by Holly Stevens, Ambler, PA

Before we had speed dialing, I used to win tickets all the time to shows. My best score was to see Bruce Springsteen at the Spectrum on Memorial Day Weekend in 1979. My brother insisted he go with me since he was able to pick up the tickets from the radio station, and we headed down early to avoid shore traffic (there was none). We were one of the only cars in the parking lot for a while, and I became nervous when another car parked nearby, and there was a family with an elderly woman with them heading into the Spectrum. I double-checked my tickets to make sure I was in the right place, right night.

Eventually the lot filled up, and it was definitely Bruce performing. I had made the mistake of bringing along Billy Beer for my liquid refreshment. I had decent seats, but the sound system was terrible, and the band was so loud that my stomach was vibrating (not a good thing). Bruce actually stopped the show after 45 minutes so that adjustments could be made, but the damage was done, as I got quite ill from the lousy beer coupled with the extreme volume. Luckily, I quickly recovered, the sound was improved, and the show went on and was another amazing performance by the E Street Band.

I still have some cans of Billy Beer by the way, which I will never ever drink.