Lauren Bacall Rides On

A long time ago, back when I was in the Navy, I was stationed up at the Great Lakes Training Center for both my boot camp and my "A" School training, where I was trained to be a radar operator.  Since Chicago was only a thirty-five minute train ride south, it was not unusual for my friends and I to spend time there when the weather was warm enough.  I say this because I was there during the winter and Chicago does live up to its reputation as being a windy city.  Wind equates to wind chill so much of January, February, and March were spent on the base.  Except for one cold Saturday in January on which a friend and I decided, on the spur of the moment, to see what was happening downtown.  i remember the day being very sunny, but cold, very cold.

Walking down the sidewalk I could see a marquee in the distance and I asked my friend if he wanted to go see a movie, in order to get out of the cold.  He said "sure, if it's a good one."  However, the marquee was not for a movie theater.  It was for the Chicago Opera House, and there was a show playing with a Saturday matinee.  I recognized one of the names so I asked my friend if he might want to see a show instead.  He agreed, so we each paid $6.50 for our tickets.  We got good seats, first row in the first balcony, right in the center, and looking directly down on the stage.  Neither one of us had an idea as to what the show was about.  We didn't even know it was a musical.

Sitting there, in my balcony seat, I got to look down and watch the legendary Lauren Bacall.  The show happened to be a little thing called "Applause."  Needless to say, I had my socks knocked off.  Sitting here and thinking about it, I can honestly say it was one of the greatest "wow" moments in my life.  I was saddened to hear Ms. Bacall had passed away, but then, no one lives forever.  Not only do I have my memories, I still have the program.

In my book, Lauren Bacall rides on.