August 27, 1985

The story of August 27th starts the day and night before.

It was the start of my senior year of college. I had my full tuition in my pocket, and I headed to our house three days before classes started. 

My college buddy, Fluffy, joined me that early, with the rest of our roommates not scheduled to arrive until the 28th.

We moved our stuff in and then we did what one does at college.

We got beer and invited people over.

Around midnight, Fluff found me and excitedly told me that Springsteen was in Toronto….just 4 hours away.

“We don’t have money for that,” I said.

“You do! Your pocket is full of tuition money.”

I took it as the rantings of a man who had too much beer.

“You’re going to be up all night,” I said. “We’ll go if you’re up at 8 a.m.”

I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that he would be awake that early.

But he was!

We drove to Toronto, without tickets, without a plan, and a little hungover.

We arrived at the CNE and walked the grounds, searching for someone who had spare tickets. Bruce was the biggest star on the planet back then and we walked and walked and walked.

“We aren’t going to find tickets,” I said, as we ate lunch at a picnic table outside the event hall.

“I have tickets,” the man next to me said. “$50 apiece.”

Back in 1985 that was an outrageous price!

“Pony up,” Fluff said. “I’ll pay you back.”

(It’s 40 years later and I’ve still never seen a nickel).

Of course, Bruce and the band were amazing.

We returned home early the next morning, but not before being asked to step out of our vehicle at the border.

The stop went like this:

Border Agent: “Why were you in Canada?”

Me: “We went to the concert in Toronto.”

Border Agent: “What concert?”

Me: “Bruce.”

Border Agent: “Bruce who?”

Fluff: “Do you live under a rock?”

They searched us and the car for more than an hour.

A mostly great memory.

I sent Fluff the above photo and the question:

“Where were you 40 years ago?”

“Good Lord!” He answered. “That seems like it was two weeks ago.”

We took a chance. Mom was a little irritated that I didn’t pay all of my tuition, but she got over it.

Take the chance.

Make the memory.