Zoaring With Glinda

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Madison Square Garden

My son and his college friends went to Madison Square Garden to watch Syracuse University play in the Big East Tournament yesterday. Having never been there, it was an impromptu adventure where things fell miraculously into place for them as they arrived for The National Anthem. Oh, to be in your early thirties at a wonderful event with great friends!!! Two such memories immediately jump out for me.
The first was a Moody Blues Concert. On the way to an early morning college class, we heard an announcement on the radio that the tickets were going on sale at 10 AM in NYC. Damn! No way we could get there. And then Janet said the incredible words,
"I'll call my mother and ask her if she would go and pick up tickets for us."
"What? Are you kidding me? She would even entertain the notion to do that?"
I was NOT a believer in even an outside chance that this would possibly happen.
Well it did. Her mom [my adopted mom] went to the city and got those precious tickets. As we sat in our seats among thousands of fans, the lights dimmed and favorite song after favorite song resonated throughout the massive arena. It was absolutely the best!!
The other 'frozen in time' event in Madison Square Garden was also at a concert where many artists were featured. After Peter, Paul, and Mary concluded their part, Neil Young hopped up on stage and began his featured set. As he finished a song, a man went up to the edge of the stage and called Neil Young over to him to give him a message. Neil came back to the microphone and said,
"Hey people...the war is over. It has finally ended."
The entire audience stood up and applauded for 20 minutes. And as you looked around the arena, out of the relative darkness, came light one by one as people held a flame in the air [from a lighter]. It was an amazing experience. Can't really put it into words effectively.
And here it is 35+ years later, and my son says,
"Hey Mom...You've been to Madison Square Garden, haven't you?"
"Oh yeah! On more than one occasion."
Memories of a former life for me...in my twenties...in the 70's...in the 'Garden'.

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posted by Mare at 8:10 PM

7 Comments:

  • I lived in New York City from 1970-1975 and never stepped foot in Madison Square Garden. Spent most of my dollars at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, instead. lol. Those were the days...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At March 12, 2011 at 10:29 PM  

  • thanks for sharing those memorable experiences!

    By Blogger Christine, At March 12, 2011 at 10:35 PM  

  • Mike and I went to the Garden once. It was to see the Utah Jazz play the Knicks. I had become a fan of the Jazz and their patented "pick and roll" offense when the first "Dream Team" was assembled for the Olympics. Also, I like it when "small market teams" find success in any sport. We did not even have seats together! Only ones we could get were sections apart in the first half. Then, as the second half opened, we realized that the number of "no shows" would allow us to sit together. The Jazz were getting thumped, however the Knicks fans sitting around us kept saying that in the end they'd collapse....and they did! Jazz won at the end...pleasant memory!!! AND, Virgil's Real Barbeque afterwards!

    lv

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At March 13, 2011 at 9:22 AM  

  • Oh, what wonderful memories, especially that second trip, and the end of that war.

    By Blogger Linda Reeder, At March 13, 2011 at 3:31 PM  

  • I have never been there even when visiting NY, but hubby has....Michelle

    By Blogger RamblingWoods2.com, At March 13, 2011 at 6:36 PM  

  • Oh wow! That sounds absolutely amazing! You've described it so beautifully. I could feel the excitement, the happiness.

    By Blogger Kay, At March 16, 2011 at 1:30 AM  

  • Pretty nifty...

    By Anonymous Jer, At March 28, 2011 at 2:02 PM  

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