A Divine Waltz

By Lacey Ann Carrigan

"A Divine Waltz" is an epic romance novel about a nurse who loves to dance and her adventures with the men in her life who either fuel or thwart her passion. When Linda Serafina, a shy girl from rural Illinois attends college in the late 1970s, she accepts a part time job as a participant (called an oneironaut) in a dream research lab at the medical school. Her life is changed forever when she dreams of a beautiful, elegant man lifting and swirling her through a glorious waltz in an ethereal place. While she finishes up her collegiate studies in nursing she keeps the mysterious dream in the back of her mind. Tragically, just before graduation her best friend and former roommate dies in an accident and with a heavy heart she accepts her first nursing position in a large midwestern city. Seth, a handsome but rough cut rock and roller/motorcyclist romances her, yet Linda continues to remember the dream of the glorious dance. At the same time her friend comes to visit her during her dreams and tell her about her new life on "the other side." When a dying cancer patient (she works on an oncology ward) tells her he sees visions of her dancing, she decides to learn to dance once and for all, feeling somehow drawn to it. Over the next decades she says goodbye to Seth, becomes a competition quality ballroom dancer, meets her husband Stephen and mothers a little girl and a little boy. They grow to successful adulthood, Linda spends her last days in a cottage on her son's property and in the end learns the astounding secret of the mysterious man in the wondrous marble hall during her dream in college.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lacey Ann Carrigan
• Release date: Apr 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311309877

Lacey Ann Carrigan

Hi, and thank you for stopping by my page. I have had a lifelong love of reading and writing. My favorite authors are Anne Tyler, Ken Follett and Kristin Hannah, among others. If I have loved a book I have just read, the author becomes my favorite right then! My mother has told me that I am the most joyous of her five children and when I was growing up we kept moving. This always put me in new situations and immersed me into new groups of people, which would become valuable in developing my writer's eye. In my novels I not only try to create a new world for a reader to immerse him or herself in for awhile, but I also try to give them hope, because there is always hope.

Book preview

A Divine Waltz

Lacey Ann Carrigan

Copyright 2014 by Lacey Ann Carrigan

Smashwords Edition

CHAPTER ONE

"I can’t believe you talked me into this! Linda said. She looked upward for a moment, as dark rumbling clouds overhead sluiced torrents of rain onto the windshield. Wind rumbling across the highway kept trying to nudge Myrtle," Linda's 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, into the other lane.

Lauren laughed. Her eyes sparkled in the overcast dimness and her long, dark hair tumbled in dancing waves over her shoulders. Didn’t you say that veewees were watertight? We could put a propeller on the end!

Linda glanced anxiously at the gas gauge, which tickled the quarter tank mark. Or we’ll make you get out and push. They squinted together to look through the windshield.

Lauren ignored Linda's slightly caustic remark, the way she always did. We’re going to see Robert! Lauren put her hands together and gazed heavenward in an overly dramatic gesture. We’re going to see Robert! For free! Isn’t this great! She excitedly patted Linda on the shoulder, so much that the steering wheel tugged to the right and the car nudged toward the shoulder.

Linda screamed. Jeez, Laure! You wanna kill us both?

Her friend’s eyes opened wide. Linda glanced for a moment, to check their color.

In the year they’d known each other, Linda noticed that Lauren’s eyes changed from dark blue to violet to brown whether she was happy, scared, or high. At that moment they were violet. Linda wondered what type of medical condition would cause that. She was studying nursing. Since she’d taken Psychology her first semester, she already knew her friend was crazy.

They would reach the exit for the west-east interstate soon. She was already running the defogger at full blast to keep the windshield clear but still struggled to see. I still think it would have been easier to wait two weeks and go to St. Louis.

Lauren sighed deeply and shook her head. But this is free! How many times have I got to tell you! Free! Free! We’re going to see Robert and Jimmy, for free!

But they’re playing on a Friday night at the Checkerdome! We wouldn’t have had to miss class! And it’s only a hundred miles away!

