JW and Bruce -- Then and Now

Memories of JW. They are there every day. Without exception, he is the first thought I have every morning and the last thought I have every night -- and in between, JW will leap to the forefront of my mind multiple times everyday without any rhyme or reason other than the fact that he is my son and I love him and I miss him so, so much.

It has always been my objective to focus my memories of JW on how he lived rather than how he died -- what was rather than what could have been. Nonetheless, it's impossible to erase from my memory the circumstances of his death.

In that regard, I instinctively knew that it was not a wise move to go to any concert, let alone a Bruce Springsteen concert, on April 1, 2012. For 2012 was not only five years since that fateful 2007, but both the celestial and the scriptural calendar aligned perfectly between those two years. Nonetheless, that was the date that Springsteen had set for Washington, DC for his Wrecking Ball tour and Springsteen means so much to JW's mom and his music has been a source of strength for her, especially over the past five years.

So, on April 1st, off to the Verizon Center we went. In that it was five years to both the day and date (and Palm Sunday to boot) that JW had made his first visit to a hospital emergency room on what would prove to be the first day of the last week of his life -- I knew that I would relive life minute by minute not only for that day five years prior, but everyday for the next week. Thus, I must have been quite a sight at that concert, slumped in my seat while 17,000 people where singing and dancing in the aisles.

With that thought in mind, JW's mom, sister and I (along with Jes' good friend), went off to another Springsteen Wrecking Ball concert this past Friday at Nationals' Park. This time, I was determined not to rehash my emotions from last April but rather to experience the concert in the manner JW lived his life, with gusto and relish. It made all the difference in the world and made Friday one of the best concerts I ever attended. Thanks, JW for your continuing lessons as to how to live life. And by the way, I had a beer for you.

To get a flavor of what the night was like, click on the YouTube link below and listen to the instrumental portion of "Racing in the Street" with Roy Bitten on piano, Max Weinberg on drums, and Gary Talent on bass giving it their all -- just as JW gave it his all when he had the chance, to include just having a good time such as attending an outstanding concert.