For a long time in the early morning a woman stood at the
head of the railcar. She seemed to be surveying the people on this car. She
stood, looking a bit stern. Our eyes met, she looked past me rather quickly. She
is standing because we have all been sitting or trying to lay down –and sleep,
for 10 hours.
Yes, this is my first trip by rail long distance. I have ridden many commuter trains, so I am
not unfamiliar with the sensation. This
train is made for long distance travel… it is a much quieter ride than what Metra
offers (Chicagoland). Plenty of leg room
too. From where I sit, more than 10 cars
from the engine, the train whistle is a low hum. As I write this I am looking out over
vineyards and farm fields at Lake Erie, which is not far, as this train is
called “The Lake Shore Limited” –it runs close along the shore, sometimes
within a thousand feet, or so, but never far from view.
My 9 year old self never would have believed this…. I am on
a long distance rail trip to attend a memorial celebration and the dedication of a memorial bench honoring David Cassidy. I can remember tuning in,
every week, to watch The Partridge Family.
And I have said that as long as I have David Cassidy’s Cherish album I
have what I need. I love those songs,
and the mere sight of the titles puts the music and David’s voice in my head.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4fgWuUwY_oq-frfuOXvcYvmMvEhM9VchHeznucWphrhOgYl66n0cmCuVguKF9AL5V4GOfL2yOWSHQreabVrKsfsLo5DoxiuY8uhHMPzlKdM3efmy5_tFcGS24ENjjMKd7okcI7mDs1d-/s1600/david+cassidy+rolling+stone.jpg)
Here I am, on my way to a memorial weekend private gathering
of fans in remembrance of and celebrating David Cassidy. We gather in Saratoga Springs, New York, where
David had a home and where was involved in horse racing at Saratoga Springs
Race Track. David loved horses and was
involved in the horse racing world. Here
at the National Museum of (Horse) Racing, on Thursday, May 17, 2018 a pair of
benches honoring David Cassidy were unveiled. One bench is through the efforts
of people in horse racing who knew David,..the other bench is the result of a
campaign begun by a woman who may have loved David longer than any other fan… a
woman I will meet for the first time tomorrow…. Perhaps I will write an
addendum to this blog, or another blog about this weekend. (stay tuned folks)
At least 40 of us, fans of David Cassidy, will gather
together to celebrate this wonderful, beautiful man. There will be a Mass at
The Church of Saint Peter on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday the National
Museum of Racing will open its doors for free for 2 hours, to allow David
Cassidy’s fan to view the museum and to enter the courtyard where the memorial
benches are on display. And later there
will be a (public) musical remembrance celebration of David Cassidy’s music at
a local restaurant.
I the years between (since The Partridge Family ended) I
have frequently gone back for another listen, to my Partridge Family albums and
David’s Cherish album. In the last few
months, since David Cassidy died, I have woken many mornings singing one of the many songs I know so well.
It's One Of Those Nights .. I Woke Up In Love This Morning
I lost track of David for a while, but any time there was
anything about him I would stop to read and to look at the pictures of his
sweet smiling face.
I happened to go to Las Vegas in October 2000, and when I
looked for a show on my one free night, there was David Cassidy! In his own
show, at the Rio Hotel and Casino. And
it was wonderful! David Cassidy loved to sing, and he loved to see faces light
up with smiles when he sang. He was a
true entertainer. I can’t help remembering his dad, Jack Cassidy, the times I
saw him on any program –his profession was entertainer.
I thoroughly enjoyed David’s Las Vegas show, which was
called “At The Copa” (that’s right: as in CopaCabana, that was more or less the story David told), David was acting when he
came on the stage in the guise of an old man.
His voice was not, at first, recognizable, but I knew it had to be him.
The story he told that evening, and many more evenings over the course of a
year, was of a man who had loved a woman.
And he had followed her throughout her career as a singer. And he still
loved her, but tragically she had fallen for another. All of this was interspersed with songs of
the 1900s, a variety of songs…. And, in the end, because he knew what his fans
loved, David’s own music. Songs he sang for The Partridge Family as well as
several from his own albums. David
Cassidy came down, into the audience and sang for us, and to us. And it was a
wonderful evening.
http://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/TheatrePages/AtTheCopa.html
When news broke that David Cassidy was hospitalized, and
that his family was with him, it made me so sad. He’s going. We held watch on the news
services, waiting for word. Praying that somehow David would recover. I brought my Partridge Family and David
Cassidy cds to work to play on the computer. And, like thousands of his fans
all over the world, I cried when it was announced that he had passed away. Far.
too. young.
Thank you, David, for sharing your beautiful voice with us.
___________
Are you sleeping my
baby?
Just close your eyes and let me run away
Now, don't cha cry
I am leaving my sweet baby
I've been in love with one who's far away
I can't live a lie
I've got something inside of me you know I can't hide
And each day since I left her
She's been on my mind
So take care of yourself and my, my Ricky besides
He's the best friend I had
I guess this is good-bye
Are you weeping my baby?
I let you down but I just cannot stay
I can't live a lie
Now I am leaving my sweet baby
I got my ticket, it won't pass me by
I can't live a lie
I've got something inside of me you know I can't hide
And each day since I left her
She's been on my mind
So take care of yourself and my, my Ricky besides
He's the best friend I had
I guess this is good-bye
This is good bye
--Ricky’s Tune, David Cassidy, 1972
Ricky's Tune
____________
At the National Museum of Racing, Saratoga Springs, New York.
Saratoga Springs, New York was David Cassidy's favorite place on Earth.
Thank You Susan S. Cox for loving David Cassidy enough to make this memorial a reality.
Thank You Susan S. Cox and Linda de Ambrosio, for all you have done to make this weekend a true celebration of the life and music of David Cassidy.