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.