Free! Lauren repeated. She spelled out the word, for extra emphasis. Do you know how many people would give their left eyeball to see Zeppelin for free?

You’re gross!

Lauren settled back into her seat. I can’t believe I’m finally going to see them. She started to sing: "Walking through the park just the other day baby…"

Linda sang along: "Whattaya, Whattaya think I saw?For the next few miles, as she entered the interstate and they cruised east, they sang more Led Zeppelin songs, going from Misty Mountain Hop, and When the Levee Breaks, then moving into Kashmir, and Dancing Days. Their singing helped Linda forget that her car only had an AM radio, that she was missing a Biology lecture and English 2 class.

When they had sung an album’s worth of songs, Linda lost her musical train of thought.

She gazed at the road signs. Navigator, navigator, I need your help. Where do we turn?

Lauren shrugged. Not till Louisville. It's quite a ways yet.

And then what?

Then, we just stay on that all the way to Louisville. It’s a piece of cake. Then in Louisville we catch I-71 and that takes us all the way to Cincinnati.

Are you sure? I don’t want to take a wrong turn and end up in Nashville or somewhere.

It’s easy! I’ve made the trip three times.

Yeah? Were you driving?

No, Lauren replied.

It’s different when you’re driving. You’ve gotta pay attention. Remember that party you said was ‘just down the road’ and we ended up in Podunk Missouri?

Lauren shook her head again. I wish I had some weed.

Linda laughed. Like that’s going to help. We’d end up in Chicago.

Lauren narrowed her eyes. Hey, don’t be ragging on my home town, farm girl.

I’m not from the farm, Linda murmured. How many times do I have to tell you? She reached over to her glove box, flipped it open and checked inside for maps. All she could see was the registration and a pamphlet about the Illinois State Fair. When she glanced back at the gas gauge, she saw that the needle had dropped a hair below a quarter of a tank. It caused a twinge of regret. She could hear her father start to yell at her not to tempt fate.

They stopped for gasoline at a highway interchange in the middle of farmland. Linda felt glad that the rain had tapered off to a drizzle. Okay. Let’s fill her up, she said, opening her purse to get at her checkbook and wallet, for the twenty dollars she’d withdrawn from her bank that morning. Want to contribute for the cause?

Lauren poked around in her backpack and pulled out three dollars, grinning.

She handed them over to Linda gleefully, as if she’d been giving her a check for a thousand dollars.

Linda received the dollar bills, staring at them in disbelief as they wilted onto her palm. That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?

Lauren shrugged. Hey, it’s four gallons. It would get us all the way there, almost, right? Your car’s a stick. It gets good gas mileage, right?

Not that good. What happened to that money you had last weekend? When you talked me into going on this little jaunt?

Lauren glanced down at her feet, lifting them off the floorboard, wriggling her toes in huaraches so brand new they squeaked. She laughed.

Aw, shit! Linda said, wondering why she hadn’t noticed the new shoes until just then. You’re incredible. I can see you when you’re married. ‘I’m sorry, kids. There’s no dinner tonight. I had to buy myself a new outfit.’

Kids?I’m not going to have kids. Get all fat like my older sister did? No way!

Inside, Linda and Lauren paid for ten dollars of gasoline. Can you at least buy a map? Linda asked, indicating a rack with maps priced at one dollar.

I could, Lauren said. She looked down. But then I’d only have three dollars.

Four dollars? Linda exclaimed, blatantly unaware of the impression she was making on the middle-eastern cashier. You only brought eight dollars? What about food?

We don’t have to worry about that. My cousins are gonna feed us. Probably get us drunk and high, too. She winked at the male cashier.

Back in the car, Linda unfolded the map and studied it, tracing out the route to Cincinnati using one of her highlighting pens from lecture classes from school. There were only two turns, just as Lauren had said.

You’re such a girl scout, Lauren said, shaking her head.

So? Linda tossed the opened map onto Lauren’s thighs. She punched down the clutch and started the car.

Later, at a town called Santa Claus, Indiana, Lauren noticed signs for restaurants. She said for two dollars they could each get burgers, fries, and a soda. We don’t even have to get out of the car, she added. They make it so you can just drive up to the side and get your food from a window.

