A True Immortal (Maggie)

Is it any wonder that Stevie Nicks has inspired me for so long? Her lyrics and her voice have been the soundtrack of my life. My Rhiannon was formed from the notes of hers. The Belladonna Antigen in the vamp novels, and so many of the relationships in that series sprang from inspirational seeds planted by her songs.

So seeing Stevie Nicks perform live at the Turning Stone in Verona NY Tuesday night was a truly moving experience for me, and it came at a turning point in my life, when I'm moving slowly through grief and loss and on to whatever is waiting for me next. Every song she performed seemed to be speaking just to me. Or about me. She made me weep. Especially with Landslide. I've been through one lately. Apparently, she's weathered a few of her own, and survived. Lost the love of her life, and survived. She's an inspiration. A goddess among women.

I purchased the new CD/DVD combination, Crystal Visions, and a Stevie T-shirt at the gift shop. I have every song on the CD, but not in this particular order ;) and the DVD is going to be great. I left a signed copy of Rhiannon's story with one of the roadies, who seemed truly excited about it, and promised to see to it that Stevie gets it.

It was good. Moving, touching, and important to me. And when I came home and visited her website (www.nicksfix.com) and read the recent articles about her, I learned that Stevie is 58. It's not possible. She's truly immortal. She looked wonderful, has lost weight. She sounded wonderful. If anything her vocal range is improving now that she's on tour again. She changed clothes 4 times, maybe 5, during the concert, and I love that she loves clothes as much as I do, and that she lookes so great in them. It was just a magickal event, and she is just as beautiful and enchanting as ever. More so, I think. She's lived what she sings about now. It's deeper, more real now.

I also learned how to gamble. Since the event was at the Turning Stone, a casino, and I went with my dear pal Michele, a gambling guru, we got there early and she showed me the ropes. I learned to play Texas Hold 'em, and Let it Ride, and a couple of other games whose names escape me. I'll forget them before I ever go back, but I learned, and I played a few hands but mostly, I watched. I played the machines a little, but I don't trust them. And then on the way to cash in our chips (in the good way) we passed the roulette table, and I got a very strong feeling of "11." So I stopped, and put five chips on the 11, and they spun the wheel and the little marble landed in the 11, and I won 175 bucks. I was quite pleased. And as the dealer waited for me to select my numbers for the next round, I said, "Oh, but you don't understand. I'm done."

I guess I don't have the gambling bug. Which is a very good thing because it seems to be one of the few addictive things that doesn't try to get hold of me. ;) I have that kind of personality.

At any rate, Tuesday was a very good day. The concert was a great interval for me, an island of bliss in a sea of not-so-greatness, lately. I've got to find more of those. Maybe the Iphone? (duh, I don't even have reception at home, but I love gadgets, and particularly love Apple gadgets. So we'll see.) Belly dance class is tonight. I'm going to start running again today. It's been about two months. Honestly, I never let that much time go. Depression will do that to you. When you need exercise most you feel like it least. Depression is a result of feeling powerless, you know. And nothing makes you feel more powerful, more strong, more alive than running up a hill with your entire body focused on beating it. And then getting there. It's an absolute cure, and I'm angry with myself for letting myself wallow instead of getting up and fighting far sooner. Two months. Honestly.

So anyway, that's enough of the wallowing already. If Stevie can survive so can I. She inspired me. So have lots of other people.

Dating report: It's not good, folks. I went to a baseball game with a nice guy last weekend, but I knew it wasn't going anywhere very early on. Although I really enjoyed watching the Binghamton Mets play. I'm glad I went, because that's a new fun thing to add to my list of things I enjoy doing. I'd never been to one. There are a few prospects, though, and I'm just trying to enjoy life without a man in it, while I sift through the possibilities in search of one who can give me what I want.

We'll see. And in the meantime, we'll run, with Stevie playing our soundtrack into our headphones. And we'll tackle the hills as if trying to stomp them flat. And we'll be stronger at the top.

Maggie