Springsteen continues to inspire on our life journey
Retirement of Yankee announcer leaves void in the soundtrack of my summer
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There was a touch of melancholy as I drove to Albany to see Bruce Springsteen Monday evening.
Bruce is 74 and I am 66 and we've spent a good chunk of our formative years together, not physically, but spiritually.
That first concert was at Cincinnati's old Riverfront Coliseum. As I left that memorable show in 1978, I remember thinking I could not wait for the next one. Unfortunately, it was 15 years before I saw that next show. Life is funny that way.
The show Monday was my 30th and has included stops in Albany, Saratoga Springs, Hartford, Syracuse, Boston, Rochester, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Giants Stadium, Met-Life Stadium, Brendan Byrne Arena, Montreal and Pittsburgh.
I saw Bruce for the first time before I saw my wife for the first time.
While leaving that first show in Cincinnati 46 years ago, I never imagined I might take a son with me to see Springsteen a dozen times as well.
So as I took my seat Monday night, I wondered what more Bruce could offer. Surely, I had seen it all.
Maybe it was the reality that all of us in that arena were closer to the end of the journey.
Sure, there were still a few young people leaping up and down in the front row, but most of us had either gray hair or less hair and struggled to get in and out of our seats.
For most of Springsteen shows, you do not sit.
You sing, you dance, you move in ways you did not think you could anymore.
By the time Springsteen launched into The Promised Land, that melancholy had vanished and as the reviewer said in the Times Union, Springsteen's message today is not so much about the road ahead as the one we have already traveled.
Springsteen know longer slides across the stage or leaps atop the piano.
But the energy is still there.
The music still moves us.
The words are not only staples in our memories, but a philosophy of life about hope and dreams and finding your way to a better life.
I was a kid from a factory family looking for a different way in the world so Bruce's words spoke to me in those early days as nothing has before, or since.
The fact it all worked out is kind of a miracle.
So when Springsteen took center stage for the final time Monday night, alone with the house lights down for a soft I'll see you in my dreams, I couldn't help wonder if it was goodbye as well.
As I left the arena, I had again been lifted up.
Inspired.
And thankful that Springsteen was part of the inspirational journey.
I could not wait to see Springsteen play again, but I also knew I would not not have to wait as long this time.
He was playing in Syracuse last night and I wasn't going to miss another chance to experience the magic and joy.
Rare books
The Chapman spring book sale has its roots in Christmas.
We were looking for more storage space for new holiday decorations. What I found upstairs in the DeLong House was a vast supply of books, many of which chronicled local history.
We inventoried the books and decided to offer up this treasure trove of books to the general public. That's how the spring book sale scheduled for Friday and Saturday came about.
For me, the most exciting find was Metivier On, the second book from the late Post-Star columnist Don Metivier. I didn't even know that Don had a second book.
We also found a huge supply of the definitive history of Glens Falls, Bridging the Years. The book was published in 1978 by the Glens Historical Association and covers the city history from 1763 to 1978. We had an old frayed copy in The Post-Star that was constantly being borrowed.
If you love history, you should have a copy of this book.
For 38 years, the Chamber of Commerce has been honoring citizens for their public services with the J. Walter Juckett Award. I found his memoir up in the attic.
There are all kinds of other local histories, some published as far back as the 1990s, and local authors. Many of the books will be discounted.
The sale will be held beginning Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and continue Saturday. Several local authors will be in attendance to sign their books, including myself at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Hope to see you this weekend.
End of an era
More than once I've described listening to Yankee baseball games on the radio as the "soundtrack of my summer."
It regularly have the radio - yes, I still have a portable radio - tuned in to a Yankee game while outside doing chores.
Growing up, it was the voice of Phil Rizzuto and his trademark "Holy Cow!" proclamations that grounded me in my knowledge of baseball and its history.
Earlier this week, the Yankees announced that 85-year-old radio play-by-play announcer, John Sterling, would be retiring due to health reasons immediately. He had been calling Yankee games since 1989.
His signature home run call - "It is high, it is far, it is gone" - is beloved in some circles and despised in others since he often makes the call on fly balls that are caught, but it is still part of the Yankee experience.
Sterling has called 5,420 regular season Yankee games and 211 in the post season.
His broadcasting partner, Suzyn Waldman, summed it up perfectly: "He is an original."
Sterling was also known for coming up with wildly unique home run calls for each Yankee player such as:
"An A-bomb from A-Rod" - Alex Rodriquez.
"A text message from Teixeira" - Mark Teixeira.
"Don't you know, Robby Cano" - Robinson Cano.
"Bern baby, Bern" - Bernie Williams.
"All rise, here comes the Judge" - Aaron Judge.
"It's Gleyber Day" - Gleyber Torres.
Sterling's home run calls could go on forever and often were met with more eye rolls than smiles, but I found it endearing.
Ultimately, what I enjoyed most about John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on the radio was not only their baseball knowledge, but their story-telling. By the end of each broadcast, you felt like you knew them - and the Yankees - a little better.
I'm going to miss John Sterling.
Long-time coming
Eight years ago, Glens Falls was awarded $10 million by the state toward downtown revitalization and proclaimed it to be the final piece of the puzzle to bring South Street - and downtown Glens Falls - back to life.
A key component -the farmer's market project on South Street - is under way and may be completed by the end of the year so North Country Public Radio delivered another excellent story this week about why the project has taken eight years.
It is worth your time.
Saint Rose payouts
After reporting this week that the College of Saint Rose was not going to provide any severance or health insurance for current employees when it closes later this year, a reader reminded me that the college had previously given lucrative payouts to top leaders.
The Times Union previously reported that former president Carolyn Stefanco was paid nearly $1.5 million in severance, retirement, benefits and deferred compensation after she stepped down in June 2020.
The new president, Marcia White, was paid over $500,000 over a two-year period while implementing drastic cost-cutting programs.
Ken, I like how you refer to Bruce Springsteen as "Bruce." After seeing him in 30 concerts, and following his (and his band's) music for almost 50 years, I suspect you know him better than many fans do. I also suspect that, as it does for me, music helps keep you young.
So happy for you! Springsteen is a great performer and a good person.
Always enjoyed his music as I would sing along loudly in the privacy of my car when I would go on long trips!!👍
My doggie Bella never really understood , just lay calmly next to me in her Carhouse!!
🐾😉🐾