Barry Manilow Concert ~ Reading, Pennsylvania September 6,2012

On September 6, 2012 my daughter Jamiann and  I attended a Barry Manilow Concert at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA.  Last night we got to experience the show with both of Jamiann's daughters. The eldest is the same age Jami was when she first saw Barry in concert.  

Jamiann has been a fan since she was 9 years old when she first saw him in concert at the Stabler Arena with my sister Irene who won the tickets, a limo ride to the concert, and each received a long stem rose. 

 Together Jami and I have seen him numerous times including live on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and two tapings of live concerts for television while in Nashville, TN. 

We had a great time! Barry' s voice was never better! At the end of the concert we ran into several of our longtime friends from the Manilow fan clubs.  The last time I had seen Faye and Lynn was at Jamiann's wedding over ten years ago.  It was so good to see them!


 The Grand Finale of two songs, Copacabana, and I Write The Songs.

Barry thanked the many fans who attended last night that brought a donated musical instrument for the Manilow Music Project  Last year, in response to the needs of public schools and their severely depleted music programs, Barry gathered some friends and formed The Manilow Music Project as part of his non-profit, Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. The mission statement of the Project highlights the importance of music programs in U.S. schools and donates instruments and materials to school music programs.
http://www.manilowmusicproject.org/latestnews10_1_09.html

Why Is It Thus We Are Here And So Soon We Are Gone

 Walter W. Dunwell 1941-2004

Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone.

Remembering our full moon crabbing adventure on Barnegat Bay August 1985

Today would have been my brother Buddy's 71 birthday. I miss his physical presence but his personality and kindness while here was so huge that he truly has been with us all along. So many times in any given day something he said or did will just pop into my train of thought. He is so in our hearts, he could never be gone! Here is a picture of us when we were kids. He has his arm around my sister Ruth Ann and I am the one with my mom, Irene in the background, dad is taking the photograph, and David wasn't born yet. 

  For my older brother (Grand Pop) Buddy on what would have been his 71st birthday and the first one as a grandfather.

 On The Wings Of A Dream

Yesterday I had a dream about dying
About laying to rest and then flying
How the moment at hand
Is the only thing we really own
And I lay in my bed and I wonder
After all has been said and is done for
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone

Is this life just a path
To the place that we all have come from
Does the heart know the way
And if not can it ever be found
In a smile or a tear
Or a prayer or a sigh or a song

And if so I sing for my father
And in truth you must know I would rather
He were here by my side
We could fly on the wings of a dream
To a place where the spirit could find us
And joy and surrender would bind us
We are one anyway
Anyway we are more than we seem

There are those who will lead us
Protect us each step of the way
From beginning to end
For each moment forever each day
Such a gift has been given
It can never be taken away

Though the body in passing must leave us
There is one who remains to receive us
There are those in this life
Who are friends from our heavenly home
So I listen to the voices inside me
For I know they are there just to guide me
And my faith will proclaim it is so
We are never alone

From the life to the light
From the dark of the night to the dawn
He is so in my heart
He is here he could never be gone
Though the singer is silent
There still is the truth of the song

Yesterday I had a dream about dying
About laying to rest and then flying
How the moment at hand
Is the only thing we really own

And I lay in my bed and I wonder
After all has been said and is done for
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone
Why is it thus we are here
And so soon we are gone
Words and music by John Denver