That Time I...

 I time traveled on my three and a half mile walk this morning – reacquainted with a few people from my past.  I met a young girl at the University of Dayton, scared and homesick for the first few weeks.  She listened to the newest Bruce album at the time and played Dry Lightning over and over until her neighbors in the apartment next door knew every word.

I felt the fever burning in my soul when the Further on Up the Road was released, and I thought its album was one of Bruce’s yet; and  I walked down Randolph Street with my best friend as he recalled some childhood memories from his time on Broadway.

I saw my childhood home from the back seat of a Lincoln as we crested a hill on Milestrip Road while My Hometown played in the background, returning home after three months in California, and four days of driving across the country.

I was at Jeff’s wedding again, softly singing along to My Wish as he danced with my mother and her rustling skirt.

The trail broke and I walked on This Hard Land and was hoping I could make it, but if I couldn’t, I would stay hungry and stay alive.

I felt my cheeks hurt again as I thought of the laughter my roommate Heather and I shared during that first year of college, where I made her listen to Human Touch until she could sing it along with me – wishing both Jon Bon Jovi (in my mind) and Bruce goodnight.  The Waltons were never a part of my life, so who could blame me?

It was a Long Walk Home until I recalled the memory of Jeff walking toward me with an armful of Styrofoam cups filled with Bud Light at a concert in Buffalo.  The limit was two per customer, and I never asked how he got away with six because I already knew the answer – he just had a way.  American Land played that night, the first time I had ever heard it and I recall being so enamored by the lyrics as they played on the big screen while Bruce belted the lyrics.  It is Jeff’s favorite, and it’s one of those that I never turn off when I hear it because for a moment I’m back in that concert hall, and his arm is around my shoulder, the biggest smiles on our faces.

But alas, my walk had to end, and I entered the Land of Hope and Dreams and opened this computer.

The sun that shined on me this morning through the scattering clouds shadowed the path back to home. In as little as forty-five minutes, I found my center again.  Thanks Bruce.