It is late at night and getting into the wee morning hours, but I am wide awake. Sitting on my porch at around midnight, kitties wandering around, cool breezes gently swaying the window sheers,  I look back at the past few hours.

If I was told there would be a evening like this:
a) 15-18 years ago as I watched Superman with friends and family; or
b) In past 10-12 years as I watched Star Wars (all six of them, many times over and some opening nights) and bought the soundtracks; or
c) In the past 8-10 years watched Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones; or
c) In the past 4 years as I watched Harry Potter and bought all the sound tracks; or
c) as I watched Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park and so many more
I would have laughed my head off, signed off saying the person did know what he/she was talking about.

But, it did happen, I had the opportunity, so I seized it and splurged some money to see God at work. The way he commanded, with a firm yet elegant hand and 50 people followed his cue to blend harmoniously violins, guitars, cellos, drums, flutes, horns, trombones, clarinets and others, was mesmerizing. Hundreds of people sat in rapt attention until he wrapped each piece, whence everyone clapped and cheered. It gives me goose bumps even now, as I relive every moment of a fantastic evening at Boston Symphony Orchestra (Boston POPS), with John Williams conducting.

The evening started with 'Fanfare for a Festive occasion' and then quickly turned to a Tribute to Bernard Herrmann the mastermind composer of greats such as Vertigo, Psycho, Torn Curtain, Citizen Kane and so many more. The tribute had two sections with the first section comprising of; The Inquirer from Citizen Kane; Scene d'Amour from Vertigo and Suite from Psycho. The second section had the orchestra playing and on screen they were going through snippets of some of Alfred Hitchcock's greatest movies. The orchestra kept up shot to shot and movie to movie snippets as they moved from North by Northwest, Psycho, Vertigo, Marnie, Birds, Man who knew too much and back to North by Northwest. WOW! I cannot even start to describe this.

After the first intermission, we were part of Broadway to Hollywood. First up was Hooray for Hollywood (Carousel Waltz), then excerpts from Fiddler on the roof (I think I am drunk on great music already!) and the finally, WHOA! All that Jazz from Chicago.

After the second intermission (POP's has two intermission), I think I am in total awe and in love with this white haired god of compositions. March from Superman set the stage for At the Movies theme.  This was followed by three most glorious pieces from Harry Potter (Fawkes the Phoenix, Nimbus 2000 and Harry's Wondrous World). I own these soundtracks on CD, but listening to it with live orchestra and conducted by the man who composed it, brought me to tears! Can it be true? Can I really be this happy and this lucky? And then, it was time for a tribute to George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Again, with snippets from movies and orchestra playing along some of the most memorable scores the world has heard. Movies included and in the order they played: Jaws, Star Wars (some of the most classic shots), Raiders of the Lost Ark, and wrapped with E.T. If Heaven exists, then those 20 mins were it.

As were still recovering and couple of standing ovations for the great man, it was indeed a treat when John commanded the orchestra into playing the Luke-Leia theme (Star Wars- before we knew they were brother and sister), and then the entire score of the Nightly news with Tom Brokaw (I have heard this a million times, but the entire score blew me away!).

What an evening! What a night! Perhaps, the best thing, is that this checks off one of the 50-things to do before I am 35.