The Ties That Bind

The Wolf Pack

Last in the line of blog posts chronicling our skip Across the Pond to honor our mate, Martin Brewer.

This one takes the form of a long thank you note.

While the trip from front to back was unforgettable, it was also a somber, sobering, and yet rewarding trip.  It was a time for all of us to take a look at where we are in our own lives, and to honor the memory of a guy who lived every day to the fullest.

And for three blokes from Lowell, it was an opportunity to forge some bonds with a great group of Brits who had never met us before, but welcomed us with open arms as if we were a member of their own families.

A common thread that wound its way throughout the trip was Martin's love of music, and obviously, Bruce Springsteen.  It marked, at least for me, the first time a pastor at a funeral service made mention of the E Streeters in his opening remarks.

It also marked a first when Martin's longtime bud Paul Askew during his remembrance pulled out his original copy of Springsteen's double album, the River, the music that introduced Martin to the Boss and helped kindle his love of all things Bruce.

From the first night in Arundel, where many a pint were polished off - not to mention bangers and mash for Andrew and Barry - to our drop off by Paul at Heathrow, it was like we were in the company of people we'd known our whole lives.

I can't name everyone for fear of leaving out any one, but special props to Martin's mom Gill for being the rock from which everyone drew strength

I detailed earlier how Paul Askew took us to all of his and Martin's childhood haunts, including the cricket fields below, where Martin CRUSHED all opponents.  *cough*

Lyrics from Springsteen songs seemed to resonate with the emotions of the week

I don't wanna fade away

Oh I don't wanna fade away

Tell me what can I do what can I say

Cause darlin' I don't wanna fade away

Andy and his new running buds logged the miles where no E Streeter has run before

Well the Maximum Lawmen run down Flamingo

Chasing the Rat and the Barefoot Girl

And the kids round here look just like shadows

Always quiet, holding hands

From the churches to the jails

Tonight all is silence in the world

As we take our stand

Down in Jungleland

There was chili, there was tea, there were tons of laughs, and lots of fond memories.

Bruce's My Hometown was played at the funeral service.  

I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand

Into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man

I'd sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town

He'd tousle my hair and say son take a good look around

This is your hometown

I like to think it was a tribute to Martin character that even in death, he brought people together to appreciate life.

So with that, I offer up a fond 'cheers' to all our new mates in Great Britain.  We couldn't have asked for nicer or more gracious hosts during an especially trying time in your lives.

I leave you with the words of the Boss himself, from the opening track of the River, and speaking for my son Andrew and I, thank you profusely for new Ties that Bind

You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain

Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet the pain

It's a long dark highway and a thin white line

Connecting baby, your heart to mine

We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time

To face the ties that bind

The ties that bind

Now you can't break the ties that bind

You can't forsake the ties that bind

And of course, the encore that lives forever

The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive

Everybody's out on the run tonight

But there's no place left to hide

Together Wendy we can live with the sadness

I'll love you with all the madness in my soul

H-oh, someday girl, I don't know when

We're gonna get to that place
Where we really wanna go

And we'll walk in the sun

But till then tramps like us

Baby, we were born to run