Dancing in the Dark

Last week had been a busy one at the office. And I was quickly losing steam. This past Friday, I found myself at the office late, again, and just thinking of how great it was going to be to get home, throw on sweats and completely veg out for the entire weekend.

“So, I just got Bruce tickets tonight at Wrigley. We should probably go,” said Dan, the Client Service dude working late with me.

We left everything at the office, grabbed a cab and walked into Wrigley Field just as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took the stage. It was an unbelievable night. I cried, danced, I shouted, I sang at the top of my lungs. And the coolest part? Looking out among the crowd and seeing the range of demographic. I cannot remember the last time I was squashed among such a range of ages.

It was just what I needed after a crazy a work week. And it just went to show me, you can lean on those in the office you never imagined. Because we’ve all been there. And we’re all going to be there again. It made me realize that work isn’t the end-all-be-all and letting it effect me so much hasn’t been good for anyone. Thanks to Friday, and Bruce, I was able to step back and see, life can still surprise you just when you need it most.

Bruce still has it. Which is no shock. Because to quote Mom, “He’s the Boss!”

Check in to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

With a membership to Cinema/Chicago, every few weeks there’s another screening of an upcoming feature. Over the year, I’ve been able to see some stellar films and hear inspiring Q&As with directors, writers and actors. As these screenings usually take place during the week, it’s a nice way to unwind after a work day.

This past week, we screened The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It features an all-star, British cast and does not disappoint. It’s about a group of ex-pats seeking solace, meaning and a new hip in India. The film is rich with colors, sounds and moments that feel all too real. But the film wasn’t the only thing I got that night.

As this film skews to an older, mature demographic, there weren’t many young adults there, sans the staff of Cinema/Chicago. Didn’t bother me one bit, but if it weren’t for this film, I can assure you I would not have met a most fascinating person named Sandy. Sandy is probably somewhere over the age of 70, rents library books, quotes philosophers and has spent his years doing good in Africa, Europe and Asia. He’s basically the kind of person I want to become.

We had great talks before and after the film where he told me things about himself and just things in general. When he found out I was a writer, we spent a lot of the conversation discussing linguistics, which I can honestly say, I’ve never given much thought to. We went our separate ways with the promise of catching an art exhibit.

The one thing I took away from Sandy, was his comment when I told him that he’s had such an awe-inspiring life.

“The best is yet to come.”

And if we learned anything from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, that’s exactly what’s to come.