We are seeing Bruce at Madison Square Garden. Such an easy trip. We get off the train and do not even have to go out in the street. Just up the escalator and we are in. We are taking the 6:49, for a 7:30PM start. Bruce is pretty timely for a rock and roll icon-having come out at Friday's concert at 8:27PM. This is the WreckingBall tour. I have a concert prep procedure since the seventies (yes, you read correctly) I get ready by listening to the concert title CD, trying to recognize each song without looking at the song list. I also review playlists from the prior concerts. Now there are many videos online from recent concerts so I can put on a song, listen to it, get all psyched. People have recorded the entire concert from Friday. After all these years, I am one of the few people in the arena who cannot recognize most songs until Bruce and the band are into a few lines. Most people in the audience start singing along after a few notes. I don't know how they do it. Many know every single word of every song. I still mess up Born to Run sometimes. When New York, New York starts playing around 8:20- We know the drill. The band will come out of the hole soon. We are looking, standing, clapping, cheering. The first sighting always gives me chills. As the band emerges, some with arms around each other, my eyes fill with tears. This is a first for me-tears combined with the clapping, and rocking. I have been young with them and now older with them. We are all screaming and cheering and then it happens- Badlands- perfect. We are on our feet and will remain standing for the next 3 hours.
STANDING FOR THREE HOURS
The pure joy that I feel at Bruce concerts is almost spiritual. He almost preaches at times, cajoles us to hope, strive for redemption, urges us to party, participate, appreciate. He works in the new somber songs with the old classics and we love it. Though Wrecking Ball is sort of an angry sad collection of songs, the concert is not reflective of that mood. Bruce seems so young again, playing with the crowd and smiling and teasing us.
Some highlights for me
The camaraderie of the band -new and old -obviously enjoying and supporting each other, moving forward from loss to a better day
Bruce's playfulness-chugging two beers from the audience, some going down his shirt, grabbing and picking kids out of the audience, and an extended body surf on his back through the crowd- longest one that I have ever seen. -check it out-stay with it, he comes right by at the end horizontally.
The old songs-Spirit in the Night, Rosalita, Backstreets, She's the One Dancing in the Dark with his mother-Twenty seven years ago it was Courteney Cox up on stage with Bruce. Friday it is his 85-year-old mom, Adele, way
cute-. How does it feel to be the mother of Bruce Springsteen?
The departure-Bruce thanking each band member as they descend into the tunnel and waiting till he is alone, last one out there-then he looks up and waves to all of us-the party host wishing all a good night till next time
MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SOME WINE
Having a Guinness at Tracks with those who missed their trains -
I miss Clarence, first concert without him but we have his nephew Jake on the sax and all band members engaging with intense passion. It is a transporting evening yet a grounded one. I have smiled so much, and feel so connected to every single person here and that is what it is all about. As I write about the concert, I wish I had Bruce's ability to convey feelings with words. I have always loved his use of language, such a gift. A great storyteller. A little blarney at times to honor his Irish heritage.
Bruce introduced the Band during My City in Ruins acknowledging and calling each one out. Then when done, he turns to the crowd and shouts "Is anyone missing?" Is anyone missing?" We are all thinking Clarence, I am sure all are thinking of family and friends who are gone- as we grow older with Bruce we all have lost loved ones. Bruce asks again, "Is there anyone missing?"
He then answers
"As long as we are here
and you are here,
they are here."
Bruce closes with Tenth Avenue Freeze out- a song which has always provided an interplay between him and Clarence see next video where they reenact C joining the band- when we get to that line "the big man joins the band" a montage of photos of Bruce and Clarence comes on the big screen and singing stops, Bruce points to the screen-give a look while we scream, applaud and yes, blink away some tears, we watch the photos of Clarence and Bruce over the years- as the video ends, the song begins again, all of us singing, a united crowd joining in tribute
"As long as we are here, and you are here, they are here" (spirits in the night)
In honor of this celebration, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) gives us a free ride to the parade and back- a
gesture of good will (often done on Holidays) and much appreciated by its riders. The unused tickets are good for two weeks from the date of purchase, the end date being Friday March 30, 2012. We had not planned a city trip until Easter weekend, which is past the deadline, so we devise a new plan to go in the following Saturday, March 24. We think we will do a museum and dinner but then calculate that in order to use the $29 tickets we will spend over $100-sort of crazy. We decide to dump this plan. I come up with another idea. I will give the tickets away. I see it as my duty to promote more good will by re-gifting our tix to others. Now, how do I do that? There are many places I go during the week where I can ask if anyone would like these tickets-but that does not ensure they will be used. I think the only way to be sure is to go to the LIRR station and select a person (s) ready to buy. That is what I did last Friday.
