A Top Ten List for 2006

Musical Highlights
Numero Uno
Van Morrison, Nokia Theater-- My good friend Patti bought tickets, and gave me one as a birthday gift.
To start the evening, Patti and I met at the theater early, parked next to the levee bank and tailgated. We sat in lawn chairs facing the west, looking behind the row of parked vehicles, enjoying choice, delicious food and drink.
As we watched a beautiful sunset, a bonus feature of the evening serendipitously came upon the horizon.
About ten cars down, a well built man appeared behind a truck, standing on the levee bank, silhouetted by the sinking sun and all it’s colors. Just enough shadows to make out body textures and forms, but not distinct features, the lighting was absolute perfection.
As if in a Ralph Lauren commercial, the man stripped off his shirt, pulling it off overhead one arm at a time, emphasizing his toned physique.
In the light of the setting sun, he put on another shirt, as sexily as he’d taken the other one off.
The sky darkened, he finished changing and moved out of site between the cars.
Patti and I watched without saying a word, appreciating the marvelous view. This was our private opening act. Proving that sometimes the best things in life are free.
But the headliner was about to begin.
We walked in, sat down, and he came on immediately, as if waiting for us. We were there to see the Man, and he came through without missing a beat.
Van had just released a CD of what had been reviewed as “country music.” Van the Man did about four songs off this CD, and if that’s how Van does “country,” I’m a fan! (not a fan of country, so you know it must’ve been great).
He did many of his hits from the 70’s and 80’s, or is it the 60’s and 70’s now? Decades are flying by.
Brown-Eyed Girl, Moondance, Tupelo Honey; all were sung without losing a note, expanded from the recorded version, and played masterfully by his talented 15 (?) piece band.
It was a glorious night of friendship and music. One of the best of my adult life.

Highlights Numbers 2-10 coming this weekend.