“Long as I remember The rain been coming down.
Clouds of myst'ry pouring Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun;
And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who'll stop the rain.”
It’s always a surreal feeling for me, to pause and look upon the journey of my life so far: from home, in Romania, to living in the States for more than 7 years now. Going to live concerts of people I only heard and read about in the dark days of communism, people that I never would have dreamed I’d be in the same hemisphere with, much less under the same roof is cause for such a strange contemplation!
I remember how, growing up, dad used to tell us about the “good” music, the oldies he listened to as a teen: Creedence, and The Doors, and Janis, and Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Stones, and encourage us to listen to it, and understand it. Back in those days, it was close to impossible to come by such an album, without being considered a “dangerous element” to the prosperity of our socialism. It was a life of hiding behind closed blinds and speaking in a whisper, and that’s how my sister and I got our first introduction into the Western culture.
Last night, pausing to look at my journey, from the communist days to the freedom I enjoy today filled my heart with joy and my eyes with tears: it’s truly an amazing world, and you can truly live amazingly if you really tried. The boundaries of countries and cultures are just as real as you decide to make them. And I have my dad to thank for always encouraging me to go past the boundaries imposed by the outside world, for making me seek love and beauty in the farthest of places.
Last night, singing and dancing the music I’ve loved for years, out in the free air, and along with thousands of other people was a celebration of life and of our family’s dreams. Listening to Fogerty 15-17 years go, in the dark and under the covers, with the volume turned down and listening to him now, out in the open, while singing along, was finally like finding the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow: the journey was so worth while.
When I first saw Fogerty come out on the stage and I heard the first notes, my eyes filled with tears as my heart sank: I missed my dad so much; this far away, I felt him near, I heard his voice once again “listen to his (John’s) voice, honey; they called him the man with the metal larynx, for his unique sound; he’s truly amazing”. And John Fogerty was truly amazing, as dad always said! I missed him so much, that very second. I wanted him to be there and share that moment with me, and I wanted to see him playing his air guitar one more time, this time out in the open, and free, and under the same roof as one of his idols. Last night was for you, dad. With love and tears, from me and John Fogerty. I love you, and thanks for the journey and for always being there. Happy Birthday, too!
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The concert was fantastic! The torrential downpour did nothing to spoil it. Have you noticed how many "rain" songs John Fogerty has, too?! Quite ironic, I found. Another hour and a half worthwhile journey to see the man, and not only to see him, but to listen to him and enjoy the bond.
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