It's Britney, B*tch.

For my 25th birthday, I got a very special birthday present from my friend. It was an orange and pink beach bag that I'd been secretly wanting. I was pretty stoked when it showed up under my Happy Brithday tree.

"Thanks, Sarah! This is the one I wanted. That's great!" I exclaimed.

"I'm glad you like it! But, there's more inside," says Sarah

This girl knows me well. I like presents within presents. She knows it. She surely saved the best for last. Inside the beach bag were a couple of little things, which the years have erased completely from my memory, but I remember loving the little treats and surprises. Being an experienced present openner such as myself, I knew to save the envelope for last.

I gently tear the corner of the envelope, careful not to damage the contents. Savoring the anticipation. Fantasizing about the golden ticket that lies inside. Where am I going? What am I doing? It could be plane tickets. It could be a gift certificate for a massage.

It's... It's.... It's....

"Britney Spears tickets? You bought me tickets to see Britney Spears?...I mean..! " (shit), says the really genuinely surprised and confounded birthday girl.

"Look at where they are, silly." Says a remarkably patient Sarah.

"Darien Lake, NY?!?!?! Holy smokes! You got me tickets to see Britney Spears in a concert venue just outside of my hometown in Western New York?!"

Now that was something to be excited about. Correction...something to be genuinely ecstatic about! I haven't been there in years. It's a quirky reason to go on a road trip. Yay for fun!

This was Britney's Onyx Hotel tour. The year was 2004. Does anyone remember what happened to Britney Spears in 2004? I'll help...Kevin Federline happened to her in 2004. The tour was cancelled due to her knee injury and subsequent spiral into a steaming heap of dysfunction. Shortly thereafter she became Mrs. Kevine Federline and permanent foder for the tabloids. No Britney. No roadtrip. No fun. Period.

Ever since then, Britney's been kind of a running joke for me and Sarah. We joke about the "music' and the drama. Most of all, we joke about the Britney concert that never was. This is why it was my distinct pleasure to surprise my dear friend Sarah with tickets to see Britney here in Philadelphia 5 years after the concert that never was.

The show was pure fun. (She's in a cage...'nuf said.)

We wore glitter.

It was worth the wait.