Is a Dream Just a Dream?

Freedom

"I'm shocked, I mean I can't believe Stevie said that to her. You're lucky man, real lucky. She's your BAE right?" plucking the strings of his banjo Stan the Man and I get ready for another practice session and I scrunch my eyebrows at him "BAE?" plucking the opening to Dreams he smiles "Before Anyone Else" oh...internet stuff. I look down at my engagement ring, realizing I haven't taken any steps to officially announce our pending nuptials "Well would fiancé satisfy that requirement?" Stan stops tuning "Well yeah man, come on" he looks down at my hand and I waggle my eyebrows at him.

Covering his mouth with one hand he shakes my other briskly "My man, finally! Finally! I can't wait to tell my mom she's been dying for you two to get together for years. I mean since Rumors" She's not the only one. I've been dying to get together with Stevie since we met "Well, I'm pleased to hear it. And since I wouldn't be talking and playing and writing my name without you...I'd like you to be there. Bring your mom" he points at me smiling "It's a date".

We cut the small talk then and get to the serious business of playing music. I'm actually working toward another surprise which has been about as long in coming as our getting married. Buckingham Nicks reunion tour, a real one. Just her and me and our original session musicians including Waddy, all the old songs and none of the tension for once. We talked and talked about it, and the closest we ever got was us sharing the stage for a few special events without the Mac, but I've done the same for Chris. Nope this time it's just her and I.

Just for the occasion we run through the whole LP as practice and Stan does an...okay Stevie impersonation. His voice is obviously a hell of a lot lower in register but on the plus side he knows all the words. After practice I get to my work out, I have a slight limp and some weakness on my right side but otherwise I'm in great shape for a man of seventy. I used to just be in great shape, age notwithstanding. A big part of my recovery has centered around me accepting the fact that I am getting old, and that as much as I'd like to cling to youth I won't be around forever. My kids are almost grown men, hell Will's practically there.

I've come full circle in my love life and ended up with the one woman I always wanted to grow old with. We're going to do just that and I couldn't be happier, her youth having never truly faded in my eyes. Sometimes in the throws of love making, or when we go for a walk downtown she's just as young and vibrant as I remember her, the bubbly blonde dervish I fell in love with.

From my understanding celebrities are supposed to use publicists to announce big things like marriages, births, divorces. Stevie and I talk it over and we find the next best option. We call Mick. He's the worlds greatest publicity hound, and we don't have to pay him a consulting fee because he'll spread band news faster than a California wildfire. Sure enough after congratulatory phone calls from Christine.

"It's about bloody time, now you two can stop shagging on stage"

And John

"Cheers mate, to both of you"

A post on Facebook from Mick has the press calling Karen and the house phone every ten minutes for conformation. Which she does in her typical fashion, polite professional, and more than a little long suffering. I'd kill to be a fly on the wall when Kristen finds out, apparently every publication in L.A. is dying for a reaction from her. She's staying tightly shut away in our former home drinking wine and staring daggers at us when we pick up the boys for the weekend.

This particular weekend Will has a showing of some of his art at school and we have to dress up. Because I've always shunned wearing a necktie...other than a brief period in the Tusk era...I show up in my signature black suit with a red shirt. Stevie dresses, well like Stevie and she turns heads from all the parents as we make our entrance. She's lived for this reaction from people for years and where once it annoyed me no end at how flashy she'd become I recognize now it's armor she wears. And always has worn.