No opening act, no intermission

Sometimes, I forget this man is a crazy famous rock star. One minute he's just a normal guy getting coffee at Starbucks, walking around Target and chasing* me down back alleys in Pittsburgh. (That's normal, right?) Then the next, here he is being worshipped by 60,000 (let's describe them as) 'slightly enthusiastic' Spanish fans in Madrid a couple of months back.

Definitely a rock star. But not an ordinary rock star.

The Madrid show clocked in at three hours and 48 minutes. With no intermission. This is a LONG time. Even for someone of Bruce's legendary staying power. And people, the man is going to be 63 (SIXTY THREE!) years old any day now. How is this even possible?

I have a lot of trouble reconciling these two Bruce Springsteens. In my mind and in my heart, he's just a regular guy. And he's been in my mind and my heart for so long now that he's just part of the fabric of my life. You know, like breathing. Yet clearly, there are certain things that set him apart from your regular regular guy. Who knows, maybe by the time he's 73 he'll have stepped it down some and only play tiny venues where it'll just be me and my close band of happy thieves in attendance, where we won't have to share him with the great unwashed. (Insert smiley face here. Sort of).

* The word 'chasing' may have been used somewhat inaccurately in this sentence. Technically, there was no chase involved since that would assume I was running away. Wasn't. What kind of fool would run away when being beckoned by Bruce Springsteen for a hug and a chat? 

** Since I wrote this, Bruce surpassed the four hour mark with a show in Helsinki on July 31. By the time we get to see him again in Charlottesville in October, I expect to have to bring a sleeping bag and a nightgown with me into the venue.  

The infamous crowd surf. He is totally secure in the knowledge that not one of
these people would ever harm a hair on his body. But I wish he would stop doing it. 

Above two shots, in full rock star mode.

I actually have a shot of Bruce asleep (or at least 'resting his eyes') on a chair in a store where Patti was shopping. Very ordinary. I was going to include it here to illustrate just how ordinary but I actually think the pic is an invasion of his privacy. Don't know who took it but I'm sure they thought it was great sport. So anyway, no shot of that here. He can often be found strolling around his local neighborhood though, or on the New Jersey turnpike driving himself to and from shows minus any security detail. Or sometimes chasing me down back alleys in Pittsburgh. Totally ordinary. 

Watch this video. Sixty thousand people gathered in one place to share in the 

same amazing experience.  Pure magic.