Happy New Year’s Eve 2016, T,

It’s official, it’s 2016 and thanks to down-to-earth Tara and Scott, it felt like a night of inspiration and fun with great friends and not a lot of fanfare.  It was just right for a night of me without you.

We were joined by Livy for an early dinner just across from St. John the Divine- an authentic  Italian landmark with good food, We drank wine, ate a bit of bread and the dinners of pasta and chicken and lasagna and veggies.   Given that  the unseasonable temperatures are  continuing, could  enjoy the walk and wait outside  as we moved slowly on a line that got us in the door for free.

Inside this amazing Cathedral I remembered our time here when we came for Amanda and her college choir performing in this space. it wasn’t exactly your cup of tea, but you were with me, by my side as usual.  Now Tara sat next to me as I joined on to the Scotts New Year’s Eve tradition. We thought about joining them last year, remember?

The music was wonderful, inspirational- with Judy Collins as the eve- present fixture of this annual event devoted to the hope for peace.  She sang Amazing Grace and still sounded good. There was some of Lennie’s compositions that I had never heard. I wonder if you knew them.

It was an easy drive back out of the roads after the concert even if it did feel strange to move beyond the turn off on Route 4 for Forest Ave. We were back in Ridgewood with time to watch celebrities playing drinking games before the ball dropped or on Channel 13 we could savor  reruns of Downton Abbey. I’m sure you know what the three of us opted for without a hesitation.-  Yes, DA oldies as we get ready for Sunday night’s premiere of season 6- the last one.

It was a wonderful evening and don’t worry , I’m spending the night rather than driving anywhere after a few glasses of presecco.

But before I say good-night at 1 AM. .  I want to share something I was missing tonight…

I missed sitting next to you in Avery Fisher Hall.  I missed feeling the music the way you felt it.  As much as I loved classical music before you, your expertise with the compositions brought me into the pieces you loved in a new way.Remember when Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to her first opera?  Okay she was a bit over the top, but if you tone it down just a bit you have me.

The lights dim, the conductor raises his baton, and you grab my hand as you move up to the edge of  your seat, moving into the music.  I feel your adrenalin pulsing from you to me. You hold your breath for the first few bars and then you reach over and whisper…

“It’s good.  They’ve got it.  It’s really good.  But I need to hear more before I can say anything.”

I let you go, to be in the piece, in the moment.  I hold tight as you ride.  I’m soaring with you. . I’m proud that this is all yours because when we are back in the car and we listen to Bonnie Raitt, or Laura Nyro or Bob Dylan or almost anyone else you are paying more attention to me in my music.   So for our time in your haven, you take the lead.

So tonight, on this first eve of a new year without you, I celebrate something I had only with you.
Thank you for that gift of love,

Bonnie S.