DO YOU WANT A TICKET TO RIDE?
Tickets to Riders
The off peak trains depart from New Hyde Park at 37 minutes after the hour-10:37. 11:37 etc. I decide against the 9:37, as that is always a crowded jumble of late workers, and early off peakers. My choice for my good deed will be the 11:37. I arrive at the station at 11:15, park near the ticket booth (not a legal spot, but I can jump in and move quickly) and wait by the car. How exciting! I am going to make two people happy. Think mitzvahs, random acts of kindness, paying it forward. Yes, I will share my good fortune. My goal is to locate two unconnected individuals. This way I will enjoy bliss twice. My first likely candidate approaches, a man dragging a small suitcase with one hand and smart-phoning with the other. As I ready myself to pounce, he turns and climbs up the stairs. Guess he already has a ticket. I return to my car. I do not want to look suspicious by
MUST NOT LOOK LIKE A STALKER
standing at the machine. I like the element of surprise. Another rider walks up, a fashionably dressed woman, business suit, perhaps she has a late meeting. Ah, yes! I see her head to the machine, then I follow. I reach her before she taps the screen. "I have an off peak round trip ticket that must be used today, can you use it?" I also throw in the story of St. Patrick's Day. "Yes," I can use it," she says, and thanks me profusely repeatedly. This is good. Just what I wanted. She enters the waiting room. Okay. Still have 15 minutes. There is no one. I am starting to panic. Two men walk up. I have only one ticket but ask them anyway. I explain; they reply, "only going to Woodside, is the ticket good for Woodside? "Yes, I say, "but I need someone to go to Penn, I want it to be fully used." I admire their honesty- they could have just taken it. I retreat to the car. A man pulls his Jeep close, gets out and goes to the machine. I try him. "No, I am getting my monthly pass for April." Oh, I should have figured he was not making a trip; he left his car running. Yikes. Time is running out.
ANYONE COMING TO BUY A TICKET?
I was off to such a rewarding start. I return to stand by my car. Two young men come walking fast; each one looks over at me.
HERE ARE TWO RIDERS
Both smile. I decide I will award my ticket to the second man as he smiles biggest and longest. As the first is buying his ticket, I offer second smiler my ticket-he gladly accepts it. Smiles all around. I am done! I feel as jubilant as the Beatles are singing Ticket to Ride. Enjoy....it follows
Reflections
I repeat my story several times during the day and am met with a great response. At some point though a speck of doubt enters my mind as to the purity of my moral compass. I did in fact got two free round trips. Were these tickets really mine to give away? It is not like I bought them and never got to the city. We did go to the city and back for free. Then I think, well, at least I did not try to sell them-now that would have been bad-not ethical. I did not put them on eBay. I did not hang around the station scalping them. I enjoyed the free trip and re-gifted it to to others. Yes, I can live with that. No sense losing sleep over it. I get so little anyway.
Thoughts,
memories, images, dreams are all flooding in lately; or are they welling up from inside? Visuals of childhood trips, Florida visits to my parents and conversations, snapshots and even videos of my mother, Ruth. All in my head. Are these from my forays into
Meditation, Yoga, and Body Prayer? Am I awakening dormant energy out there or letting out repressed, forgotten events? Or is it both? Not sure. I feel like I cannot stop the thoughts, they just keep coming-Ruth is roaming about in my everyday life. Not surprising as last Saturday, March 24th was the two
year anniversary of her death. I do not recall having Ruth connections
last year- that was the snowy winter. This March was warm, as was March of 2010. Maybe the
similar warmth has been a catalyst. Last week we entered spring
chronologically then leaped into summer temperatures. The week was full of record breaking temps in the
70's, resulting in an explosion of early blooming flowers and trees. Early in the week, I put out Ruth's Rose
Garden sign. Ruth's favorite photo of Liam is etched on the sign-it is the one she kept on her desk. See next photo.
RUTH'S ROSE GARDEN OFFICIALLY OPEN
I wondered if this would produce some karmic energy manifesting itself in a sign from Ruth. Didn't know what I was hoping for, but something that would make me think of her. Nothing out of the ordinary happened all week.
Friday, March 23 was the day for Liam's biannual shots. He does not like even entering the
vet's office.
