Reaching my Destination: A lesson in Inspiration

Of course, I could not have done what I have done without inspiration. 

And providing night after night of musical determination was my troubadour of soul, the Tramp hailing from New Jersey; Bruce Springsteen.  He went with me all those years ago to college and his music still grabs ahold of me to this day. 

There were many nights that I wanted to not just throw in the towel but burn it.  Inspiration is a funny thing; it comes from seemingly nowhere and all of a sudden it takes hold of you and propels you further than you would have believed.  The first mile becomes the second mile, your no becomes a yes, and you find yourself further than you thought.  If you don't believe me, just listen to the Rocky Soundtrack the next time you are doing...ANYTHING. 

Listen, I know that I could have listed dozens of Springsteen songs here:
In Thunder Road he tells the young couple that, "It's a town full of losers and we're pullin' outta here to win!"
In Lonesome Day he proclaims, "Let kingdom come, I'm gunna find my way, after this Lonesome Day..."
In Atlantic City he tells his lover, "Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold but with you forever I'll stay..."
And in in Dancing in the Dark he's so fed up with being so fed up, "They say you gotta stay hungry, hey baby I'm just about starving tonight..."
Land of Hopes and Dreams is special because Bruce wrote this when he reunited with The E Street Band after a long hiatus. 

It is a song of Hope.

A song that embraces loss, fear; the ugliness of life.
But in classic Springsteen fashion, he lifts your eyes beyond what is seen.
He gets you to believe in something greater.
This has been his modus operandi from day one.
And for that I am grateful. 

--This is for you Christen...

This is the Land of Hopes of Dreams

Grab your ticket and your suitcase

Thunder's rolling down the tracks

You don't know where you're goin'

But you know you won't be back

Darlin' if you're weary

Lay your head upon my chest

We'll take what we can carry

And we'll leave the rest

Big Wheels rolling through fields

Where sunlight streams

Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you

And I'll stand by your side

You'll need a good companion for this part of the ride

Leave behind your sorrows

Let this day be the last

Tomorrow there'll be sunshine

And all this darkness past

Big wheels roll through fields

Where sunlight streams

Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train Carries saints and sinners

This train Carries losers and winners

This Train Carries whores and gamblers

This Train Carries lost souls

This Train Dreams will not be thwarted

This Train Faith will be rewarded

This Train Hear the steel wheels singin'

This Train Bells of freedom ringin'

This Train Carries broken-hearted

This Train Thieves and sweet souls departed

This Train Carries fools and kings

This Train...