Linda couldn’t believe it until a brightly uniformed teenager younger than them emerged from a window on the other side of the eatery, took their money and handed over their sodas and a bag with burgers and fries. What will they think of next? It’s just like my fifth grade social studies teacher said. By the 2000’s we’ll be big fat blobs with little arms and legs because we won’t have to do anything.

Not me, Lauren said. My legs are the second-best part of me. She tugged on her tight knit blouse to reveal an inch more of cleavage.

Slut, Linda said.

They sang more Led Zeppelin songs during the next leg of the trip, which took them across the Ohio River and into Louisville. Only an hour and a half more to Cincinnati. You remember how to get to your cousin’s house, right? Dusk approached.

Lauren shook her head. We’re meeting them at the Coliseum, she said. They wanted to get there early, to try to get a good seat.

Get a good seat? What? Don’t these tickets have seat numbers on them?

No. Jeannie and Greg said that when the doors open, everybody just runs to find the best seat they can, until the whole place fills up. They can get more people in there that way.

That’s insane! Linda said.

The anticipation of reaching their destination and seeing the spectacular concert helped the remaining miles fly by. Soon, Linda and Lauren in Myrtle the green Volkswagen putt-putted across the Ohio River and exited into a maze of side streets near the Coliseum. With a sinking sense of dread, Linda saw droves of people their age filling the sidewalks and parking lots with signs reading Park Here - $5.

Oh, this is not good, Linda murmured.

What’s wrong?

She sighed. We can't afford to pay five dollars and have gas to get home, too.

She smacked herself on the forehead lightly with the heel of her palm. I can’t believe we didn’t think of that before.

No problem, Lauren said, waving a hand dismissively. Greg said we can park by the river for free.

After a few more turns and a scoot beneath an overpass, they arrived at a cobblestone paved area that curved downward to the river. Other cars streamed into there, and Linda found a space beside a dingy van that belched smoke. As they got out of the car and locked it, Lauren glanced at the gray waters of the Ohio, just a scant few yards beyond. "This isn’t by the river. It’s on the river."

Lauren grabbed her arm and led her toward the wall opening and the sidewalk outside.

Don’t be such a worrywart, she said. They blended into the swarms of people walking toward the coliseum but Linda could not help but look back toward the river and the cobblestones. She imagined the river rising and sweeping away Myrtle, carrying her down toward Louisville.

Though daylight savings time had arrived the weekend before the day was quickly fading into violet night and all the streetlights had tripped on. Linda looked down at her watch and saw that it read six o’clock. The trip took just under six hours, the way she thought it would. I can’t believe how late we are, Lauren said, as she sped up. We’re supposed to meet them at the top of the stairs over there. She pointed straight ahead.

Linda was going to open her mouth and say We’re not late, but then looked across the street at a tall bank building. A bright sign jutting out from the corner read 7:02, and she realized what happened. As she scampered along after Lauren she said We forgot about the time change.

Yeah, no shit, Sherlock, Lauren replied, as she weaved her way past the crowds.

Until then the tall buildings along the river had blocked their view of the coliseum. When they made it to the open area surrounding the arena, Linda gasped at the massive crowd gathered on the concourse all around the building. It reminded her of educational movies she’d seen about beehives during elementary school.

A long, wide wooden stairway led to the concourse, the place where they would meet Lauren’s cousins. There they are! Lauren said, jumping up and down.

Linda looked up at a two guys and a girl she recognized from the photo albums Lauren showed her. Greg was a stocky, sturdily built guy with a scruffy, round face and a wide grin. Lauren’s other cousin Jeannie had fire-red hair, fair skin and green eyes. When Linda and Lauren reached them, she saw that Jeannie also had a light dusting of cinnamon freckles across her face. A much taller guy towered over them, with an angular face and coiffed, rock star hair and a goatee that looked out of place with the military jacket he wore. You’re just in time, Jeannie spoke, raising her melodic voice above the buzzing of the anticipant crowd. The doors are gonna open in ten more minutes.

