040808bruce.jpgWhile unpacking boxes that had been in storage for a couple of years, we found a book and have no idea where it came from. Not only did we find a collection of college love notes inside from Nora to John (must've gotten this at a thrift store), but the images we discovered of Bruce Springsteen by Frank Stefanko were equal parts rock 'n roll and domestic quiet. We loved this exchange between Bruce and Frank on p. 104:

Sheila came out and asked him if he wanted some breakfast and he replied, "No, I just want some cookies." We sat in the steamy heat of a quiet morning eating Chips Ahoy cookies and drinking cold milk out on my front porch, when Bruce turned to me and said, "Frank."

"What, Bruce?" I replied.

"You sure are lucky."

"Why am I lucky?"

"Well, you've got this here front porch. I think if I had a front porch like this I'd just sit on it all day long."

It was the most sincere form of saying, "This is nice. You should be thankful for what you have."

It wasn't long after that Bruce bought his first home. I believe it had a front porch.

Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen. Photography and text by Frank Stefanko.

(Re-published from 04-08-2008)