Where else can you buy a dream for a Dollar?

 


I had a better than average day today, but I'm gonna miss Ray and regret not being able to see him perform one last time.

Ray Charles was one of my idols. Hell, he was the idol of one of my other idols (Billy Joel). His music always made me feel better. Hearing a song of his in a movie instantly made the film better. His Christmas Album "The Spirit of Christmas" is my Wife and I's all time favorite holiday album.

The first time I saw him ever perform live was in the mid 70s which much have been at the time a low point in his popularity as he played in a very small nightclub/restaurant at a Ramada Inn in my hometown. He killed that night going from "What I Say?" to "Georgia on my Mind". That night I was hooked for good.

The last time I saw Ray live was a total surprise. He performed on Opening Day at Fenway Park and sang "America the Beautiful". The weather that day was horrible but he just belted out that old chestnut with no care of the downpour that was gonna come down on him. The game was postponed but as far as I was concerned I already got my money's worth before seeing Fenway's first pitch.

I was hoping he would come around one more time so I could take my Wife to see him perform as she never did. I think the only other time before his death he played in New England was at Foxwoods the night after his Fenway performance.

The latest thing he was known for around these parts are doing radio spots for Powerball. I think I'll buy a ticket tomorrow for the next drawing. I might be able to buy a dream for a dollar, but I know one dream that winning Powerball will not bring me......