Another long weekend survived. Some of it was difficult, but we managed to work through. Labor Day was capped off by the event of the season for me, the only live music event (not counting Sportin' Paddy) that I attended all summer, and for good reason - four tickets came to just over $200 - a wee bit more than I like to invest in four hours of fun and frolic, and one of those tickets was for a general admission lawn seat - saved me all of $20, which was quickly spent on stale pretzels and cokes. Even so, it was a phenomenal night. Dominic's opener was surprisingly well received, even before Sting strolled onstage to help out with "Shape of My Heart." Annie Lennox's voice is frozen in time - she sounds as good today as she did when she was half of the Eurythmics, and for many of the attendees, she was the main attraction. They didn't go away disappointed. But for me, the reason de etre' was Sting. And I wasn't disappointed either, even when for a moment or two it seemed the improv jazz was on a collision course - Sting managed to rein it all back in, bring the song to a thunderous conclusion, and leave us all breathless. For most of us, he could have sung "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and we wouldn't have been disappointed. It must be difficult to choose songs for a set when the catalog is as extensive as his, but he managed to please the Police fans as well as those of us who know every word to every song on every album, even his latest. "Fields of Gold" brought tears to my eyes; "A Thousand Years" broke my heart. I was surprised he left out "Stolen Car", but "Whenever I Say Your Name" was unforgettable, even without Mary J Blige. I think I'll probably be blissfully happy for at least a week :)
I've never been good with expressing emotions. I always felt that emotions were a sign of weakness - part of being raised as my father's "son", I suppose. Lately I'm having a hard time bottling up those things that bubble up when people start flinging arrows and stones. Some I deserve. Others, less so. Innocent comments get taken out of context and used to further some cause. I make a genuine post about an overwhelming feeling I have, and someone turns it into an accusation, based on some sort of internet statistic that proves I've posted in response to something else. Frankly, I don't see the connection. I get angry more often than I used to, but I often feel like I've been kicked in the gut too. I'm not accustomed to that one. It usually brings tears. Intended kindnesses are perceived as attempts to control. And this post will be labeled as an attempt to send someone on a guilt trip - but hey - if the shoe fits, baby, wear it out.
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