This time our experience is different. Very shortly
after we are seated in the waiting room (yes, Liam sits next to me on
the bench) we are asked to come back to the examination room. Wait,
this is not the routine procedure. Usually, one of the staff comes out, takes
Liam, endures his kisses and jumps, and disappears with him into one of the back rooms. The
injections are completed out of my sight. Why are we going
inside? and together? Going inside with me reminds Liam of the
annual physical, an appointment during which he cries and groans. We are welcomed into the exam
room by Kenny. As Liam tries to back out, Kenny asks info while making
entries on the PC. Then he says, "Let's weigh Liam." Liam slumps,
stiffens, I cannot lift him; he has made himself dead weight, limp, immovable. There is no "give" here; I will need Kenny's professional assistance.
LIAM AS A DEAD WEIGHT
Kenny steps in, lifts Liam up onto the metal weigh machine. Oh, Liam is upset. I
cannot believe he is only 34 pounds. He felt a stone statue. Kenny
leaves. I am confused. What about the shots? We are alone about 5
minutes. Seems like much longer.
Then Kenny returns with another person,
a woman, petite, smiling, I see a syringe in her hand. She is older
than I am. She verifies with me that Liam is getting two injections, "Yes, a
double dose today," I say. I am still wondering why our visit has been
ratcheted-up to an inside room, to a two person meeting, with a
weigh-in and updates to the file. This appointment is special. Very
caring and nice. Then I see the nameplate. The vet is Ruth. Ruth is here! Liam relaxes with her touch. Here is a Ruth to comfort Liam. And a double dose of Ruth, as her last name is
almost identical to my mother's close friend in Fl. also a Ruth. Two Ruth's represented. Wow. Shots administered by Ruth with Kenny holding Liam. Then we are done. We say goodbye, thank you, all that.
LIAM ROAMS THE GARDEN
I take
it as an "Ruth" appearance for Liam, for me, for the anniversary. I might have asked at the front, if the vet is new, visiting, and why the change in the
procedure. I don't. I want it to be a Ruth sign. If I receive plausible explanations then the magic will be determined a coincidence. No, I want it to be more.
I am not sure if we will see our loved ones again. If we do will they recognize us? Will we know them?
I take what I can get now. The "Ruth " vet is our sign and a double dose for two years she has been gone. I know, a reach, perhaps, a little wacky. I am open to such occurrences/visitations. Trying to be more so.
reflecting
thinking
focusing
on signs, energy, thoughts, memories, premonitions, messages from wherever they come.
We went to the parade. Six of us met up at Penn. We trekked up to the suggested viewing position of the upper east side- the majority of people stay farther downtown. The parade begins at 44th, the route is up 5th Avenue to 86th-follow the green line painted in the middle of 5th. We stood at the curb between 76th and 77th- perfect. Took a little strategic elbowing in-but we all made it to the front. Here is a link with some St. Patrick's Day parade facts, in case you want a refresher. http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/nyc/newyorkcity.htm I will share some happenings/highlights. Liam remained at home. Not because dogs are not allowed-dogs and horses did march,
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
WORK HORSES
but animals are required to be affiliated with an organization or have worked or currently be employed by a marching contingent. Liam is unaffiliated and though a working blogger, no blogger group was marching- at least not any known to us..
Costumes I have to declare many of the outfits just that-costumes We have had a warm winter. The young folks were dressing for the beach- thongs (on feet) shorts, tiny tank tops; there was scant body coverage. Hats, face paint, green hair were popular. The scene as we walked through Penn station was evocative of Project Runway's wildest fashion creations. Our group also had its props-a tiara, a shamrocked face, beads, hats, neon lime backpacks and a green feather boa flecked with gold from New Orleans. And then there were my earrings- later for that. See our pic next. Subway went a better way than my usual 3-train journey. New way- E to 53rd then Lexington Ave to 77th. While on the subway platform, I was asked to pose for a pic by a woman who obviously recognized a willing subject. After I shoved Paul aside (not towards the tracks) I gave her the go ahead to shoot. I knew it would go viral that night. Nothing yet. Guess it is for private use.
343 Since 9/11, 343 flags carried by the FDNY for those lost that day. No words necessary.
Side Fives these are very popular at the parade particularly among kids. You hold out your hand and they slap you. I like it because I always miss when doing a "high five" and this way I am passive and just are tagged. No pressure.
Rolf's An early dinner at Rolf's at 22nd and 3rd Avenue. We subwayed there. Why a German restaurant? charming kitsch (I mean that lovingly) atmosphere -the fake leaves lend that Bavarian forest feelgiant steins, dusty mementos, good and great food, and wursts as well as corned beef. http://rolfsnyc.com/
After our meal we walked back to Penn. The crowds were festive, lines outside bars long, corners full of green attire. Folks pouring in as we are heading out.
