back that she wanted another private concert with him to celebrate it. Her mother told her that was fine, but that this time she would have to pay for it herself. So, Karina got a job at Gattitown in Ashland and started saving back the money to pay for the concert.
Working and saving money is hard for most people, but Karina was determined to make her wish come true. She put back portions of every paycheck to pay for her birthday present to herself. This determination is made more impressive by the fact that Karina is not a neurotypical 27-year-old adult. Karina was born with Down Syndrome.
Finding an employer willing to take a chance on hiring someone with an “alleged” disability is not always easy, but Karina was not fazed. She got her job, and she worked hard. Within a week, her hours were increased and have never been decreased except at her request for family activities and/or vacations. Though she sometimes faces ridicule from some of her customers, it doesn’t stop her from showing up for work the next day because, “I love my job. I really do.”
When she raised enough money for the concert, she booked the date for her concert. At first, it was going to be at her family home but the weather was not going to cooperate so the location got moved to the Union Hall at the Paul Coffey Industrial Park instead. Karina’s mother, Michelle Woods, said that Karina was so excited when Jeff Bates walked through the door that “happy tears” started pouring down her face.
Bates knows Karina fairly well. She travels to see him anytime that he has a concert within driving distance of Ashland. He makes sure to acknowledge her at all of them. He has previously commented that he wouldn’t be a very good musician if he didn’t take the time to appreciate that someone this special enjoys his music.
As Bates played and sang, Karina took turns dancing to her favorite songs and walking around the room welcoming all of her friends and family who had come to celebrate her birthday by listening to her favorite music with her. Karina even talked some of her family and friends into getting up to dance with her. She shared a special dance with her “stepfather,” Mike McCullough, during one of her favorite slow songs.
At the end of the concert, Bates posed with Karina for a picture to mark this special concert. While posing, he sang a song just for her which made her smile from ear to ear. Woods said, “That smile says it all.” She said that the night was “worth all of the chaos just to see that smile and the happy tears.”
Karina has no plans to quit her job. In fact, she’s already planning on working harder to save back the money to bring Bates back for another private concert next year.
Jeff Bates will be touring with country music artist Trace Adkins this summer.