I spent the morning with Bruce Springsteen. Or at least I spent an hour with him singing me along as I ran.

If you were to Google “Belt Buckle Run” you wouldn’t come up with much.  If you are looking for a bizarre race, run where ever you are, then just follow the link for BBR.  My friend Pete has set up this ridiculous endurance race which only asks that you run an hour on the second and fourth weekend of every month.  The catch is that you add an hour every month.  (For more information, follow the link).  This is the context or at least the reason (if there is one) for my run this morning.  All Belt Buckle racing information aside however…

As I was saying, I found myself out on the road this morning for a slow run with only Bruce by my side.  He is a master.  That is just the bottom line. The two albums my iPod bounced between are brilliant in both their lyrics and broad reaching sounds. The first album, Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band: Live in Dublin has Springsteen’s energy, numerous remixes of older songs, and a collection of instruments which when combined create an auditory Mona Lisa.  His second and most recent album, Working on a Dream captures the beauty of Bruce as he heads towards 60 years old.  His voice, still strong, is controlled and mellowed with the wisdom contained in the images he describes and the stories he tells.

In the course of my hour running with Bruce, I had a number of ‘moments’ or recognitions of my life in music.  The first happened as Bruce and company remixed “When the Saints Come Marching In” in Dublin.  Listening to this slowed version, it was difficult for me not to glance back on my thirty-eight years and take stock, ever so briefly, of the events and people who’ve impacted me and who I’ve lost.  My thoughts drifted to recently departed Mike Dawes, then back in time to my sister Elizabeth, lost in 1999, and then on to the opportunities my life has afforded me and the appreciation I have for that.  Bruce holds no punches and in this remix he slowly brings the chorus, the horns, and a slow drawl together for what I might only call a spiritual moment.  This transcendent moment was built upon an absolutely beautiful, perfectly autumn, sunny day – ideal for running.

A short time later, “Kingdom of Days” (off of Working on a Dream) opened with Bruce’s declaration of adoration and proclamation of love for his wife, Patti Scialfa.  He walks the listener through the years of connection and the ease of being in her presence.  Describing their love through moments captured in the summer and fall, Springsteen creates snapshots of hands being held, laughter exchanged, graying temples and a jacket lent for warmth.  While these descriptions might easily be my wife and me, the song reminded me to make moments like this happen amidst the chaos of a young family.

See, Bruce is a superstar, not because he speaks of money and fame and jewels.  He is a superstar because he captures the everyday and serves it to us, to me fortunately this morning, on a silver platter, causing me to rethink it and see the beauty within.  Bruce made a normal run, sublime.

I don’t know how long I’ll make it in the Belt Buckle Race.  I’d like to make it through November (that is a two hour run).  If I don’t however, I do know that I’ll make sure I take the time at home with my beautiful, brilliant wife, my hilarious and adorable children, and enjoy the simple, sweet life available to me.

“With you I don’t hear the minutes ticking by
I don’t feel the hours as they fly
I don’t see the summer as it wanes
Just a subtle change of light upon your face…”

Get out for a run!

Best, John