Springsteen Week Part 1

-

I have Springsteen seat covers in my car. 

I’ve seen him live 34 times - #35 is coming this week.

I do listen to his music mostly every day.

So, as we head to the Thursday show I’m going to explain a little about why he’s been such a constant presence in my life.

“Nobody Wins Unless Everybody Wins.”

Bruce ended his ‘Born to Run’ video with that message - way back in the 80’s.

I’d already known that to be his message.

It meant a lot to me then and means a lot to me now.

America is a country of great promise. It’s a promised land that speaks of an American dream that’s supposed to be there for the taking.

Bruce has always written and sang about those on the fringes of those dreams. He was brought up in a close family with a Dad who struggled mightily with depression and bounced from job to job.

He felt that pain, and wrote about it, brilliantly.

He’s now a rich man.

He still sings about the fringes.

Brilliantly.

Yet, his music has changed a lot through the years. In the 1970’s, he wrote about girls and cars, and running away from pain.

More than 50 years later, he’s writing about looking back on a long life, and writing about mortality and saying goodbye to people he’s loved.

He wrote about every possible thing in between and through the years, I followed along, looking to be entertained and searching for some wisdom along the way.

Every single one of those 34 shows, while being wildly entertaining also provided fuel to attack the next stage of life.

That’s what Thursday will bring, and I’m seeing him with my brother and my nephew.

It’s always been about family as well.

Tomorrow will be a blog about how this journey began…

…back in 1975…

…when I heard ‘Born to Run’ for the first time.

“Wendy, let me in, I want to be your friend. I want to guard your dreams and visions.”

Just a couple of lines that a 10-year old kid heard and thought:

“That’s pretty great.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more