This is my roommate Linda, Lauren said, as she tapped Linda’s shoulder. Greg and Jeannie reached forward and shook hands with her.

Jeannie said And you guys haven’t met Seth yet.

The tall guy in the military coat gleefully smiled and reached down for Lauren’s hand, kissing it, while Lauren giggled. Linda assumed that she would be ignored or at best receive a cursory hello from the charming guy but this time she was wrong. Seth turned toward her and also reached down for her hand taking it and kissing it with the same smooth continental flair.

Maybe he likes dumpy dishwater blondes, she thought.

We gotta get in there, Greg said, indicating with his thumb toward the doors. He and Seth led the way as they strode aggressively toward the throngs of people surrounding the coliseum doors. As they moved deeper and deeper into the crowd and Linda felt bodies press up against her, she instinctively breathed in. Lauren, who was a few inches taller, stood beside her, stretching on tiptoe to see above the shoulders beside them.

Suddenly some people in the crowd began to chant Zeppelin! Zeppelin! as people pushed on Linda from all sides. She realized that if she lifted her feet, she could be carried around by the force of the crowd. The air around them smelled of stale beer, whiskey, tobacco smoke and smoke of another kind that she recognized from dorm hallways. Waves of nausea blurred her vision. She felt lightheaded.

Lauren looked down at her and laughed. As far as Linda could tell, her friend stood her ground, pushing back against the crowd. What’s wrong with you? Are you gonna barf or something?

I can’t believe this! Linda was able to wheeze out through her constricted chest. Is this how they always do concerts? Someone’s going to get killed!

Lauren stretched on tiptoe and gazed ahead of them. I can see them! They’re getting ready to open the doors! The crowd around them let out a hearty, expectant cheer, as if it had been a football game and their team had thrown a long bomb for the winning touchdown.

Hold on! someone shouted and Linda heard a series of mechanical clunks and thunks. The crowd violently pushed forward, carrying Linda with it. Whistles sounded as voices whooped with delight and the crowd surge shoved through the opened doors. Linda wanted to close her eyes and will herself to the point in time where it would all be over, but she dared not. Lauren had shoved ahead of her, causing Linda to panic, lunge forward and grab her arm. A loud crack like a rifle shot sounded and glass tinkled, followed by a young woman’s scream. Linda’s blood ran cold.

Up ahead she could see the door frame forming a bottleneck for the swarming crowds streaming through it. From behind someone pushed her and she got thrust the last several feet through the doorway and inside the coliseum. As bodies shoved and spilled into the building they reached a line of orange vested coliseum ushers frantically ripping tickets and shepherding people through. Linda bent over and let out a deep sigh of relief, jostled this way and that by people running beside her. Someone held her across her shoulders. Lauren spoke: Are we all here? Good! Let’s run down there and get some good seats.

Linda reached into her squashed purse for her ticket. When she looked up, she saw two people a short distance away shielding a third. With horror, she also saw blood on the concrete. She shouted Oh my god, and ran to the three people. Lauren and Jeannie called after her. Linda found a girl with crazed eyes sobbing as blood poured out of a wound on her face, matting her brown hair against it. Her two friends standing above her frantically rubbed her shoulders, trying to calm her. Linda sunk down to her knees and wedged between them, reaching the injured girl, murmuring It’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay.

She reached forward and pushed back a few locks of the girl’s hair, wincing when she saw an ugly gash running alongside her cheekbone, oozing blood. Linda shouted We need help here! while her mind raced through what could be done for the poor girl. She’d only candy-striped before, on a med surg ward at County Regional, helping nurses with dressing changes. At school she’d just completed her freshman year, with introductory courses in Biology and Psychology. At the pool during the summer she’d taken a group class in First Aid, but the girl clearly didn’t need CPR. Somebody get behind her, Linda said. Keep her head up.

An angry male voice behind them said Clear the way people! Clear the way! and Linda sighed with relief when she saw two blue uniformed paramedics rushing to the injured girl’s aid.

