LIZ's 50TH BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM TT 2/14/07

NOTE TO LIZ ON HER BIRTHDAY, WRITTEN ON the BBerry on the way back from Steamboat, CO. The list and the music was given to the attendees.

Liz’s Birthday 2007-
2/14/07


Hello friends:

Thanks for joining us for Liz’s birthday party---The last time I was involved in a birthday party for Liz she instructed me to never “surprise” her again, and as you know I am a good listener.
So I am pleased that she agreed to allow us (me included) to join together for a night of fun and friendship. But that still leaves me a bit under whelmed in my ability to capture the moment, since we’re not all yelling “surprise”!!!!.

How might I be able to surprise Lizzy and still respect her wishes?
Well, a long time ago I wrote Liz many poems, letters, etc, during our courtship. I really haven’t written much to her since we’ve been married, except for the occasional anniversary or birthday card (and she’ll tell you I wasn’t that consistent at that!!)

I thought an auto-biographical view of us, as a couple, through my eyes, through song, with my creative spin on it would be a genuine, unique, creative, and daring adventure that hopefully, allows me to share with you “some” of times of our lives (through songs) since I met Liz. Kinda like “Almost Famous” meets poetry meets the times of our lives-.

And this is my gift, to my wife, on her birthday….

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Well, here goes!!!!

The Beginning
Start---tonight—we are here to celebrate Liz’s big birthday, and the song I’ve picked to commemorate it is the one that Bruce’s Mom sent him on his 50th, that he played on 9/24/99 for the Phila Spectrum crowd --- -- if it's good enough for Bruce?? So here's to the 1)”the BIG 50”!!!!

2)“It only takes a minute girl" by Tavares- well, maybe it took her a couple of years, but that's all it took me in the summer of 1980 at the "Ye Old Frigate" pub on the strip in Seaside Heights, New Jersey-- and yes, I told her so right there that first night midway thru the first (for me, at least) beer!!!

“Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (Spinners)—again from my eyes this was what was happening, except “could” didn’t apply---I was done!!!

“I’ll Always Love My Mama” (Intruders), her mom, unlike every other mom I met in Toms River, didn’t really like me that much when I first showed up--- But fortunately, Liz did.

“Drowning in the Sea of Love” (Joe Simon)—Ocean, the beach, summer, the boardwalk, secret rendezvous’—and I was drowning in the middle of it all that first summer of our trip to Love-

“I love music” (O’Jay’s)—She’s getting use to the fact that music is intertwined within me—

“Baby, I’m for Real”---(the Original’s) The way I saw it, she wasn’t playing hard to get—SHE WAS HARD TO GET---and I had to prove to her that this college student was FOR REAL!!!

“When Love Calls” (Atlantic Starr) ----c’mon, you know the next line, when love calls, “you better answer”!!!!!

“I Do Love You” (Billy Stewart), --says it all

“I wanna marry you” (Bruce) –thanksgiving weekend, November 1980--- The River Tour—
My Gtown teammate invites me to join him in a box a MSGarden, and he has only one ticket, so I tell my girlfriend Liz to come along and I’ll scalp her a ticket with the $40 bucks I had in my pocket—this, literally, was our first real “date” of any magnitude—Bruce played this song, and the rest is history still being written—PS. This is a much longer story, but suffice it to say that she ended up being very impressed that I could talk my way into Madison square garden without the tickets, since we missed my friend and the scalpers were asking $200 bucks (in 1980!!!!!!)

“He Can’t Love You”, (Michael Stanley)—my motivational song, to refute all other challengers that were still on the periphery—I was winning, and decided to drive Liz all the way to Colorado so she wouldn’t be distracted by “others” –you enjoy skiing, I’ll go to college, and I’ll see you in the summer!!!!!

“To the Morning” (Dan Fogelberg)—‘and maybe love’s not so strange’


The end of the beginning

“You Belong to Me” (Duprees)—I was a bit overconfident here, but went for it!!!

“Kiss on my List” (H&O) –that’s the fact, JACK!! Thanksgiving, 1981, we make it official and tell her mom that were really, really good friends!!!!! AND we’re getting married!!!!

