"This blessed sip of life ..."

I think that Randall's Island will be my final DMB show. When you spend a great deal of time doing something with a person, you begin to associate the activity with them. If that person no longer does that activity, or you no longer do many things - or anything, for that matter - with that person, then the activity itself can become less enjoyable.

This was the first show since the 2002 tour closer (MCI Center in DC after two fantastic nights at MSG in NY) that I didn't go to with JJ. The magic of DMB doesn't seem to hold that much sway with me anymore.

However, at tonight's show, they played a few songs that made me feel pretty good.

So Right
I don't believe I've seen this one live, which made it really awesome to hear tonight:

Stay up and make some memories here, with us now
To roll red carpet out with friends
To love and roll on
Our love is so right
I won't waste a minute here tonight
Our love is so right
And tonight my dance is all about you

Steady As We Go
I cried during this song. Listen to it and it might be obvious.

Grey Street
I cried during this song. I cried because I finally understood what she felt.

Dancing Nancies
This was just good. Like a breath of fresh air.

Twenty three and so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other than me? Then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

I am who I am who I am who am I
Requesting some enlightenment
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Sing and dance I'll play for you tonight
And thrill at it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I'll work it out then I

Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

Typical Situation
I've always liked this song. Another breath of fresh air.

Everybody's happy
Everybody's free
We'll keep the big door open
And everyone'll come around
Why are you different
Why are you that way
If you don't step in line
We'll lock you away

And finally:

Pig
It's amazing how a song can remind you that you shouldn't keep expecting more than what you're getting with each day; life comes one day at a time, and you should cherish each moment - each breath of fresh air.

I have to put the entire song or I'm not doing justice to the message I'm trying to convey:

Isn't it strange
How we move our lives for another day
Like skipping a beat
What if a great wave should wash us all away
Just thinking out loud
Don't mean to dwell on this dying thing
But looking at blood
It's alive right now
Deep and sweet within
Pouring through our veins
Intoxicate moving wine to tears
Drinking it deep
Then an evening spent dancing
It's you and me
This love will open our world
From the dark side we can see the glow of something bright
There's much more than we see here
Don't burn the day away
Don't burn the day
Don't burn the day away

Is this not enough?
This blessed sip of life, is it not enough?
Staring down at the ground
Oh, then complain and pray for more from above,
You greedy little pig,
Stop, just watch your world trickle away
Oh, it's your problem now
It'll all be dead and gone in a few short years

Oh, just love will open our eyes
Just love will put the hope back in our minds
Much more than we could ever know
Oh, so don't burn the day away
Don't burn the day away

Oh, come sisters, my brothers,
Shake up your bones, shake up your feet,
I'm saying, open up and let the rain come pouring in
Wash out this tired notion
Oh, that the best is yet to come
But oh, while you're dancing on the ground,
Don't think of, oh, when you're gone
Love, love, love, what more is there?
'Cause we need the light of love in here
Don't beat your head, dry your eyes, let the love in there,
There's bad times but that's okay, just look for love in there

And don't burn the day away
Look, here are we,
On this starry night, staring into space
And I must say, I feel as small as dust lying down here

Oh, what point could there be troubling
Head down, wondering, "what will become of me?"
Why concern? We cannot see but no reason to abandon it
The time is short, time, that's all right
Maybe I'll go out in the middle of the night,
And take your hand, look in your eyes, my love
All good things must come to an end sometime

Oh, but don't burn the day away
Don't burn the day away

Oh, come sisters, my brothers,
Shake up your bones, shake up your feet,
I'm saying open up and let the rain come flooding in
Wash out this tired notion
That the best is yet to come
But, oh, while you're dancing on the ground
Don't think of when you're gone
Love, love, love, what more is there?
'Cause we need the light of love in here
Don't beat your head, and dry your eyes, let the love in there
The bad times, well that's okay,
Let's just look for love in here, yeah

Just let the love in there,
Oh love, light up

I just don't think that I can enjoy the band's shows the same way I used to; the thoughts running through my mind all night were comparisons to shows I had seen in the past three years or how much better certain songs would have been with my best friend by my side. In my preoccupation, I missed out on the blessed sips ...

I don't want to miss out on those anymore.