“Elias can you help me with my sewing?…” Ah, yes the line from the Schoolhouse Rock song, “Mother Necessity”. Elias Howe is my hero. He invented my favorite thing in the world, the sewing machine. I have an odd reverence for my sewing machine. I must admit that I simply ADORE it. It allows my creativity to flow in ways that make me happy, content, and at times frustrated. However, this is not a frustrating time, but rather a happy one. I’ve been put in charge of the costumes for the school musical of “Mulan” so I’ve been busing making around 40 kimonos/cheongsam tops. Here is a picture of the cheongsam tops the girls will wear…
I had an image in my head of what I wanted them to look like and just started to cut and sew. They turned out exactly how I had imagined them. Sigh… I love it when things work out so well.
Mother Necessity, where would we be? February 25, 2009
Giddy with excitement! February 2, 2009
Yes, I watched the Super Bowl. Not for the game, though it was exciting. Not for the commercials, they were rather disappointing. I watched for only one reason: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I have been a huge Springsteen fan since I was about 12 years old. The short, half-time show just reminded me of the energy and music I love so well.
When I was 17, my friend Mike and I went to see Springsteen during his “Tunnel of Love” tour. We purchased our tickets through the local radio station and joined other fans on a bus for the four hour ride to Minneapolis. The concert was amazing! We rocked out for four straight hours– I couldn’t believe the band did an hour of encores! After the concert, with our ears ringing, we headed back home, trying to get some sleep on the bus. I just couldn’t sleep as I was so keyed up and riding high on the musical experience I just had. We arrived back in Wausau around 4 am, exhausted, but happy. I had to keep my agreement with my mom: in order to go to the concert on a school night, I had to go to school the next day. I was tired throughout the day, but it was worth it.
When I first met Dave, he seduced me with his knowledge of Bruce. I mentioned that Springsteen was my favorite artist and he said that he like him too. I asked Dave what his favorite album was… His response, “Nebraska”. I thought, “Whoa, this guy actually knows the album Nebraska?!” It was only later that Dave told me he knew that he would have to answer that question carefully. He didn’t want to pick a too-obscure album (trying too hard) or one that everyone knows (too easy and not believable). I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Our song is “Thunder Road”– he still sings it to me every once in a while.
So this morning, as I went to the TicketMaster website for the United Center in Chicago, the memories of that amazing concert was in my mind. For my birthday this year, I was able to get tickets for my hubby and I to go see Springsteen in May. I cannot wait! Twenty-one years after seeing him for the first time, I’ll get to do it all over again.
