Music. It has become the center of my life. When I was young, it was always a cornerstone. Then I got old and educated and lost my way. Now that my children want to be professional musicians, I’ve come full circle. Raising ones own children has a way of bringing one back home.

We’ve been to a lot of shows. Any time we aren’t playing music, we are going to live music performances. The kids always benefit in big ways and they have had the privilege of seeing so many incredible shows. They are learning what it takes to be a professional musician, so going to concerts is akin to field research. Some of them have been them absolute magic and some maybe not what we were expecting, but always a learning experience. Seeing Greta Van Fleet was much, much more.

The show itself was electric. No one fought or pushed each other, even on the floor and down on the rail. No one got mad because my bun hit them in the face while I was dancing in front of them. The energy in the venue was effervescent and the sounds that came out of these boys was divine inspiration. Musically, it may have been one of the best shows I’ve ever been to and spiritually? I don’t think I’ve ever had a more transcendent musical experience. Then this happened.

The bassist, keyboardist and youngest brother of the Kiszka’s, Sammy, jumped off the stage in San Jose on his way out before the encore. I thought he was coming to give one of the kids the setlist but he leaned over and hugged me, kissed me on the cheek and put the crumpled up setlist in my hand. He had no idea I was the one who wrote the band a letter about how much Greta meant to our family. He didn’t know that I was the one who sent the videos of the kids doing covers of their songs with their band, Some Assembly Required. He didn’t know that I had trouble earlier that day writing that letter or that I had been doubting myself as a parent, as a human. He didn’t know my kids were the ones that the band had invited to meet after the show.

After the show we got to spend some time with the band and so not only did I get to say thank you, I got to ask Sam what prompted him to do what he had done. He said he saw me crying. I couldn’t have dreamed he could see me — my eyes were closed half the time, trying to sing along in between sobs. When you are lost in a crowd of people, it is so easy to get lost or go unnoticed, but Sam had seen me. He couldn’t have known how meaningful the music was to me without having that same understanding and when that connection is made, we remember why we are alive.

“Star shines in her eyes, makes me feel like I’m alive”

That was the line of “Flower Power” that spoke to me most. Lyrics can mean so many things and that’s the beauty of all poetry really. Sometimes it doesn’t matter where the words come from or what they meant when they we’re written. It only matters they are answers to our prayers.

At first I couldn’t figure out why meeting Greta Van Fleet was so special- not that meeting one of your favorite bands isn’t special- but this was different. Greta is different- and when I say Greta, I mean every single one of these boys. They emanate light. They aren’t just another rock band. They are a force of love wrapped up into blistering guitars, killer drums, kick-ass bass, and vocals that will melt your face off. Their humility and wisdom is beyond their years. These young men are forging the path into the great unknown of rock and roll and our kids are following them there.

It isn’t often you meet such genuine and authentic people and that in itself is a special thing. But what made this different was that when we were with them, it wasn’t hard to remember that we are all God’s children. It’s one of the reasons we need music in our lives. To remind us that are all family when it comes right down to it. When you sing along with them, you remember. When you look in their eyes, you can already see the change is coming.

“A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

“There’d been times when I thought I

couldn’t last for long

Now I think I’m able

To carry on.

It’s been a long

Long time coming

And I know

Change is gonna come.”