In the midst of all that is so very wrong today, an evening of joy!

I have been known to voice the sometimes unpopular opinion that although there have been many incredible songs written and recorded by incredible artists in the past 40+ years, nothing equals the breadth, depth, or volume of soul-reaching music than the brilliance that came out of the 1970s. Nothing.

That's my hill. I'll die on it.

There are so many solo artists who made their initial marks during that decade that it's tough to choose a favorite, but I'll narrow it down to two: Elton John and Neil Diamond. I've had the privilege to see both live in concert, Elton John twice and Neil Diamond three times.

But until last Thursday night, I had never seen my favorite band from the 70s perform live. So it was lovely mix of excitement, nostalgia, and full-on joy to sit on camp chairs at the Sandy Amphitheater and rock out for 90 minutes to the iconic music of Chicago. I knew every word to almost every song, one after another. They played only one of my two favorites: "Color My World." Don't know how they missed "Wishing You Were Here."

I forgive them. Because you know, with that many classics, they can't play everything. And yes, I would have loved it if they'd played longer than 90 minutes. But keep in mind that three of them have been with the band since its formation in 1967! Huge respect and kudos to Robert Lamm, age 80 (vocals and keyboards); Lee Loughnane, age 78 (trumpet); and Jimmy Pankow, age 77 (trombone). 

It was a fabulous concert and dream come true for me to see them live. I've also been known to say that I managed to raise at least one child who has good taste in music. Isaiah truly appreciates 70s music and agrees that no other decade compares. His brothers, not so much. Luke and Eli like screaming music. No, really! The bands they like have actual members identified as "screamers." To be fair, Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper had some pretty aggressive vocals that bordered on screaming, but nothing like what Eli listens to. Seth likes a variety of music but also fails to recognize the obvious superiority of the music from the 70s. 

And Shulamith doesn't like music much at all. So weird. But then she doesn't like fruit either. But she loves me, and she'll go with me to most anything I ask her to, so after a yummy dinner of Indian curry, the three of us went to the concert. Shulamith recognized at least two of the songs, maybe three, and I think she enjoyed some of the others. Isaiah and I sang loud and proud to every last one.

In the turmoil that is today. In the horror that is our country's administration. In the pain so many are experiencing at the hands of an oligarch, who has suggested that "Maybe we like a dictator." In the throes of yet another shooting, where I'm guessing those inside were already doing plenty of praying at their Catholic school. In what often seems like just too much! It was pure delight to have an evening away from all that, an evening to reminisce, an evening to hang with two of my babies and very best friends.

Excitement, nostalgia, and full-on joy!