Way back when, in 1978, I saw what became my favorite stage show of all time.  Now, 1800 miles away and 30 years later, I get to see them again.

30 years of the ups and downs of living have passed for Geddy, Alex, Neal and for me.  When I look back over those 30 years, I don't have to wonder where they went.  They were spent living!

Back then, I was just a too-big-for-his-britches teenager.  Concerts, midnight movies and getting into trouble were how I spent my weekends.  Money was earned to be spent, and as quickly as possible.  I'd been working since I was 12, so I really don't remember a time when I didn't have enough to buy what I wanted.  What I wanted was records, cassettes, concert tickets, posters and of course the (then) coveted "concert T-Shirt".

We learned pretty quickly though that the shirts sold at the concert were over priced and under made.  We noticed the sleeves weren't always the same length and the bottom hems of the "baseball jersey" style shirts rarely matched front to back.

We also discovered stores where concert shirts could be had for about half the price... and for some reason THEY were able to find the good ones. 

The Store was a 'head shop' in Ogden...  i did  lot towads keeping that place running.  Black light posters, flicker lamps, bar lamps, and of course, what self respecting kid of the 70s didn't own a Strobe light?  I guess me and my freinds carried that shop more than we thought, a few months after I moved out of Utah, it shut down... or was shut down, not sure which.

Somewhere in the next couple of years, while I was living in Florida, everybody and their dogtags started wearing Concert TShirts.  I don't know why, but when everyone was wearing them, it just kind of robbed them of whatever they meant, because most the guys I knew who actually went to concerts quit wearing them.

I don't remember why I quit wearing them, but I remember the last one I did wear.  It was my Black T-Shirt with the Star and Circle, with man standing up to it with his arms up.  Many of you know what I'm talking about.

My RUSH concert shirt.  The last time I saw it, I was putting it back in my locker after Gym class (it was the shirt I wore for Gym class).  I guess someone decided they wanted it more than I did, because they broke the lock and stole it... I guess they wanted it pretty badly because it has been weeks since I had washed the thing.  I guess they figured they could wash it themselves.

So, 1800 miles away and half a lifetime later, RUSH and I will be in the same room once again.  Just like in 1978, they won't know I'm there... But that's ok, it's not about me in the first place.