
THE CRONE, RINGO STARR, and HIS ALL -STARR BAND
This Crone is feeling very reflective after her Labor Day concert experience. We bought our tickets months ago, the morning they went on sale. I was so excited that Ringo was going to be within driving distance and this would be my one opportunity to see a Beatles’ legend in this lifetime. Just that thought puts things instantly in perspective. I was going to see one of the Beatles’ as a Crone, not as some doe-eyed teenager. I can still remember clearly where I was and who I was with the night the Beatles aired on the Ed Sullivan show! I grew up in a very small and very rural farm community. Who new on that monumental evening, my one opportunity to see a live performance would be more than 50 years later!
This Crone had bought a lovely pair of white cotton, embroidered bell bottoms, earlier this summer, so perfect for the occasion. A tank top passed down from a Crone girlfriend, and I was feeling pretty fine, always important in a Crone’s world. Of course over the years I’ve traded my shoulder length dark brunette hair style for a very short and sassy salt and pepper look. I was feeling my best Crone self, inside and out, as I entered the gates. Even having my Crone bag checked and walking through a metal detector didn’t dampen my excitement. (Okay maybe a moment of sadness about the chaotic and uncertain state of the world we live in.) My McGuyver husband even found a secret hiding spot outside the stadium for his banned pocket knife😳. All was a “go” for the evening.
I was curious and pleasantly surprised by the cross section of participants. Of course there were lots and lots of people my age; to be expected! There were lots of other ages too, teens, grandchildren with their grand parents, a cross section of our NW Arkansas population. It did this Crone’s Heart good to see what continues to ring true; rock and roll still spans the ages.
When Ringo and his All-Starr Band came on stage, and the stage lights flashed, and the music and singing began, it happened! This Crone was transported back to a young teen, with all the doe-eyed excitement and anticipation rushing to my core! The tears came! OMG! I was listening to Ringo Starr of eternal Beatles’ fame, and members of Santana, Todo, Men At Work, and 10CC. These were all musicians older than me, who still have the passion to do what they love most and share it every evening on stage with adoring fans. And share it they did. Was it spontaneous? Not really. Were there new songs ? No.
They have put together a two hour, non-stop musical event with audience participation. That’s two hours of opening the doors wide open to a time machine, and doing what they do best. They transport the audience through time, where even though those times were full of chaos and uncertainty, it was still an age of innocence. Dreams were not yet unfolded. Heartbreak was not even a whisper. It was the time of our youth. The world awaited us.
This Crone writes in gratitude to these musicians, who still share their talents with the world. They bring the gift of music, that still strokes the soul, and knows no boundaries. I write in special gratitude to the one and only Ringo Starr. He is a man who continues to walk his talk. His stage presence matches his message of PEACE and LOVE♥️. He is as Zen as one can be in the midst of rock and roll. When he leads the audience in “Give Peace a Chance,” the venue transforms. He becomes the spiritual leader and the audience, his congregation. For a full five minutes a couple of thousand people believe that peace is possible and that love is all there is. Thank you Ringo, and your All-Starr Band! Thank you for sharing your message with the world!♥️
Forever grateful; with love,
Cate

acronesvoice@gmail.com