Lauren yanked Linda by the arm. Come on! She dragged Linda along toward Seth and her cousins. When Linda turned to join them she heard the crackle and squawk of voices on walkie-talkies. They all got their tickets ripped by the ushers and ran out into the corridor to find an entrance to the arena seating.

Wow, are you okay? Seth said, patting Linda on the shoulder as they walked briskly along. He reached down and took her hand and Linda leaned in toward him as they ran along.

Together they skipped down steps of the arena’s first level of seating and Linda realized that they were all headed to the rapidly filling floor.

Where are we going? she asked, still feeling light-headed and faint, especially after witnessing the spectacle near the front door.

To the floor, baby! Greg said. I wanna get close enough to see the reds of their eyes.

They all found a spot in the center of the floor, near a platform containing spotlights and electronic consoles. I can’t believe what happened to that girl, Linda kept saying. She, Lauren and Jeannie sat on the floor, yoga style, while the men stood above them.

Greg said Aw, she’ll be fine. Guys like girls with a scar. Besides, I’ve got just the thing to take your mind off it. He reached inside his jacket pocket and withdrew a folded clear plastic bag with green grains in it.

Oh I don’t do that, Linda said, pushing her hands toward Greg in a shunning gesture.

Are you sure? Seth said. You’d be the only straight one in here.

Lauren poked Linda on the arm. You do so do it. Remember in the cafeteria? With the hash under the glass? And the bong?

It was true. At several parties they’d attended during the year Linda tried grass. She mostly wanted to see what all the fuss was about. She'd gagged on the harsh smoke, then giggled a lot before falling asleep Here, in this scary coliseum with the nightmarish happenings, she wanted to keep awake and alert I have to drive later. I don’t think I should.

Aw, just a little won’t hurt, Greg persisted.

We’ll see.

Seth carried a small contraption that looked like a skinny radio. With the precision of a chemist, he placed a small white paper along some fabric rollers and dropped grains from Greg’s stash onto it. He twisted a couple of knobs on the side of it and moments later produced a perfectly rolled cigarette, a joint. Greg took the joint from Seth and lit it, smiling pleasantly as the coal ember on the end of it glowed when he inhaled.

Seth immediately began work on a second joint, painstakingly dropping the grains inside the machine and twisting the knobs. The first joint was passed from Greg, to Jeannie and then to Lauren, who held it out in front of Linda. No, I really don’t think so, Linda said, accepting the joint and passing it on to Greg.

Her four friends had begun to talk silly, as if they’d inhaled laughing gas at the dentist’s office. She gazed around at her surroundings, noticing a haze in the air, drifting up toward the catwalks and rafters above. Jazzy music with heavy guitar played on the arena sound system and a beach ball bounced around from section to section. When the floor had filled with kids like them, the seats in the first two tiers quickly began to fill up. To Linda it looked like an ever-changing kaleidoscope.

Lauren, who sat beside her, at one point drew in hard on a joint and turned to Linda, blowing the smoke out at her. Linda laughed, waving the smoke away.

Loosen up! Lauren said. We’re gonna see Led Zeppelin! She excitedly grabbed Linda by her shoulders and shook her as she bounced up and down. As if the arena director had been acting on Lauren’s cue, the lights dimmed. Thousands of people inside the building let out a thunderous victory cheer as everyone around them sprang to their feet. A giant metal ball Linda had seen on the stage loomed toward them, not rolling, but moving forward as though it had been on tracks. Neon hued spotlights shined on it.

A public address announcer’s voiced boomed from the loudspeakers: Ladies and Gentlemen! Coming to you all the way from the Carpathian mountains, will you give a warm welcome for the death-defying Kasparovs!

What the hell is this shit? Greg shouted.

A loud buzzing came through the speakers and Linda saw two men in glittery costumes ride flashing motorcycles across the stage. A woman with her blond hair pulled into a high, glamorous ponytail strutted toward the center. She wore a glittering high-cut maillot magician’s assistant outfit, high heels and glittery hose. Something shimmered and flashed in her hand as she lifted it above her head and flourished with it, pointing the guys criss-crossing each other on the stage floor.

