Moments D654: Bookend

This evening EQ and I went to our first concert together and what an incredible first concert it was.  As everything we do, do don't start small.

We went to see Elton John. A musical legend. A proper knight, knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998 for his services to music and charitable services. And frankly a man who had great presence on stage without all the crazy costumes he's known for.

Elton John may be a whole lot more tame at 66 than he was at 29, but his talent and passion shone brightly for nearly 3 hours while he was on stage.  He even stopped to do autographs for those in the front row before his encore.  He was more gracious to his devoted fans than I've ever seen a performer be.  Elton John felt bigger than life and I now know, I really know, why he's a legend.

For me, it was a first.  I've never seen Elton John before in concert.  I've always loved some of his music, but I've not really followed him over the years.  My perspective:  A brilliant piano player, with incredibly fun music, married to a fellow Canadian David Furnish.  Yes.  Pretty limited.  I know.  As much as I love music, it's not something that I've invested a lot of time into.

On the flip side, EQ has a deep passion for music.  In many ways, EQ sees (feels?) music in nearly everything around him.  From the sound of my voice to the whisper of a snowfall and everything in between.  Music lives not only around him, but within him.

For EQ, this was the second viewing of Elton John in concert.  EQ's first concert was when he was but a pup.  At the ripe age of 14, EQ watched Elton John perform on his Goodbye Yellowbrick Road Tour.  As a teenager, the concert was, no doubt, awe inspiring to a young man.  This young man, filled with a passion for music, was himself on a path within the world of music.  For years he found deep satisfaction in the industry and music has offered him many extraordinary experiences.

Bookends.  That's what came to mind when I heard the story of Elton John being EQ's first big concert.  A bookend at the start of his musical career.   And then to realize that our first concert was to be Elton John.  Another bookend.  Another marker of a shift in perspective and a future of many extraordinary experiences.
A stretch?  Yes perhaps.  But I do like the serendipity and I'm going to enjoy the flush of excitement that comes with the dream of the extraordinary experiences to come for EQ & I.

Moments of firsts.

Moments of dreaming bigger.

Moments D421: New friends and synergies

Today was day one of our annual trade show. It was, quite simply, an amazing day. The day started after a night of little sleep, but that did not affect the day at all, if anything, it gave the day a little extra energy powered by the excitement and the caffeine.

The most interesting moment of the day was dinner this evening. It was an evening where I was able to sit and enjoy both new friends, deepening friendships from past shows and old friends. Over the course of my meal, I found myself sandwiched between two particularly interesting souls. One relatively new to my personal world, and another that I’ve had a deepening relationship with for a couple of years. This particular evening, I was like the net between two playing tennis. While it was challenging to eat my dinner due to the intensity of their conversation, it was amazing to watch (and feel) the energy pass back and forth between these two amazingly creative souls. I watched, in a front row seat, as the synergies built. It was the birth of a new friendship.

What an energy to be a part of.

Moments making new, deepening friendship.

Moments watching the creative forces swirl around me.