“We have no secrets” (Carly Simon), she was, and is, my best friend-

“Fade Away” (Bruce), the best recording of this song I know, live, new years eve, 1980 from Long Island—we were at Nassau Coliseum a few years later for the song, but you’ll have to settle for this rendition—-- and here we are still---and I don’t ever want to “fade away”

“Hard to be in love with you” (H&O), gotta believe this was true for Liz---as I was pretty psychotic back then too—compassionate and understanding—yup, those two fit her—

“Ain’t no stopping us now”—Okay, are you still with me??? Well, it’s now April, 1982 and Gtown is playing for the National bball championship in New Orleans—where am I? In our basement apartment in Washington, DC watching the game—Liz is reading a book---and the HOYAS lose!!!!—She has never stopped me from going to an event that I felt I needed to be at since [(she did tell me hitchhiking to New Orleans was not in the cards, and no, I couldn’t take her car—(my car was now on her finger)].

“You make my dreams come true” (H&O)-there was only one thing left to do—keep dreaming!!!

“Always & Forever” (Heatwave)- Wedding day, 1983, We seal the deal, and God brings the wrath of a storm to Sea Girt, NJ 5/21/83

“God Only Knows” (Beach Boys)--1985- first house-- my parents couldn't believe it, and neither could we!! - I bought a Nordic track and started on a clutter string that Liz has yet to defeat!!!
And THEN…..

“Danny’s Song” (Loggins & Messina)—The BOOOkie is on the way--

“Daddy's home”(shep & the limelights)- 1986- Camy's sleeping music on my shoulder while Liz cooks dinner-- the 80's were pretty easy on time and travel and the boat started right up when Cam was born, so as I saw it I had extra time at home-

“Money’s too tight to mention” (Simply Red)—I was always thrifty (how’s that for a good word instead of the one you all are thinking of), so I was starting to think about college and house, and Liz was getting accustomed to her surroundings here in Rumson----
We’re not in Kansas, anymore, Toto--etc—

“My father's eyes" (Amy grant) 1989-- Allie-Boo joins the crew—and now we have two!!!!

“Summer Wind”- (Frank Sinatra) Cancer Balls fill our June for many years to come—Sammy & Rosie and the crowd-

“Crazy” (Seal) - Barn purchase—I tell Liz we’ll do the work right away!!!---Right!!
“Unless we get a little crazy”

“Love of my Life” (Carly Simon”)—of course there is a song with this title!!! What, you don’t know it????—Get in touch with your feminine side, guys—“from the moment I first saw you, I knew it right away”—and now, 1993, 10 years later, and a bunch of trades on Wall Street, I knew my intuition was pretty damn good!!!!

"Living Proof" (Bruce) 1993-we have a BOY!!!!
And "all the beauty I could take"-“Searching for a little of God's Mercy, we found living proof”-- welcome Matty!!!!

“Here & Now” (Letters to Cleo)-- - This is what Liz had to contend with because I was playing songs like this very loud on Saturday mornings--anyone remember those giant speakers in the living room before the renovations started???--

“His Eye is on the Sparrow”—(Isaac Hayes)—Clearly someone was watching over us, AMEN!!

“The Impossible Dream” (Luther Vandross)—Thanksgivings with the Carlson/Young clan, in fact all holiday’s, had a spirit of celebration that was unequaled and unique in my experience---
And they let me sing!!!!!

"A Friend" (and "That Extra Mile" by the Winan’s)—summers in North Carolina—Liz, Tom & family embark on vacation journeys with the high school crowd--This song leads the crowd of kids in dance procession orchestrated by Patty Baglio-

“Can’t get enough of your love” (Barry White)---simple enough—and by the way, honey, if you wouldn’t mind we’re going to LIVE in THE HOUSE during the renovations—Hi, Kenny!!!

1997-“Celebration” (Kool & the Gang) -- Kool & the gang release "state of affairs”- new album--
JT Taylor hands Allie his glove, and Matt dances away-- Liz has been to more summer concerts than she needs, but it's a nice night outdoors at Harrah’s Marina Stage and Liz chats it up with Kool's wife, who can't believe Matt knows all the songs—

“Over the Moon (Rent cast)—we’re hipper than we know, when we are jumping over the moon—with a little “leap of faith”

Beginning of the Middle
“I’m still in love w you” (Al green/ H&O version)---

“Everything I Do” (Bryan Adams) –again, really loud, especially the piano solo—

“Seasons of Love” (Rent)—house parties typically included a “request” by Liz to play this---it took almost 10-15 yrs, but now SHE’s asking for the songs!!!

Thunder Road- (Bruce-5/16/99 Birmingham live version)--Knowing that my wife would put up with anything and everything --including taking my 4 homies from St. Joe’s of Toms River to Birmingham, England to see Bruce--that night, right after the show-- 5 guys waited near a phone booth to be able to say one thing to their wives--- (ok 2)
1)- one of the greatest nights in our lives 2) wish you were with me---and now I dedicate the dedication to you, honey.

