Concert Connection

I laid my book on the counter and opened my purse to pay for the car repair. The man behind the counter glanced down and said “How’s the book?” I was in the middle of reading Bruce Springsteen’s memoir.

“It’s a great read,” I replied, “Did you see the movie?”

 “No, but I heard it wasn’t that great,” he responded with a bit of disappointment.

“Well,” I said with a long pause, “I think you have to be a fan; I liked it, but I’m a Jersey Girl. “

“Me too! Not a girl, but from Jersey!” his excitement was building.

“Really? I was lucky enough to have seen Bruce during the Born in the USA tour,” I said.

 “Brendan Byrne Arena, Meadowlands?” he asked as curiosity peaked in his voice.

 “Yes!” I exclaimed.

 “Me too! We were probably at the same concert!” He blurted out in delight. The conversation organically spilled out of our mouths recounting our Jersey days which was quickly cut short due the line building behind me. We ended with smiles, immersing ourselves for a moment in the musical past.

A routine car service crossed our paths that day. In an instant we had a concert connection, a shared memory of our younger days, part of the soundtrack of our lives. Bruce’s story was part of our story. Out of the many thousands who experienced that show back in ’84, two strangers no longer living in Jersey now shared a flashback moment. Concert goers, community and the power of music levels the playing ground; it helps make us all feel a sense of belonging and maybe just little bit closer.

Rock on!