09.24.2023 Brady

 Well, said Tom Brady, If you can write a blog about Bruce, why didn't you write a blog about me? So, he might have said that if 1) he knew me and 2) he saw my blog about Bruce Springsteen.  BTW I did meet him and had a picture taken with him - he had his arm around my shoulder! 

It is no secret that I am a fan of TB 12 and so are my boys, and we are in the camp that feels he is the greatest football player ever. Tough accolades to achieve I know. There was a brief tribute to him at halftime during the New England Patriots home opener game. It was a fitting tribute to a player that led the NE Patriots to six Super Bowl championships. He is the first to say that football is a team sport, team effort, all about the team. But he was the team leader for almost 20 years. And he even won one Super Bowl - his 7th - after he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring this year. He deserves the positive accolades. All of them.

He will be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame (without having to wait for a vote - the owner decided) on 06/12/2024. Worth keeping the season tickets for one more year to attend that event! He will be eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame 5 years after retirement. 

He had one more run on the field. And he let out his signature hearty "Let's GO" at the end zone. 

He was joined onstage with his family - the three children (and yes I miss that his ex-wife Giselle was not there).  Mr. Robert Kraft gave a very nice speech and Tom said that he is a "Patriot for Life". He did mention the cold weather up here, probably in response to the previous criticism he received from many fans who took offense when he in the past said was too cold to be here. But he is right - it is cold here in the winter!

The ceremony also included the presence of many of his old teammates and it was nice to see the brief reunion of some very great players that were instrumental in the Patriot success of past years.

This sign says it all. Thank you, Tom, for making the New England Patriots the champions they were, for making them the most talked about football team during your era and for making it very exciting for us fans. You did not fall off the cliff as predicted by one envious sports personality. 

No matter the score or the situation, we always believed that Tom would pull out a victory - and he usually did. Who will ever forget Super Bowl 51? We were down 28-3 at halftime to the Atlanta Falcons and won in overtime 34-28. And we did believe he could do it and he did! Steady as you go. A good example for all of us no matter what we do. Steady as you go.

Yes, thank you Tom for all of the exciting games, all of the victories, and all of the wonderful football memories. Thank you.

09.23.2023 Bruce....

 ... never disappoints.

It is hard to believe that I have followed someone's career for almost 50 years.  Am I really that old! Heavens! I remember him coming to my college when I was a senior. And I have been going to his concerts ever since then.

 

It is no secret that we play Bruce often in the house. And we dance! And we sing! And he is playing for us right now as I type this blog. Sometimes we make up the words and sometimes we can even understand him! Locution was never his strong point. But we always have a good time, my boys and me. Even Shorty grew up on the music of Bruce Springsteen. We would dance in my small living room in Yap with Bruce blaring through the iPod and those tiny compact speakers. Now I pick up Fionnegan and Gunnarr and spin them around while they on my shoulders and we dance until someone gets a little jealous. It is usually the one left on the floor. And Shorty gets a little jealous, too, but he is too heavy to pick up and spin around the living room floor! So the two of us have our own special dance moves similar to the old days. 

The concert was fantastic, and I enjoyed every single moment of it. He and the E-Street band sang a nice combination of old favorites and newer music. And there was a wonderful instrumental jam session where no doubt each band member was having one great time themselves. So much energy is exhibited in his concerts, and you feel that he too wants to be nowhere else but on the stage, singing for his fans. There are no gimmicks and no frills. It is music and more music with him and this 50-year-old E Street Band! 

It was also nice age mix in the audience - most were in my era but there were also a lot of younger people, too. At the end of one of his harmonica performances, he pointed out to a young man and threw him his harmonica. What a moment for the young man and all of us watching. He is very personable with the audience, shaking hands, kissing hands, and he even put someone's crown on his own head! It is worth the price of admission and then some.

He lost another dear friend and mortality seems to be on his mind. He always pays tribute to the "big man" Clarence, who died quite few years ago now. But he also paid tribute to the man that offered him the opportunity to play in his first band at age 15. And he also is so inclusive of Jake, Clarence's nephew who now plays the saxophone solos that were expertly mastered by Clarence. And Jake would do him proud.

Bruce and Jake Clemmons.

The boss. Yes, he tore open his shirt. Maybe he doesn't want to get too old too soon. He is 70! Wonder about the significance of those medallions he is wearing. Took lots of pictures hoping that may be one or two would be presentable. My seat was at the very back of the stadium directly across from the stage. Best seats ever - better than sitting on the floor. We could see and hear everything!

I could go on and on. But sometimes you just to be there. Then of course there was an encore performance with the band. After they were done, they all left the stage. Bruce returned alone for encore number 2 with his guitar and harmonica and sang a solo - "I'll see you in my Dreams". A fitting end to a wonderful concert. Wanted to upload my cellphone recording but the file is too big and I cannot do a nice clip of it right now (new media program and I am afraid I will ruin it!) for you. Maybe next time.

Do you enjoy music? Do you have any particular favorites? Have you ever been to a Springsteen concert? Go while you can. At this age, we never know when there will be another opportunity for most anything.

Until next time..............