"If I should fall behind" (Bruce-9/24/99 Philadelphia version-) One of Lizzy’s favorite songs –

“Christmas is for Everyone” (Southside Johnny)– Liz & December go very well together—once again, I just show up--Y2K brings in a new century and a big party for which I did “nothing” but show up---I was getting really good at showing up!!!

“All I Want Is You” (U2)- a classic simple expression of the facts --friend’s wedding song, but I stole it for my own here!!! –

“I’m So Proud”-(the Impressions)—Lizzy likes some of my songs, and she started to really like this one when she heard it a few times and the reverence one can hold for being “so proud, of you”.
I so proud, of you, honey.

“Hold on, I’m Comin’- (Live Bruce/Sam Moore Version)—we travel to Phoenix AZ to see Bruce and Mr. Sam Moore shows up and takes over----we held on!!!

“With Hope” (Stephen Curtis Chapman) –9/13/01 –She just sat there with me and we listened -shared in our living room-- trying to figure out what it all meant-- the song that cleared the path to tomorrow and the next day and beyond---

“Where the Angels Meet”(Bar Scott)—Liz throws her own concert, right in our house, and I’m in San Fran on business---the community was coming together and the music was uplifting, inspirational, and comforting for all--

“Mary’s Place” (Bruce)—I’ve always been “turning the music way up loud” and I think this song spoke and encapsulated where a lot of us where in 2002-2003—we needed the music, and we also needed the music LOUD-

“Two Hearts” (Bruce-Ohio-11/12/02)-Liz does like Bruce, especially when Fr Kev. walks her backstage to say hello before the show!!!!

“Carry you to Jesus” (Stephen Curtis Chapman) –Silently shining, Gtown friend passes away after a long illness and Liz is who she is, as always---there---, where needed, doing whatever is necessary for everyone else-

“Jersey Girl” (Bruce live, Atlantic City, 3/7/03) WOW—It’s March 2003, and we are in Atlantic City right behind John & Nancy Mulheren courtesy of the Baglio’s, who are right next to us. And I am with my one and only “Jersey girl”.

“Be True” (Bruce Live)- - okay, now we take this whole idea of going on tour with Bruce and seeing a few shows to another level---

“Forever Young” (Dylan)—Thanksgiving Day 2003 wish for all b/c birthdays seem to always show up every year--

“Two Hearts” (Bruce)- need I say more? Forever & ever.—

“Eyes” (Laura Warshauer)—We knew her when!!!!---And so did some of you!!! Her first BIG album will be out this fall ‘07--- “I see the beauty in your eyes”— and I see the beauty in watching Liz’s eyes look upon our children--

“When something is wrong w my baby”- (Sam Moore w Bruce)—It’s clear that no matter how blessed we are, we all have our trials and our sorrows.---

"I say a little prayer for you"-(Aretha Franklin)-- Liz loves watching Sister Act w the kids!!!! And every now and then we can all use a few prayers---the good news, and the good times, are still ahead of us.

“Erie canal”-(Bruce --Seeger sessions)-- Liz and I are in Asbury and Bruce starts, and Liz sings right along-- I ask her how she knows this song--school she says-- when she was in 3rd grade (and I was in kindergarten at the same school!!!) She was eyeing me then—and this was all part of her grand design!!!!

“Both Sides Now” (Joni Mitchell) –Old song, but we heard it for the first time in years with all the kids in Florida last January—and, it kinda stuck right there in the moment--

“A Kiss to Build a Dream On” (Louis Armstrong) –Wedding days at the Thees’—nephew Scott gets married in our yard, and we get to have all the fun with everyone without the stress—this getting married thing was cool from the balcony.







“Can’t Get enough of your love” (BWhite by H&O)—second time, because it’s still true---

“Have I told you lately" (Van Morrison)
I never tell her enough so –l’m throwing this one in there for extra credit—but, in addition, I think, reflecting back on where we were, and where we are, I can truly say that if there is a reason for me to tell her lately, as oppose to earlier in the beginning, it would be to give her the credit due for being the most incredible mother to our children.

-"What a wonderful world"-- at luke's wedding, and all around, we are so blessed to call you, personally, our friends-- and we wish, everyday, that when you wake up, and when you go to sleep, you reflect and see it this way!!! As much as Liz is the architect of my wonderful world, you've been a big part of making it wonderful for us, so thank you.

To Be Continued…
Forever & ever.

TT
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