After the events in Blacksburg on 4/16, I was obviously really upset and having a tough time processing it all. It probably wasn't the healthiest thing to do emotionally, but I found myself glued to the TV watching all the news coverage. Fortunately, I had a concert to go to Thursday the 19th and was looking forward to a break from the reality. Stephen Stills was starting his 2007 solo tour in Reading, PA, and I was lucky enough to get a front row seat.
As I'd been doing since the dreadful day, I was showing my Hokie spirit and wore a Virginia Tech sweatshirt to the concert. Little did I know.
Stephen came out on stage just as I had finished buying a T-shirt in the lobby. I quickly made my way down front to my seat as he was putting on his guitar. He looked right at me as I sat down and blew a kiss in my direction. I was a little dumbfounded and looked around to see who it was for. Seeing as how there were only men behind me and the seats next to me were still empty, I assumed it was for me. Ok, then, I'll take that.
He made reference to it being a horrible week giving me a glance, but didn't say anything more until he was getting ready to do the third song in his set. Paraphrasing, he said, "It's with great trepidation that I do this next song given the events of the week." Then he looked right at me and said, "We send our thoughts to Blacksburg." At that point, he did an acoustic, solo version of his beautifully haunting song "4 + 20." (If you're not familiar with the song, see lyrics at the bottom.) When he was done with the song, he again looked at me and shook his head a little.
Cut to the end of the concert. Right before the second to the last song of the night, at his invitation, we all got up moved forward towards the stage. At this point, I was right at the stage. He and the band did "Woodstock," and the place went nuts. After the song was over, he took off his guitar and moved towards the crowd to shake some hands. He shook a couple then came to me and held out his hand. I put my hand out and took it in his and held it. He asked, "Did you go there?" I told him, "Yes" to which he responded, "I'm so, so sorry," and proceeded to kiss my hand. When he let my hand go, he put his hand on his heart, and I did the same. Of course I'm trying not to burst into tears at this point. He walked off stage, and the crowd went into their chant for an encore.
He can back out and did a rousing rendition of "Dark Star."
When the song was over and in one last gesture of kindness, he took a guitar pick off the stand and again came over to me. He held the pick out for me, and when I went to take it, he put it in my hand and took my hand in both of his and squeezed it shut. He smiled at me and headed off stage.
I was again dumbfounded, and the guy standing next me looked at me and said, "Wow."
They were such small gestures on his part, but they meant the world to me. I will never forget his kindness and am forever grateful to have heartwarming memories from such a terrible time.
Thank you, Stephen.
"4 + 20" by Stephen Stills
4+20 years ago
I come into this life
The song of a woman
And a man who lived in strife
He was tired of being poor
And he wasn't into selling door to door
And he worked like the devil to be more
A different kind of poverty now upsets my soul
Night after sleepless night
I walk the floor and I want to know
Why am I so alone?
Where is my woman can I bring her home?
Have I driven her away?
Is she gone?
Morning comes to sunrise
And I'm driven to my bed
I see that it is empty
And there's devils in my head
I embrace the many colored beast
I grow weary of the torment
Can there be no peace?
And I find myself just wishing that my life would simply cease. |
