Neil Diamond Concert Blues

Hearing Neil Again

I heard about the Neil Diamond concert coming to Charlotte on December 12. I became excited and tried to buy tickets. After a few hours on the internet, I realized this was going to be a treat reserved for those who could afford to pay the scavenger's exorbitant prices for the tickets. Not that Neil isn't worth it, I just can't afford it. Thus, my moodiness tonight. I want to hear Neil in person one last time, and can't.

Loving Neil has been a lifetime joy of mine. He captured my heart in the 60's with "Cherry, Cherry" and later with "Song Sung Blue" and "Stones", and many others. I saw him in concert in Charlotte in 1977. After the concert, I drove behind the coliseum, saw a bus, thought it was his and chased it all over Charlotte at high rates of speed until I lost track and was forced to go home. I honestly thought I would follow this bus to it's destination upon which Neil would depart and walk into my arms to stay forever. I was 29 years old then.

I am 61 now, and still have that fantasy...someday I will take Neil into my arms and convey my absolute appreciation of his talent and sensitivity. His songs guided me through years of self-discovery, new motherhood, loss of love, and finally rediscovering myself. No matter what my mood, Neil's music could take me there. I nursed my babies in the wee hours of the morning to the sound of Neil, I loved my husband in the wee hours with the echoes of Neil's music in my head, I endured my boring jobs with the beat of Neil's music in my limbs yearning to dance, to express, to feel his words with motion. Neil always had a song that would relate to whatever was going on with my life. I need to let him know it. I need to go to this concert. It will probably be by last chance.

The concert is a big deal to me. It's probably a big deal to Neil. We're both getting older, both needing to justify our years, both needing to be appreciated, both needing to feel that we'll be remembered. He will be remembered for his talent, but will I be remembered as the the dedicated, lifelong fan?