LIRR free ride both ways, way to go -
Regrets missed a few marchers but next year, we plan on signs, synchronized shoutouts as well as advance notice of where the marchers are and with whom they are marching.
not bringing my green feather wig. I know someone would have worn it.
Liam The Irish dog (one quarter Irish setter) waited at home. He had been enjoying treats from his Dog Lover Gift Basket sent by Aunt B. I confess that the cookies smelled so good I almost took a bite and the doggie beer a perfect wash down for the treats. All natural ingredients of course.
maybe Liam will find an organization next year and he will march or leap-till then he'll be the "quiet man" watching the street parade on Baxter Avenue, New Hyde Park. Woof. woof
I am taking Meditation classes, or maybe the better phrasing is the classes are taking me. On a journey. We are asked to imagine, visualize, go deep, name our ego, throw it aside, walk along an unlit road towards a light. The light is inside a church, temple, house and is visible from the dark road- I am not sure what my classmates are envisioning and we don't talk about it. My imaginary dark road ends with the church depicted in the last episode of Lost. The show ended its run in May 2010. I remember a lot of light, a sacred place, a coming home. And all the Losties are reunited. I found a clip on YouTube. The intense light and throwing open of the doors occur at about minute 3:29 of the clip. It has been my "light" and my "go to" place in every Meditation class-video follows-
Our teacher continues her gentle guiding talk. We go in. At least I do. After a time, we are then asked to turn around, to leave and travel back down the road. We are to take the light from our special place and bring it home. Liam always finds the light in every room-so I see him waiting in our home.If there is light, he is in it.
So I add my light and wow! These are my images right now, and they work. I say right now because I did receive a card (see photo below) for St.Paddy's Day with a glowing cottage, emanating light from within and rays of light from the sky. I did not have to read the back of the card to find the painter's name because I knew- a Thomas Kinkade painting, The Painter of Light. This work is entitled Emerald Cottage.
A potential future meditation replacement for my "Lost" place of light. Serenity peaceful luminous iridescence shimmer.
LIAM LOOKING/LICKING AT BROWN DOG IMAGE ON HIS BLANKET
We were at North Shore Animal League, New Year's Day, 2008. There were no available puppies remaining in the first two rooms. All had signs in code that meant, "Being considered for adoption, potential human parents being vetted-don't get your hopes up on this pooch, keep moving." We had gotten off to a late start and many people had been there before us. In the last room on the bottom shelf of cages were two black puppies, cages side by side, brothers we were told. The one we came upon first was Ernie, the future Liam. "That is the dog I want. There are only two left and we cannot leave him." I was already projecting my continuing nightmare of being left alone onto this rescue dog. A black dog being ignored. No, we must save him. I did not notice that day but Liam has white markings on his chest, shaped exactly like an upright bone.
WHITE BONE MARKING ON CHEST
We were approved and took him home. Having only been Ernie for a few days, he transitioned to Liam quickly. I still wonder about his brother.
On February 17, The View aired its annual Mutt show. A four-month-old black dog, Bridget, was named best adoptable mutt by Westminster judge, David Frei. I wondered at the time why he picked her as she was the youngest, a puppy still, and to me the most adoptable. People always want the puppy. David said something that got me thinking. He explained that he often picks a dog that would be the toughest to be adopted, so based on what he knows about shelter dogs, he picked Bridget.
I was surprised, as I always believed that puppies were the first to be adopted and older dogs were hardest to be placed. You tube follows with the Bridget announcement
Every day I view Best in ShowPet Resort's photos of the current day's playgroup. These photos are posted on their Facebook page. I am always searching for Liam look alike dogs and often remark to Paul that all the dogs are light brown, white, multi-color etc. The few black dogs stand out-check link out for a look-the dogs are worth seeing. https://www.facebook.com/bispr
There is a debate in our country about the existence of black dog
syndrome. Some rescue experts say there is a reluctance, resistance to adopting black dogs from
shelters. Bad qualities are attributed to black dogs. I have read that Winston Churchill called his days of depression "black dog days" certainly not good. The illustrations for the dog in the Sherlock Holmes mystery Hound of the Baskervilles show a menacing toothy glowing black hound. Not a sweet licking docile doggie image.
