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Throwback Thursday: The Night in 1984 That Changed My Life Forever
It was 39 years ago this month
It’s been more than two weeks since I wrote a new Springsteen article, a fact that might cause some to worry that I have been replaced by an AI Chatbot. I haven’t (at least I think I haven’t; how would I know?), life has just been weird lately. I was pondering what I could write about the man who just had a building named after him at Monmouth University when I realized that it is November. That may not mean much to you, but for me November contains one the Big Three dates in the Bruce Universe.
I have written a few times about the indisputable fact that Born to Run is the greatest album of all time; it was released on August 25, 1975. I post birthday wishes to the Bard of the Garden State every year on his birthday: September 23rd. The third crucial date in the Springsteen triumvirate was November 22, 1984, the magical night that I first saw him and the E Street Band in concert.
For many, November is the month of Thanksgiving, no shaving, and unforgivably putting up the Christmas tree entirely too early. For me, it will always be about Bruce and the night 39 years ago that the scales fell from my eyes like St. Paul on the road to Damascus. Yes, I just made that comparison.
I actually wrote about this life-changing event here two years ago, but in a bit of serendipity that can only have been caused by the intervention of Saint Clarence “Big Man” Clemons, it is Thursday, which means I can share it with a whole new audience by making it a Throwback Thursday piece. And for those who question the use of “Saint” in front of Clarence’s name, just wait; the Vatican will get around to making it official soon.
Given the number of followers I had in November 2021 vs. today, it is likely many have not seen my reflections on that glorious evening in Dallas when both Bruce and I were still young. Those who have read it should read it again; after the births of my children, it may be the high point of my sojourn on this big blue rock. Check it out below.
