William, this is how it all began...

We took William to his first Springsteen show this week in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia.  We've waited a long time to do this. I've always been worried about his little ears with the noise and, more honestly, about his attention span. I schooled him all week long about how there'd be no leaving part way through for hotdogs/candy/popcorn/ice cream/play dates/trip to Toys R Us or fake toilet breaks. I'm hardcore. Once I'm in, I ain't leaving. He's been begging for years to be allowed to come see Bruce with me so I figured, ok, he's seven now, maybe it will be Just Fine. 

Many people take children much younger than this to see Bruce. They even bring them into The Pit. Now The Pit is seriously hardcore. You need some badass dedication for that. It means arriving several hours before they even open the doors to the arena to get your lottery wristbands. If you win the lottery to get into the pit, you line up and go in about three hours before show time to stake your place in front of the stage. You stay there. Then the actual show is upwards of three hours long itself. It's a test of endurance that's always repaid a thousand times over but how on earth do you do this with a small child? After Tuesday night, I can honestly say I have no clue. 

All I can think is that these children must be made of stronger stuff than ours. Twenty minutes in he began asking whether Bruce was almost done. Ten minutes later he was out for the count, curled up in his seat where he proceeded to sleep through the next three hours of relentless, LOUD rock and roll. (No need to call child welfare services, he was wearing quality ear protection.)

Several times Bruce came over and looked at him with a cute 'what tha heck?!' expression on his face. It was my first show in an actual seat in forever since I tend to favor the aforementioned grueling pit experience. It's definitely a different perspective from a seat but our seats were particularly spectacular (thank you so much Miss Holly).  

Despite our sleeping child, we had an awesome night. It was very special to have Joe there with me again. We caught up with some great friends (and relatives!), experienced an amazing show in a great town and, speaking for myself, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. 

(So, see you on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Bruce!) 

Walking to the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. William is headed for his first ever Bruce concert. Joe is heading for his 301st, give or take, but his first in seven years. Don't ask.
  

William and Mommy in the E Street Lounge before the show.
Special guests of the band. Too much fun. And too much popcorn.
And possibly a little too much beer. They really
 should not serve alcohol to minors.

In our fabulous seats. If you have to have a seat,
 these were definitely the seats to have.
So many thanks to our good friend Holly who made it happen. 

Lights out. Let's get this party started... You can see William already has a look of trepidation on
his face. He was very disappointed to discover they were not
 selling Bruce 'dolls' at the merchandise stand. 

When I said 'lights out',  I did not mean it quite like this. 

The man without whom none of this would be possible.
He is forever and always an integral player in my Kingdom of Days.