Collective Effervescence

and what I hope my kids get from me

Sometimes having kids is like watching your most questionable traits walking around in other human beings. Like when my kids were little, I could easily spot in them the qualities I most wanted to change in myself—too sensitive, too introverted, too scrutinizing. I’d wish that, in some ways, they weren’t so much like me.

As they’ve gotten older and have become their own people, though, sometimes I see in them aspects of myself that, it turns out, I really like. A shared sense of humor, for example. Or, the love of a good book. Always wanting to hear a great story. An unabashed love for Bruce Springsteen.

One of the great surprises of having young adult children has been the sharing of music. And though we don’t always agree on what’s appropriate, there is a lot of overlap in our tastes. It’s been fun to be introduced to new artists and awesome to watch them embrace my old favorites. And, like me, they love a live show. The anticipation, the surprise, the energy. The collective effervescence (isn’t that an amazing phrase?), the connection of being in a group of people whose attention and energy is focused in the same direction. 

So I’m excited that, in a few weeks, the five of us will head to MetLife Stadium to see Zach Bryan. My 21 year old has gone to a lot of Zach Bryan shows over the years and has told us about the energy, the long setlists…the surprise guests. And, even though I’m all in on Zach Bryan, like any good Jersey girl, that familiar refrain has started whispering in the back of my head: maybe Bruce will show. 

I know that Zach Bryan and Bruce Springsteen are friends. I know that they’ve collaborated before (last summer Bruce came on stage with Zach Bryan the night after the show my son was at). And I know that Bruce will be back from his European tour. 

I mentioned this to my son, half joking and half putting it out to the universe. He laughed. A knowing laugh. A combination of, “Yeah right” but also “Maybe?” In his laugh, I knew I’d passed on a rite of passage of being a Springsteen fan—the elusive dream of an unplanned appearance, a sighting, a song. And a hope that can only be experienced as a collective, in a large crowd, on a summer night.

Bruce on the beach in Asbury Park, September 2024

---

Acorns for the Week:

(aka joys I hope take root)

It’s no secret that at the Jersey shore Bruce fandom runs deep. A friend of mine from my morning writing group (join us here) wrote a book about it: http://www.lorikrein.com/chasing-bruce.html. Check it out!

Speaking of, what are you reading this summer? I just finished Rainbow Rowell’s Slow Dance and loved it. Now I’m looking for another juicy summer read!