August was a month of both musical love and precious, renewed friendships.  Most importantly, I celebrated my 55^th Cass Tech High School Reunion this month with former classmates – opening with dinner and a program at Sinbad’s Restaurant  in a room overlooking the river on the first night, then lunch and a bus tour on Belle Isle,  and finally at a Tiger’s ballgame (oh my, they even won for us!).

My friend Bob Allen was my guest in the fun put together by an incredible committee led by Jeff Crockett that included Ocie, Jacquelyne, Trey, Morry, Susan Patricia, Helen, Sarah, Mildred, John, Anne and Jacquelin.  I was lucky enough to be active on the committee in the early planning.   We had about 90 active participants over the two days, many from out of town who stayed at the Atheneum Suite  Hotel on Brush Ave. and many took a sightseeing bus tour as their opening event.  I am so grateful that I got to experience my high school years with these incredible comrades and hope more good times lie ahead.

The first dose of musical love this month was at DTE’s evening concert with “Heart” (with sisters Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson) on the band’s “Love” Alive tour —  including opening acts Joan Jet & the Blackhearts and Elle King.  I had first seen only Ann on tour a few years ago at a Detroit waterfront festival.  But I had always loved their music – and the crowd seated on the DTE hillside around us went crazy as Heart ended their set with their biggest hit, “Barracuda.”  I shared in the exhilarating experience with my friend  Bob, and we joyously stumbled when we arrived across more of his friends.  They already occupied a large space on the grass and shared their blanket for seating on the hillside as they used folding chairs behind us.  Amazing.

I also got an exhilarating dose of musical “love” from the 60s by watching PBS’ American Experience documentary “Woodstock”, a chance to remember three days of peace, love and music in upstate New York.  I was just graduating college and starting my journalism career when that musical milestone in upstate New York produced 400,000 fans and four days of musical history that miraculously stayed peaceful and produced many signature musical moments, including the unforgettable Jimmy Hendricks, Santana,  Joan Baez and Janis Joplin – plus many more evolving superstars.   What an August!