My God. Well, guitar god at least. Eric Clapton is coming to my neighborhood, and I don’t know that I’m going to be able to see him.

The Noblesville Daily Times reported today that Clapton will play Verizon Wireless Music Center — literally blocks from my house — May 30.

Slow Hand has always been one of my favorite guitarists. As I’ve written before, no one makes it look easier. I’ve loved his work through every era of his career, from the Yardbirds, to his fiery Blues Breakers stint – when “Clapton is God” began appearing across London — from his groundbreaking work with Cream, all of his various supergroups to his solo stuff, I love to watch and listen to him play. My dog and constant companion for 13 years was named Layla for chrissakes.

But fatherhood, a low-paying career choice, and escalating ticket prices have conspired to limit the number of concerts I attend nowadays. I use to go to any decent show in the area, but now I’m forced to pick just a few that I simply can’t miss.

I’m already planning a trip to the Bonnaroo festival in June, and I’ve got my prime seats lined up for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in July. That pretty much exhausts my concert budget for the summer.

Clapton’s tickets are $175 for lower pavilion and $89.50 for upper pavilion. I don’t think I’m going to be able to swing that with a lot of other things going on in my life right now. Lawn seats are $38, but I can’t see spending that much to sit a mile from the stage.

I’m going to have to make some tough choices. I don’t know that I’ve ever missed a Clapton show in the Indianapolis area since I was 16. Add in the fact that this very well could be my last chance to ever see him, and I just don’t know what to do.

Of course, my beautiful, intelligent, funny, saint of a sister-in-law (who just happens to be a regular reader of this blog) is in the music industry. Over the years she’s fed my Slow Hand cravings by giving me recent releases for Christmas (including remastered deluxe packages of “461 Ocean Boulevard” and Cream’s “Disraeli Gears” as well as the “Me and Mr. Johnson” disc and various concert DVDs), and this year gave me his autobiography. Hmm, tickets sure would make a nice birthday gift. Hey sis … you out there? Maribeth? Hello?

Oh well, in the meantime I’ll just crank up “Promises” on my way home, and watch clips like this on the computer.