Who's the Baby?

My city, Austin, aka "the music capital of the world," has no shortage of live music, especially in the summer. Of course, why there seems to be more live music outdoors when it's 105 degrees is a whole other story. Anyway, at one show outside this month, an "unplugged" and fairly low-key show, two things stood out, both as a parent and a music fan.

For one, who knew how many people chain smoke? Chain smoking like the cigarette factories are about to shut down and never make another one. Moreoever, chain smoking to the point my own children took notice and wondered aloud how anyone could do it. Cough-cough.

For another, who knew how many adults never slow down, shut up, and listen to the music. As in, talking incessantly, and LOUD. But, the double-take of the evening came when one of the loudest non-stop adult talkers said something like "I can't believe people bring their babies to something like this!" like somehow he was being disturbed. If that were true, then I probably would agree with him. But, disturbed by what? Sorry, but the babies we saw next to him at this all-ages show, outdoors and shady, were very happy and very well-behaved. Not chain smoking. And they didn't make a lick of noise!