I’m back from my road trip. My friend and I drove from the Keys to Tampa to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I’ve been a fan since 1975. Even though I’ve seen them in concert 16 or 17 times before (and have seen Bruce jam with other bands in local clubs in Jersey 40 or 50 times back in the 70s and 80s), it’s always a huge treat. This 36 hour period has been one NSV after another as far as I’m concerned. Allow me to share my glee.
One, I packed a cooler and had my snacks with me and fluids so that I knew I’d have food that I could eat always available. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant. I ordered a small meal, ate the appropriate amount of protein and a little carb, then took the rest out in a to-go box and put it in the cooler. Our hotel room had a fridge and a microwave, so I was able to reheat the meal and have it for the pre-concert dinner.
Two, I am already seeing great improvement in my ability to walk greater differences and go up stairs. It felt so terrific to be able to walk from the car to the arena, go up stairs and sit comfortably in my seat. Hell, I FIT much better in the seat and didn’t feel like I was crowding the person sitting next to me.
Three, I had great energy throughout the entire concert. Considering that Bruce and the band played for two hours, 45 minutes, with full out energy and no breaks, I had a lot of standing up and dancing and cheering to do!
Four, I got up this morning, had my protein shake and went into the hotel pool. I swam, water-walked and did exercises in the water for a full 45 minutes!
Five, we went shopping. I am down two sizes in pants and one full size, almost two sizes, in tops. I’m smaller in my bra size too but am sort of between sizes. I didn’t buy a lot of clothes, but I wanted a new pair of cropped pants and at least a new top. The bra was a necessity. 🙂 These were all very rewarding to me for my effort.
Six, after the clothing store, we hit a mall. I felt great strolling around the mall without needing to sit down every five minutes! We had lunch, which I again, ate appropriately. (Three bites of a Subway small flatbread sandwich, then wrapped the rest and put it in the cooler.)
Half a dozen NSVs in 36 hours! Having enjoyed such a successful trip away for the first time since I’ve been back on solid foods makes me incredibly happy. Dropping clothes sizes makes me want to cheer.
It’s so good to stack up these victories. These are every bit as rewarding, if not more so, than food ever was!
Weighty Matters 
Hooray! go you!
Go Mary!!!! You rock!!!
My husband is leaning over my shoulder saying, “what about the show?? Tampa was a really good one! What did you think about Bus Stop?? He almost never plays that!” Yeah, the DH knows the really important things in life. *snort* He’s been Springsteen fan forever and you’ve probably been at some of the same concerts when you were a Jersey girl.
Glad you had such a good time – and I’m not just talking about the concert. That sounds like a really fun and successful trip. Go you!!
The show was terrific! The way that they remembered Danny and Clarence touched me deeply. They were shared moments between the audience and the band. He was energetic, serious, rocking out, playful, borderline goofy — all the things that he builds into entertainment.
When he played Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street, I was really surprised. I haven’t heard that in concert since the 80s. Your husband must go to Backstreets.com and read the set lists. LOL
Since I’ve also been a Southside Johnny and the Jukes fan for decades, it was a treat that he has some of them now in the E Street Horns. Clarence’s nephew Jake picks up Clarence’s part and does a great job.
The one surprise is that he played two hours and forty five minutes straight without a break but then didn’t do an encore. Then we looked at each other and said, “He’s 62 years old and just rocked it for almost three hours. How much more could we want?” Plus the concert ended with Tenth Avenue Freezeout. When they got to the line about the Big Man joined the band, they went silent, pointed at the sky and let the crowd’s ovation for Clarence’s memory build and build and build. Again, quite a moment.
I’ve lost count whether this was the 16, 17, or 18th full length concert I’ve seen since 1978. That also doesn’t include the 40, 50 times I saw him get up and jam with other bands at the Stone Pony, the Fast Lane (both in Asbury Park), with the Jukes wherever, or other times back in my Jersey years. Yeah, I’m a very fortunate Springsteen fan!
Fabulous, Mary. I did see Springsteen in concert in L.A. a loooong time ago. I’m envious. : )
Spectacular! Mary Stella ftw!
What a beautiful and postive trip!
Julie
Congratulations on all of your victories and on having such a good time. You deserve it all.
Hoooooraayyyyyy!!!!! So happy for you!