Had a Bruce dream Monday night - just the usual - Bruce & I were very best friends and I was hanging out at his house, all caž and whatnot.
Tuesday morning I got a notification that I had won the Springsteen on Broadway lottery to purchase tickets for Wednesday night's show at the low low price of $80 (they normally run $75 - 850
). Called my Bruce running mate and procured the tix without delay.
Wednesday would have been my mom's birthday, and the last time I saw her was a year ago on that day. She passed away 10 days later after a 10-year struggle with Parkinson's. I truly can't say if she knew I was there on that last visit, but I'm glad I went to VA in the midst of Covid.
The show is full of ghosts - Bruce's dad, his high school buddies who didn't come back from Vietnam, Clarence & Danny from the E St Band, and lastly his mom, who is now 96 but 10 years into Alzheimer's and can no longer speak, stand or feed herself. She does still recognize Bruce and reaches out to "dance" with him when he visits.
It's not really as maudlin as I'm making it sound. It's also a really funny show. He's got a lot of rock star self-deprecating humor and hilarious stories of Growin Up. Patti joins him for two songs which are a definite highlight.
All in all an emotional roller coaster, closing with a recitation of the Our Father and the message that we may live with our ghosts and even draw joy from them. He's replaced Born to Run with I'll See You in My Dreams for the closer, with my heartfelt approval.
I'll see you in my dreams
When all the summers have come to an end
I'll see you in my dreams
We'll meet and live and love again
I'll see you in my dreams
Yeah, up around the river bend
For death is not the end
And I'll see you in my dreams
We are finally going to lay Mom's ashes to rest next week on the anniversary of her death. I'm looking forward to sharing some time with my family.