Blues Not Just on the Bridge 2024

The month of festivals lasting from mid-August to mid-September (and even a bit beyond this year, due to at least one rain delay), continued Saturday with our 23rd annual Blues on the Bridge.  This free concert each September brings both local bands and talent who have performed with nationally known artists to downtown Binghamton, New York.

It seemed like things were so normal.   Well, maybe they are.  The new normal, that is.

But first, the good stuff.

This bridge, built in 1886 and currently only used by pedestrians, was the original bridge the concert was held on.  It's now held on a much sturdier bridge  

The signature statue at each annual concert.

Of course, free is not free.  This event takes a lot of fundraising and t-shirt sales (I proudly own several of the t-shirts from over the years), advertisers, and other promotions.  But we are so fortunate to have this September music fest.

People of all ages comes out.  The weather is usually great.

But then, the world intrudes. Today is the anniversary of a good friend's death and this year I'm missing her and my wisdom.

Yes, I know what she would say about my mood today.  She would tell me to put on my big girl panties and face the world, just like she did during her second and final battle with cancer.

But I also wonder what she would have thought about our current world.

Sunday, the second attempted assassination of a former President and current Presidential candidate in a little over two months.

A city of about 58,000 people in southwest Ohio continue to be terrorized by bomb threats against schools, a hospital, and a college, as the latest episode of what can happen when your city is in the bulls eye of social media, as memes continue to go viral.  I will not mention what the topic of discussion is but, if you don't live in the United States and haven't heard of Springfield, Ohio, you will quickly find out what is happening if you do a search.

Ukraine.  The Middle East. Other places at war.

And the more trivial.

The continued list of major league baseball players who played in my youth but are now dying, grows bigger.  Just think, this year - Bud Harrelson, Carl Erskine, Ken Holtzman, Jerry Grote, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda,  And now, Eddie Kranepool, back on September 8. Like me, he was from the Bronx.  He played his entire major league career for the NY Mets.  He was only in high school when the Mets signed him.  18 years with the Mets, more than anyone other Mets player.  What amazes me is that I didn't even know he had died until about four days ago.  

I feel like I am getting older by the minute and, come to think of it, I am.

The September 15 death of Tito Jackson, founding member of the Jackson 5 and sibling of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, added to today's blue mood.  At least I found out about his death right away.

We can wish we lived in happier times, but happier times tend to be an illusion. 

We are at war with each other, and I thought it was appropriate to post a 2021 song from Tito Jackson, called Love One Another.

If only we took his advice.

Enough with the sadness.  Now, I'll take my friend's advice and start the day.