communion in the tower of song

Leonard Cohen is the master. The man with the golden voice. A creative and authentic crafter of words. A legend.  

 I never dreamed I would be at a Leonard Cohen concert...let alone three rows away from the man. Truly, a blessing. And a bit of serendipity...

I found out late that he was touring, and I immediately set out to see about going. Being in a wheelchair can make going to concerts and shows a pretty big obstacle. First, there's the monopoly that sells all the tickets, and has a disturbing indifference to customers with disabilities. Getting locked out of presales, ADA seats being sold to able bodied people, (I was even given the boot from a venue when a couple showed up with tickets to wheelchair seats they had bought the day tickets went on sale), and paying high prices to be put in the back of the section. But out of those slights has come some very cool experiences. 

I found a forum for Leonard, where there was a thread about this type of thing, and I posted there. This was just five days before the concert. I was seriously starting to worry. No wheelchair seats anywhere to be had, and prices were pretty expensive for me. Then I received an email from someone who said they wanted to help me, and were doing their best to see what they could do. At the very last minute, no less. My predicament was passed on directly to Leonard's manager, I learned!  Amazing, considering how vast the net is, that things turned out how they did. 

The person helping me and I both literally found out the day of the show that I was going to be able to go. I wasn't sure if I could have a companion-my mother-go with me, and didn't find out until I picked up the ticket. I called her and said it was a go, giving her just little over an hour to get all the way downtown! She's not very familiar with Leonard's work, but being 66, I figured some would ring a bell. I thought it would be quite meaningful to share the experience with her.  She's kicking ass in a second round with breast cancer, that came back after 14 years. It was cool she could be there with me.

I really want to thank Mr. Cohen's manager. For taking the time out of what must be an insanely busy and taxing schedule to do that for a fan. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be bestowed with such amazing seats. I feel so tremendously appreciative, and blessed. I could see Leonard's expressions, gorgeously lit with a multitude of striking colors, the faces of the astounding band...I was awestruck. That was a gift I shall treasure and remember the rest of my life. 

I laughed, I cried, I boogied in my wheelchair. This was the greatest show I have ever seen...and this is a gal who went to see U2 ten times a few years back, and got sang to by Bono while he held my hand! His words pierce the soul with a poetic truth. They can be quite dark, bleak, yet there's a thread of hope that emerges. I love what Bono says of him in "I'm Your Man", that in that darkness, Leonard finds the colors in the black. When he sings "There's a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in"...it digs profoundly in the deepest place of my soul. 

It was a magical night. 

And a heartfelt thanks to the generous folks who made this happen for me.