I'm sitting at my desk in a windowless office as "Their is an ancient party at the other end of town . . ." plays over an over in my head. I am reliving the concert my family attended a few weeks ago; but I'm also remembering yesterday evening.
My six young ones and I sat at our kitchen table and sang along with Alan and the boys to Old Brown's Daughter. We pulled up YouTube on my laptop and watched the half dozen or so bootlegs from various shows while my 2 year old danced in circles behind my chair. My oldest two stood on either side and I could feel their breath on my cheeks as they sang. Maria and Ben (5 and 3 respectively) sat on either knee. Gus lightly "beat the drum" on the table keeping time with the music.
There's something about this music and this band that transcends all others. I looked up at my wife with tears in my eyes. This music makes our family whole in so many ways. I think we were meant for another time on a rocky shore much further north than where we live. Nonetheless, our kitchen and GBS keeps us warm on these cool fall evenings.
I hope you and your family can share the love that we have found for this music and for each other.
Peace.