By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

WINDSOR — Mike and Sue Serig met while attending Pembroke State College in North Carolina.

An isolated campus, there was little else to do on weekends but play cards, ping pong or attend dances, said Mike.

But it was one particular dance that was special for the couple, who celebrated their 47^th anniversary in May.

Three years before tying the knot, Mike and Sue went to a Tams concert.

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On Friday night, the couple will get a chance to revisit their past at the Tams concert when the beach rock band performs at The Smithfield Center.

 Mike, then a sophomore, and Sue, a freshmen, had met casually while playing cards, but when the fateful Tams concert began, they were both with different dates.

After hanging out together as a group, Mike, “for some reason,” took his date back to her dorm and Sue went back to her dorm. Then they decided to go back to the dance together.

“We’ve been together ever since,” Mike said.

Ever since that concert their “song” has been “I’ve been hurt” by the Tams.

No explanation for the gloomy title, the couple just liked it.

The Serigs eventually got teaching jobs in Isle of Wight County — Mike served as an art teacher at Smithfield High School and Sue taught English at Windsor High and Middle schools and Smithfield High School.

When the couple, now retired, saw the Tams were coming to Smithfield, they snapped up some tickets.

“We could go see them again,” said Sue.

“It’s been a long, long time,” said Mike.

No longer able to tear up the dance floor with the Carolina beach step — or shag — Mike and Sue just plan to enjoy the music — and their memories.

“You don’t hear a lot of Tams on the radio anymore,” said Mike.

Limited to 400 people, tickets for the free concert are no longer available. The concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. 

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