When I was 22, in a distant time called 2006, I was a young college grad working as a PA for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
I used to hitch a train from Penn Station to Red Bank, New Jersey once every couple of months on the weekend and do odd jobs for Max Weinberg.
I'd clean out his garage, house sit, dug ditches for a pond, it was extra cash I needed at about 100 bucks per chore plus train fare.
Anyhow, the most surreal experience occurred the very first time I met up with Max Weinberg in Red Bank, he met me in the pouring rain in a U-Haul, I climbed in; he barely knew me but had seen me around the studio at work.
We went back to his estate somewhere on the outskirts of Red Bank and in between Rumson.
I loaded furniture with his son on to the back of the U-Haul as Max claimed a bad back, his teenage son took off for band practice and I was left in the rain doing heavy lifting while Max was in the barn making phone calls.
A Subaru pulls up to the property and out steps a haggard and tired looking middle aged man with messy hair and a receding hairline; it took me a second to realize the wet figure approaching me was Bruce Springsteen.
He comes trotting into the barn as I'm lifting a couch by myself on to the back of the U-Haul. He waltzes up next to me and sizes me up and asks who i am, I tell him my name and he shakes my hand; presumptive that I've figured out who he is.
Max comes back down from the second floor of the barn and asks if I'm ready, Bruce Springsteen asks if he can come.
Next thing I know I'm wedged in the middle seat of a U-Haul cab between Max Weinberg and Bruce Springsteen going down the Jersey Turnpike.
We dropped off furniture at the Salvation Army, Max supervising on account of his back. I'm sure the Salvation Army was surprised to see Springsteen and some nobody carrying a couch into their warehouse while Weinberg held the door; they probably were trying to figure out who i was.
Next we hit up a bar as it was close to lunch time, though we ate nothing, but drank healthily.
It's at this time Bruce's lips were a little loosened up by Corona.
He put his arm around me and asked me "Travis, you're from Texas right? Did you vote for George W. Bush?"
Knowledgeable of Springsteen's party loyalties being of the other distinction I nodded and matter of factly told him "Yes".
He shook his head and hugged me a tad tighter, "Man" he half-heartedly lamented, "That's a real shame, cuz i like you!"
This surreal moment was heightened by the fact that we then began to talk at great length about Texas rock legends Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly and he was impressed by my knowledge of the two; which led to a further surreal moment when he asked me my cell phone number and called me to give me his! (I have never ever called him and do not ask for his number from me)
We got back into the U-Haul and to add to the zaniness we went passed Jon Bon Jovi's estate, he was in the front lawn throwing a ball with a dog, i was instructed to flick him off by Springsteen as I, Bruce and Max simultaneously gave him the one finger salute and he returned with a smile. We drove on back to Max Weinberg's. ( I wonder in Bon Jovi knew who was in that U-Haul, probably was confused by my face if anything)
Max dropped me off to finish up cleaning his office inside the house and took off to watch his son practice, so I'm left home alone in Weinberg's house with Bruce who still hasn't left yet and really hasn't come over with any clear motive.
We both are famished so bruce raids Max's fridge and i follow suit safe in the knowledge I can blame it on Springsteen.
Let me just say that Weinberg is one unkosher Jew, that fridge was packed full of ham and pork products.
We made sandwiches and Springsteen slapped me on the back, helped himself to a bottled Coca Cola and had me escort him back to his car with some memorabilia from Max's house (I hope Max knew he was taking it).
Springsteen was not tipsy by this point and was amiable but not buddy buddy as he had been before, in fact as he left you sort of got the idea he might have been a little remorseful for having been so chummy with a stranger, though he remained courteous and friendly.
He put on his shades and took off in his Subaru, i cleaned out Max's office and waited for Max to come home and drive me back to the train station.
I never saw or heard from Bruce again, but I do have his cell phone number from circa 2006 assuming it hasn't been changed.
