Teenagers get 'in touch' with show

Becca was thrilled. She excitedly waved her right hand around for everyone to see. She kept looking at her hand as if it were some sort of buried treasure.

So why was she acting that way standing in front of me at the Grace United Methodist Church stand at the SEMO District Fair?

She quickly explained that she had just touched the hand of former "American Idol" contestant Josh Gracin.

She and her friends had gone to the concert at the fair Friday night. She shelled out some of my hard-earned money for a Gracin T-shirt. But her favorite souvenir was achieved simply by reaching out and grabbing his hand as he walked through the audience.

Becca was so excited she even took out her camera phone and snapped several photos of her hand.

A former Marine, Gracin probably never figured he'd have to combat assaults by star-crazed teenagers. Although as far as I can tell, Becca didn't cause him any serious injuries.

Becca clearly was touched by his music, but being able to touch the hand of a popular singer was even better in her judgment.

To hear Becca tell it, Gracin didn't reach out to her. She reached out to him. That's the youthful enthusiasm of teenagers.

Our goddaughter, Allie, also had a close encounter. She touched Gracin's clothes.

They both seemed on Cloud Nine after that.

I was worried Becca wouldn't wash her hand for a week. But surprisingly, she did. Even a former "American Idol" it seems takes a back seat to good hygiene.

Maybe it was all that amplified music in the grandstands last week, but I've noticed Becca has turned up the car stereo a lot more.

When I picked up Becca and her friends from the fair the other night, Becca quickly turned up the volume on one of her favorite songs.

The girls immediately started singing along with the radio. Teenagers, it seems, have no volume control except loud.

Of course, my parents said the same thing when I was growing up.

But the older I get, the more I want to turn down the volume.

Becca, naturally, eyes me with one of those "I-don't-understand-you-dad" looks when I lecture her about the loud music.

Still, I can't help but smile at her teenage enthusiasm.

Politicians would be overjoyed if they could energize voters the way Gracin does his teenage fans.

When Becca, Allie, Macy and Mary go to a concert, they get involved in the music. They simply can't sit still. They just have to get up and shout and dance.

Becca said some in the audience cast disparaging looks at the girls for being too enthusiastic.

But the girls don't understand how anyone could be quiet at a concert.

The girls went back to the fair Saturday night to see another former "Idol" contestant, Bo Bice.

There was a teenage moment at that show, too. Allie got one of several guitar picks that Bice threw out to the audience.

For Bice and Gracin, the SEMO District Fair probably was just another gig. But for four teenage girls, the performances were worth shouting about -- even to their parents.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.