Best friends

When William and Leanza first met, she was 9 months old. He was 3 weeks old. Although she is the older, infinitely more wise and mature woman in the relationship, they have been making each other laugh like fools ever since. Over the past seven years, they've created their own language, songs, dances and jokes together. Sometimes, they are very loud and VERY silly together. 

Leanza's mother recognized that new mother look of pure terror in my eyes the day I walked into the nursing support group run by the hospital where our babies were born. She became my first real friend in my brand new world and as a result, our kids have spent a lot of time together. I am pretty sure they don't mind. Hearing them laugh so hard they practically (and sometimes actually) pee their pants is such sweet music. I hope they are friends forever. 

I snapped these pics today at lunch. 

When they were very small...

On the road with Bruce

Apparently I was not paying quite enough attention the first 85 times I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert so the only right and proper thing to do was to go and see him again. Last week I added the Charlottesville, Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Wrecking Ball shows to my list.

Of course, you might *think* this indicates a problem of some magnitude but I can assure you, this is a wee, small number of shows in the grand scheme of things. Although I must receive lots of credit for racking up a number like this, given that I come from a place where Bruce rarely performs, there are people who outnumber me in ways that make me seem like a rank amateur. My real claim to fame is that I'm the only person I know who permanently moved all the way across the world to in order to better pursue my obsession passion. (Actually, that wasn't the *real* reason. That would be ridiculous. The truth is I happened to marry a person who shares the same obsession passion and it was just dumb luck that he happened to live three hours out of New Jersey. Way less ridiculous, right?)

In any case, it's about so much more than the music and the man. Bruce is singlehandedly responsible for bringing so many amazing people into my life. My BFF Judi Johnson, for example. No Bruce, no Judi. No Judi, no Joe. No Joe, no William. You see what he did there?! And so it goes. Many friendships that began with this shared passion have long since transcended that initial commonality and grown into something strong and lifelong. It's true for so many of us in the 'Bruce community' and one of the many blessings of any show is the chance it gives us to reconnect with those friends. And sometimes, we even have entire conversations without mentioning his name! 

Some pics from Pittsburgh with my peeps. 

Me, Judi and Kelly

We're bad, we're nationwide

Oh Joe Grushecky, how you make me smile. All these years and you still don't know the words to Glory Days. The look on Bruce's face as you once again proceed to mangle it, in your own inimitable style, is priceless. He's like 'dude, you've had since 1984 to learn this thing. What is the MATTER with you?' I wish I had captured Steven completely cracking up but I was laughing too hard. One of the best moments of the show. Thanks Joe G

By the way, the lovely Soozie Tyrell (with guitar behind Bruce) is wearing

Matisse 'Pepper' Boots in black, from Nordstrom (also pictured below).

Very soon, I will also be wearing them. Love at first sight.  

Yes, we love this child to pieces

OK, so yes, I may have gone a little collage crazy here. Since I discovered PicMonkey, there's no stopping me. Especially since I do have the world's most photographed child. What to do with all those photos? It was my original intention to make a collage using just one shot from each year. Which would mean 7 shots. 14 if you add the second collage with William and Joe. Couldn't do it. 

Much better to have 25 in each. Unfortunately, it took me a good couple of hours to put it together. I could have been doing laundry. Or watching TV. Or going to bed early. But no. 

I have PicMonkey. I don't need sleep.