You don't mind if I call you "Bruce," do you? I mean, I've called you "Bruce" for so many years (even to your face, albeit from a couple of football fields back) I cannot imagine reverting to "Mr. Springsteen" at this juncture (and I know better than to call you "Boss"!) No, I'm going to address you as Bruce, my friend Bruce, because that's what you've been to me for many many years, even though you don't even know my name. (Feel free to call me "Mary").
Anyway, Bruce, the reason I'm writing is that I wanted to alert you to something that you may be aware of, but that may have slipped away from you. Although you sang about your Freehold roots during the past concert tour, we all realize that you are very many years down the road from those badlands of New Jersey, and sometimes it may be easy to forget what it's like to be struggling - not with the real problems, like homelessness or hunger, but with middle class and the mediocrity that often goes along with it. I mean, I'm realizing that I'm closer to 60 than I am to 16, and this is pretty much the way things are going to be for me. And I'm not complaining, Bruce. I know I'm lucky to have these four kids, two jobs, one fixer-upper home and the outrageous debt that goes along with it. I realize and even appreciate the many good gifts, many wonderful opportunities,the true love and great laughter, the warm socks and cold beer at a reasonable price.
But every once in a while, Bruce, I wish I had a chance, or at least the ability to believe that I had a chance, for something more.
Why am I telling you this? Well, I guess it's because of something that you did (or that was done in your name), something kind and well-meaning, that reminded me point blank that I never had a chance at all. A local (Philadelphia) radio station, WMGK The station was right - next to peace on earth and goodwill to man, there couldn't be a better Christmas gift. I frantically tried to come up with a way to make that guitar my own. Hmm, there was the freelance money I was saving for a new computer, that was about $1700. The insurance company sent me $2000 after that truck hit my car in June....sure, it could be better spent, but this was the chance of a lifetime. If I could just cut back on the kids' Christmas and fast-cash my credit cards to the max...
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Mary Jude Dixon's Bruce Springsteen topic, please visit the Discussions page.