Song Lyrics that stick: For Good

A night out on the town.

One of the benefits of living near New York City is the outstanding talent available on Broadway.  While I am looking forward to seeing Hamilton one day, the tickets are hard to get right now and if I was there last night it would have been a bit controversial with the whole Pence scene.  Fortunately, I had tickets to Wicked and enjoyed every minute.

I have wanted to see Wicked for years.  I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz every Thanksgiving.  I remember how scared my brother was of the flying monkeys and of course I wanted a dress like the good witch Glinda had.

After a busy week, and a busy day (my kindergarten class performed on stage dressed as Pilgrims and Native Americans in front of a crowd of 100 relatives) you would think I’d head straight to bed.  But I didn’t.  My friend and I went to the train station to catch the one hour ride to Manhattan.

Sadly we read the train schedule wrong and arrived minutes after the train left.  The next one didn’t come for another 75 minutes.  After doing some calculations, we decided not to try driving into the city and waited for the next train.  This train arrived at 7:40 to Penn Station on 32nd Street and we needed to get to the Gershwin Theater on 51st Street by 8:00.  The taxi line was long.  What to do.

Well, now that horse and carriages are no longer allowed in Manhattan it seems there are way more people riding bicycles with those little 2 seater carts.  The man who had a stereo blaring from his handlebars told us he could get us there in 8 minutes.  We looked at each other and said, OK.

This was seriously scarier than a roller coaster ride.  We screamed.  We laughed.  We nearly hit pedestrians.  He went into oncoming traffic.  We got there in 8 minutes.

We even had time to get a drink before the show started.

The show was wonderful.  As soon as the first song starts, you know you are in the magical world of Broadway.  The voices always just take me away.  The costumes and characters were unpredictable and the scenery was bigger than life.  I loved the massive dragon head with glowing red eyes over the stage.  Glinda’s blue dress sparkled in the lighting and exceeded my expectations.

I recalled so many of our visits to New York City as a couple. We have always enjoyed coming into the city for dinner and a show.  We took the kids when they were little to museums and one time to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I feel very comfortable in Manhattan and do love the experience of seeing a show and a night out on the town.

The soundtrack was unfamiliar to me but when I heard the last song, For Good, my soul was touched.  This song made me think of Mike and how he made such an impact in my life. If I had never met him, recalling those insignificant events that led to a 27 year marriage, my life would have been so different. It makes you wonder how much control do we actually have over who we meet and how much is predestined. The song also makes me think of all the people who I am close to and the effect they have on my life as well as and the impact I may be having on them.

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason

bringing something we must learn

and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them

and we help them in return

Well I don’t know if I believe that’s true

but I know  I’m who I am today

because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit, as it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder half way through the wood

Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?

But, because I knew you.. I have been changed for good…

It well may be, that we will never meet again

in this lifetime

so let me say before we part so much of me

is made of what I learned from you, you’ll be with me

like a handprint on my heart

and now whatever way our stories end

I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend…”

Music can really bring back memories and feelings that you may have repressed.  I did not listen to music for a long time after Mike died.  As a widow I was so sad and did not want to be happy or feel anything.  Over time, I have started to listen to the old songs with fond memories that make me smile.  I am even beginning to listen to new tunes that connect with my life today.

How important is music in your life? Does it help or hurt?