BooGyrl13
3 October 2012 at 1:30am
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Dear Peter..,
I was at the Boston show on Monday, September 24th. I brought my dad. I'm 39, grown, married, and a working mom now, He's 67 and retired. But back when 'So' came out, I was just a little girl, and he was a laid off father of three girls, desperately seeeking employment. We lived just outside of Cleveland, Ohio at the time. He was finally offered a job, after nearly a year of searching, but the job was here in Boston. He had no choice.. He had a family to provide and care for. He took the job. For three plus months, (until we kids were finished with school for the year, and my mom and him managed to find us a home here), he lived out of a hotel, driving and/or flying back on weekends and every chance he could get. 'Don't Give Up' was our anthem. Have never been able to get past the line, 'drove the night toward my home.., the place that I was born, on the lakeside..', without completely tearing up as I think of him making those long rides home, every chance he got, towards our home, which so happened to be right on Lake Erie.. (also where he was born..)
Monday night, when you played 'Don't Give Up', we just held eachother and sobbed tears of joy. He didn't give up, and there we were, (with my own daughter now), 25 years later, sharing that moment with you.., 'live'. Thank You.
I don't know if you read these messages, but if you do.., I just want you to know how very much that meant to us. My father is the greatest man on the earth and I Love Him so very much. Being able to bring him to the Garden for the 25th anniversary of 'So' was a moment in time neither of us will ever forget, and will hold sacred and dear to our hearts forever.
~ Sincerely, Rebecca 'BooGyrl13' Russ
(or as my dad calls me.., 'his 'Baby Boo'..)
Progressive jen
3 October 2012 at 1:39am
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Boo
That is such a heartfelt and sweet story, so glad you have that connection with your dad.
PG does read the forums from time to time (we've been told) I hope he reads your post.

BooGyrl13
3 October 2012 at 2:08am
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Thank You Jen. It would thrill me beyond words if he did read this.
And I am so very fortunate to have such a great relationship with my dad. He is a truly wonderful man.. The sacrifices he made personally for the better benefit of his family are what defines a great father and husband.., and what it means to be a man.
~ Boo
Pat Parker
3 October 2012 at 5:02am
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BooGyrl -- What a beautiful, lovely story. I'm sure that when PG hears (or reads) these types of stories, he must also feel good inside, knowing that his words/music helped another person. That's what I love most about PG -- he's 100% human through and through and because of that he knows how to make these very deep connections with us.
I am so glad that you were able to enjoy the show with your dad. Good memories, these.
BooGyrl13
3 October 2012 at 6:39am
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It was if he was there.., watching us.., our struggle through that very tough time.. The words were literally what ou family, my dad in particular, was experiencing.. Like Peter had some sort of crystal ball. My dad would always say, 'when the woman sings back.., 'don't give up.. you still have us..', that he would picture us girls, his daughters and my mom singing those wwords to him, and it's what kept him going being seperated for those three plus months by 600 miles.., and then the subsequent adjusting to a new town and life, 'trying to settle down..' Recently, I experienced my own long lay-off, (8 months), and struggle to find work again, and I gained a whole new appreciation of what my father went through on such a deep emotional level. Though.., my song was 'Mercy Street', for how I so longed to be that little girl 'back in daddy's arms again..'
Yes.., Peter speaks volumes to so many through his musical genius. There are so many songs by him that could, and should, be on the 'soundtrack to my life', but if I had to pick only one.., it would have to be 'Don't Give Up'.
BooGyrl13
3 October 2012 at 6:45am
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I have already pre-ordered two copies of the 'Boston Show'. One for me..., and one for my dad

.
Pat Parker
3 October 2012 at 11:08am
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BooGyrl13
4 October 2012 at 12:34am
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can't wait for those discs to come in!!