Long Overdue: Near-Miss & Rebound To See The Rolling Stones

 

“Third time’s the charm” is an old adage. 

That sums it up for me in the quest to add The Rolling Stones to my extensive concert list. You can see previous posts about my feelings and love for live music. Somehow, it never worked out to see The Stones. 

But this October night had a different weight to it.

This was my third attempt to see the band. 

The first was a failed attempt. I went to Las Vegas for one of two scheduled shows by the band that year. And I relaxed during the day, playing some “Sons of Anarchy” game to some success. I met a colleague from work for the show, had a drink and we went in. We checked out T-Mobile and grabbed a beer before the show began. 

Shortly after the band hit the stage and ripped through “Jumping Jack Flash,” I wasn’t feeling well. I went to the restroom and light-headed, tried to do the obligatory water splash to the face. Well, that didn’t squash any of it. I woke up in the medical center down the road. Passed out. Evidently, some kind soul kept my head from hitting the sink. 

Assumption was that I was over-served, but I’d had little to drink. Eventually got the Type-2 diabetes diagnosis and the question whether I’d experienced a dangerous sugar crash. So, this goes back to the idea of being “Better,” as discussed in the prior entry. 

I hear the show was pretty tight. 

My second miss of The Stones was a date at the Rose Bowl in 2019. I got the cooler bag associated with my seat purchases and readied myself for a huge night in Pasadena. Alas, I couldn’t get away from the microphone for the evening. That cooler bag comes in handy!!!

Queue the third attempt. 

COVID-19 measures still stood to dismantle events in the back-end of 2021 (and I know plenty of people in NY and SF who have endured crushing cancellations at the theater). So, to say that I feared a last-minute loss of this show was an understatement. Then, in late-August, we mourned the death and celebrated the life, style and music of drummer Charlie Watts. 

The Stones decided to play on. And so I anxiously awaited my birthday present to me - a date at So-Fi Stadium to finally witness Jagger, Richards and Wood LIVE with Steve Jordan providing the beat. 

There was a beautiful tribute to Watts to open the show, following by a crowd-pleasing rendition of “Let’s Spend The Night Together.” And then, it was just a flood of childhood memories, listening to the albums with my Dad and celebrating this Bucket List item. I sat with a goofy grin and celebrated hit after hit, and each iteration of the requisite Jagger Strut. 

The action on the stage was rivaled by the outfits in the crowd and enough throwback T-shirts, pins, jackets, etc., to fill a mini-museum.

And it was a beautiful, cathartic community event. For the crowd … and for the band. 

While reveling in the cheers and applause, there were moments of the band in pure joy and appreciation captured on the jumbo video screens. And it was beautiful. 

Now, enjoy the performance of Keith Richards’ time at center stage with “Slipping Away.”

Being Better - Define It

Somehow I lost a chunk of this after publishing —- now pissed. I’ll try to recreate.

———————

It’s been too long. I have countless drafts and starts and stops to Blog entries commemorating a number of events, stressors and triumphs from the past several months. Many pages have torn from notebooks to start the next “journal,” “diary,” monologue, or whatever you’d call it. 

But, like everyone (or most, I guess), an alarm rings, an email or text comes in that warrants attention, or you’re off and pacing to any number of chores/responsibilities that make up your existence.

Each year, we hammer out a robust list of resolutions designed to make us “Better.” Whether it’s a nod to health, money, mental well-being or learning a skill, we all have something (or many) in our lives that we want to make “Better.”

I do it weekly. I put together the exhaustive list of “To-do” items. And I get overwhelmed and salty, knowing that it’s a Sisyphus situation. I’m gonna through a bunch of things. I’m gonna check some boxes, but the Sharpie’s not gonna touch each of those lines. 

Damned it all. The point of this blog is to find a little peace in the day, highlight finding the Lighter Thoughts. Jack Handey of SNL had his “Deep Thoughts,” and we’ll have some of those here. But it’s more about seeing/doing the things on your list, celebrating those triumphs and moving forward.

Friend of the show and colleague Jay Glazer talks about “fighting the grey.” In his appearances with us and his book “Unbreakable,” he speaks of rough mornings, and I can relate, to be sure. So, each day, I’m going to work - dare I say “Resolve” - to add at least one post. Short, in-depth expository or whatever - check in here. The goal is Community and talking … and embracing the positivity amid the chaos. 

So, with that in mind — What are my 3 victories today?

1. Great show on FOX Sports Radio this morning with Bucky Brooks. We absolutely destroyed a number of narratives and created some new while dissecting the NFL Division Games from Saturday and previewing Sunday’s tilts. 

(I’ll include game-watching on a larger scale here. We had all the drama we wanted, and then some.)

2. Long-ass nap. Sleep and I have been enemies since I broke my leg my sophomore year of High School (long story for another time). So, I’m learning to pause and listen to my body and foggy mind. I know it’s caused major issues in my past and still impact others, and contributes to physical and mental health. 

Nas said in NY State of Mind: “I don’t sleep, ‘cause sleep is the cousin of death.” The line was later cited by Greg Dulli in “Omertà.” 

3. I communicated with a great number of friends, colleagues and my brothers during the Sunday games. Text messages, calls and some Twitter back and forth. Add some of the 2021 Glogg and a hearty soup. And that’s a winner.

Community. Communication. Pathos. 

——

How do you define “Better?”