if you can, go!

August 2003, more than 14 years ago. That was the last time I saw Springsteen live.

My sister Jean (who is likely one of his most avid fans) and I took our two 10 year-olds (Sally and Alexander) to their first concert. It was at Gillette Stadium outside Boston. And we, along with 65,000 others, rocked to the Boss. We all enjoyed the concert from our high-in-the-sky seats, but none as much as my sister. Even her dog Daisy used to howl along with Bruce every time one of his harmonica riffs filled Jean's car.

Another summer, many years before, Jean and I drove from the Cape to Hartford Connecticut to another Bruce concert. We left for our two-and-a-half hour drive, with confidence that we would find scalpers to sell us tickets as we had none. We bought the first tickets offered to us for $100 each. And then found our seats way up in the rafters, behind the stage. We moved around separately for the rest of the concert, filling open seats wherever we could find one.

And two other times in the 80's, I saw Springsteen perform his three-to-four hour sets. And again, I was just another singing, dancing, screaming fan, among thousands.

When it was announced that Bruce was going to be on Broadway, in a house of less than 1,000 seats, I wanted to go.  But getting a ticket proved impossible — unless you're resourceful, which I am.

 I make a few calls and find the name of the PR agency handling the show (DKC/O&M) and contact them. I ask for house seats, give them date options, and they give me options: $400 seats in orchestra or $200 in the mezzanine. With reluctance, I choose the latter, expecting to be a million miles away from the stage.

I buy two tickets, and last night, Zelia and I go. 

We meet at the theater which is a madhouse. Tons of people. Security outside the theater and again inside. And smiles everywhere of those lucky enough to be holding these precious tickets.

And I am one of them!

Our seats are much better than expected. Despite patrolling ushers everywhere announcing no photos, I pretend not to hear and sneak in one picture before an usher pounces and warns me again of the no-picture policy.

Exactly at 8 Springsteen comes on stage to wild applause. And the two and a half-hour show begins.

He's a master, poetic storyteller. His songs (sung without the audience sing-along) are sung with his unique gravelly voice. The audience is respectful and seated. At 68, Springsteen's voice is strong and unchanged. I love every single second of this mesmerizing, mostly contemplative, show.

If you can get a ticket, grab it. It's one of those shows you'll wish you'd seen if you don't.