Side Trip

Friday – August 22, 2008

Side Trip – Riverbend – Cincinnati, Ohio

Here we go – on the road again. This time we took a side trip to Cincinnati before heading north to David and Jeni’s in Hillsdale, Michigan. I know what most of you are thinking – they’re finally going to a Reds’ baseball game – wrong! Right now with them getting rid of Ken Griffey, Jr. and Adam Dunn, who they have playing now is anyone’s guess – but there is always next year!

Okay, if we didn’t go to see the Reds, or to King’s Island then why go to Cincinnati? We went to be part of the 6,000 plus fans of Bob Dylan to watch this icon from the music world. Bob Dylan has been one of Bill’s favorite singer/writer since the 60’s. To tell you the truth, I had no clue as to who Bob Dylan was when Bill and I first got married. I was country when country wasn’t cool! (Sounds like a line from a Barbara Mandrel song.) According to the experts in the field of music (and Bill), Bob Dylan is one of the best artist and has been for over 40 years. As far as his singing goes, well, some may say that he can’t “sing a lick”! He actually sounded good during this concert. I was disappointed in that he didn’t sing “Froggy Went a Courtin’!” Another song he didn’t sing was “Blowin’ in the Wind” which is one I’m sure we all have heard at sometime during our life. It wasn’t until recently that I found out he wrote that song – but we all probably remember that Peter, Paul, and Mary sang this song and it was a number one hit!

Now some of these 6,000 were dressed as if they were still in the 60’s!!! We saw a wide display of dress. Men and women in their 60’s (grandparents no less) were in outfits that had to have come off a rack from a dressing studio marked for the 60’s. Men with long hair which had turned gray and women with outfits that was indescribable. I can’t even imagine my parents or grandparents going to a concert dressing as these people did! These folks came to have a good time – and a good time did they have. We stood for the entire concert – and some of these folks swayed, jumped, and moved with the music for the entire two hours. Every now and then we got a whiff of “natural herbs”!

Bob Dylan played the keyboard for all the songs and at times he brought out his harmonica to play. Apparently his harmonica is like a signature piece for him. We had a side view of him the entire evening with an occasional straight on look and a smile on his face. His left side must be his best profile because that was what the audience saw. They turned the lights down after every song – some of his band would change instruments – we counted at least 15 different string instruments on the stage before the concert started. He had a five person band and they were fantastic. From our seats (Row 2; seats 5 and 6; center stage) we could see all that was taking place on the stage – with the lights on or off. We could even feel the cool mist they created by using dry ice and water. It was a humid evening and the performers all wore a dark suit with a hat. Sweat was rolling off them as if someone had poured a glass of water over their heads!

Dylan started the concert off by singing “Cat’s in the Well,” “The Times are a Changin’,” with “I Believe in You,” and “Like a Rolling Stone” toward the end of the set list. Bill had been looking at previous set lists posted on the internet to see if he could figure out what we might hear. He was so sure we would get to hear “Blowin’ in the Wind”, but alas, we did not! The one song that seemed to be a really big hit with the crowd was when he started singing “Just Like a Woman.” This song I did recognize because Bill does on occasion allow me to listen to his music when in the car – captivated audience! I change the wording to “Just Like a MAN!”
One last note about the concert deals with our departure from the concert sight towards our car. Bill had ordered “Bob Dylan” shirts for us to wear to the concert. Little did I know that when you wore a tied-dyed shirt you were considered a “head.” Clueless me had to ask Bill what the man who had sold us a couple of posters meant when he said, “Hey man, your are heads just like me!” Okay, I have a head; Bill has a head; and this guy had a head – so what’s the deal. Bill told me that was slang for someone who smoked pot during the 60’s. Well, that certainly was not me!!!! Bill said he may have looked the part in the 60’s but that wasn’t him either!!!! I’m not sure I will wear that shirt out of the house! I liked the color of my shirt, sooooooo we’ll see if I do wear it away from the house!

This was a very good concert which was given good reviews by the Cincinnati papers. Bob Dylan truly put on a great concert. The pictures I am going to post were pictures I had to sneak and take. The security man would come by and say “no picture” and shake his finger as saying “no, no” at anyone trying to take a picture! Thus this is the reason most of the pictures are blurry – I was trying to hurry and moved before I should have! The quality of the pictures are not the best, but we know what they represent – a good evening in Cincinnati listening to a great concert and with the best company possible –each other!

A word for all who read this – do what you can with those you love today, because tomorrow may be too late. Tell them you love them every day! Enjoy each other’s company. Never say or do things that causes hurt feelings and then not apologize. Try to be mindful of others feelings and way of thinking – just because you don’t think the same as they do does not always mean they are wrong and you are right! These is not just for husband and wives, but include your children, grandchildren, extended family members, neighbors, and friends. We love you all!!!!! And yes, for all who have lost a loved one and you are wondering if they truly knew how much they were loved – I believe with all my heart – they know!!!!!!