I looked on You tube for more info and wow, there is testimony from rescue experts of a wariness about black dogs and I have included one
Were Liam and his brother unclaimed because they were black dogs? Or were they just last to be seen, on the bottom row and not easily visible? Did David Frei anoint Bridget because he believed she needed that title to give her an edge in being adopted? Best in Show has proportionately fewer black dogs in its play groups. Possibly black dog syndrome at work? Is all this anecdotal? Just observation, Any real stats?
I never noticed as many friends have had black or mostly black dogs- Duffy, Molly, Rosie, Kendl.
Liam actually has a dark brown glow when in the sun-must be the one-quarter Irish setter. Passersby still refer to Liam as the little black dog on Baxter Avenue. He can look like an alien as in the next photo
LIAM LOOKING SCARY-would you adopt this dog?
Or sweet and calm as in the next photo.
NON-SCARY LIAM-adoptable?
BTW, Liam does not sleep there. He was warming it up for Daddy Paul.
Leap Year occurs every 4 years. We need them to put the extra hours from the intervening three years somewhere. The sun is involved and how we rotate around it. We have some leftover hours each year after we rotate, like 365 plus 5 hours. Julius Caesar wanted to fix the calendar to make it even. Capture those excess hours by inserting an extra day in February every 4 years and bingo, it is all okay. -read more if you like .http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html
Leap days are February 29. Special events are planned for this day and unusual occurrences are welcomed and expected. It is the first anniversary of Liam leaps Leap Day 2008. Yes, readers, I have referred to it before in the blog and have shown pix. Here is a brief revisit, with an update and new photos.
Leap Day four years ago fell on a Friday. I also fell on that Friday when puppy Liam leaped for a tree bound squirrel and I slammed face down onto concrete. Neither hand shot out to break the fall, my right arm was leashed to Liam, the other unprepared, did nothing but join in the journey down. I was shocked to have my face on the pavement. My sunglasses provided a sort of goggle shield. I thought only of my teeth, not my eye. I got up, walked home, holding Liam close and avoiding trees. I became a "dentist emergency"-one who goes ahead and delays everyone else. Always wondered who those folks were. He said nothing was broken but shifting and fallout might occur later. Not sure if "fallout" was referring to my entire body or specific to teeth. Then I went to Stat Med, was cleared of a concussion. The doctor marveled that the "eye socket" had done its job, explaining that they are there to protect the eye from being gouged out. All cleared injury wise, I proceeded to advertise.
I made good use of my smart phone for texting the news. By Saturday morning, I had a rainbow eye. I was so taken with it that I took a photo. This took a while as my blackberry (2008 version) had only a front view camera and I took several pix of my ear, chin and eyebrow before I even got part of my eye. I did finally land the shot, and promptly clicked it off in a text to friends.
I made a hard copy and framed it where it hangs on the kitchen wall above Liam's eating area. Impressionistic. Possibly Picasso/Van Gogh/Matisse. For special outings during my recovery from rainbow eye, I added various colors of eyeshadow to make a more complete circle under my eye. At times, I also painted my other eye to match. A creative friend used my eye in a series of collages. It took weeks to heal. I often forgot about it while out and people would stare at me.
Fast forward 4 years. Liam is a teenager and I am a senior dog mother. I know that I am a senior in the dog world because when I renewed Liam's license my age allowed me to pay the senior rate of $2.50 instead of $7.50. Huge discount. I know Liam is a teenager because he is twice the size of that little dog in the first photo and he has been crate-free for almost 4 years. Teenage Liam eats and drinks beneath my eye photo.
TEENAGE LIAM AND MY EYE
On our walks, Liam still pulls. He leaps for squirrels off leash when free in the yard. I bet he would leap on leash but I am always ready. My teeth have stayed put. However, fallout did occur-something I just noticed this past Thanksgiving. My niece took a side photo-real close-up, yikes- and I saw something when looking at the pic-my right cheekbone is bigger, more pronounced. than the left one. There is a slight discoloration, not attributable to freckles. This has to be a Liam leap injury. People pay for cheekbones, I now have one. No one has ever told me in four years. Perhaps it just erupted for the anniversary leap.
A matching left one would be high fashion.
Leap Day 2012, was calm. Rainy, raw, grey, bleak-my kind of day. Not a dog walking day. Liam hates
DON'T MAKE ME GO OUT
the rain. He will not go out. We have to carry him out to the yard to do his business I wonder if he would have commemorated Leap Day 2012 with a leap. I might have had a chance at a left cheekbone. Turn left and offer my left cheek to the pavement. Didn't happen.
NO LEAPING IN 2012
Hope your leap day was memorable in all good ways. Happy March.