A trap door opened on the giant metal ball and one motorcycle aimed toward it.

The wheels leaped inside the ball, where the rider guided it in circles inside, riding sideways and upside down. That brought oohs and aahs from the crowd. The second motorcycle entered the trap door and Lauren shrieked. No way! Those guys are going to crash into each other. Seth waved a hand dismissively at the motorcycle riders. I could do that! That ain't nothing."

Linda stood up with everyone else. She’d never heard of a concert beginning with a daredevil act before. A pink poodle suddenly appeared onstage. Linda wondered if she was hallucinating, if she’d inhaled so much pot smoke that she’d gotten stoned herself. At the spangled lady’s command, the poodle stood on its hind legs and jumped through the silver hoop while the men continued to ride the motorcycles around inside the metal ball.

The crowd soon tired of watching the lady with the dog. The motorcycles had escaped from the metal ball. People started to chant Zeppelin! Zeppelin! The neon lights turned off and the entire area went dark. Little flickers of light illuminated the sea of people on the floor.

The sparkles extended up the rows of seats to the metal rafters overhead. Lauren, Jeannie, Seth and Greg had joined in by flicking their lighters into flame and holding their arms high. Music started to play, but it sounded different from the rock and roll that had played on the system minutes before. Linda recognized strains of classical violin and majestic cymbals as, in front of them, the stage took on an eerie, bright pink aura. The large metal ball had receded backstage behind black curtains.

Linda strained on tiptoe to watch drums and guitars float forward from backstage, in the shadows. Greg had lifted Lauren onto his shoulders and she shrieked and whooped with the other jubilant people around them. Someone poked Linda on her arm and when she turned she saw Seth's pleasantly grinning face. Hey doll, he said. Wanna get a better view?

He lowered himself down for her.

Oh, no, I couldn’t, Linda said, envisioning Seth crumpling over from the strain on his back.

Jeannie egged her on, nudging her toward Seth Go ahead! Do it!

Nervously, Linda lifted her leg and looped it around Seth’s neck, feeling as if she was going on some type of wild horse ride. He lifted her onto his shoulders with swift ease, as if she’d been a little rag doll. Lauren turned toward her and at first laughed, but then shouted out Woo-hoo! giving Linda a high-five.

Onstage a few shadowy figures loomed about, racing here and there and the sound system emitted a few squeaks and squawks. Moments later a spotlight flicked on and raucous, rapid guitar notes filled the air. Jimmy Page, with his long, wavy black hair and shimmering, glittering guitar, picked the notes into the air. He smiled broadly, his eyes puffy slits as if he’d been joining in on a long smoking session backstage. Linda could barely hear: the crowd started cheering so loudly they drowned all of the notes out. She knew she should also hear the crashing drums and cymbals, yet only screams and cheers reverberated through her ears.

A spotlight shone down on Robert Plant. He stood toward the front of the stage, draped in a long, flowing, glittery crimson garment, looking like a warrior angel. Through all the cheering and screaming, Linda could still Somehow, Linda could hear the first words he sang: I had a dream. Crazy dream… She clapped her hands, giddily recognizing a song she and Lauren had sung on the trip over: The Song Remains the Same. She lost herself in the music, gleefully bouncing up and down like the other girls perched on guys’ shoulders.

When the song ended, Robert Plant smiled and said Good evening!

The crowd responded in unison, roaring back to him. Linda got jostled a little, sensing that Seth was staggering beneath her. She could hear him laugh, but all at once she felt horrified. She wondered if she was crushing him. Onstage, Led Zeppelin had already started into another song. Linda reached down to tap Seth on the shoulder. She looked down and shouted I want to come down, now!

Seth looked up and said What?

Linda repeated Let me down! Please.

It’s okay. Stay up there!

No, I want to come down. She started to lean forward enough that Seth had no choice other than to lower down and let her dismount. When she hopped off his shoulders she turned to thank him.

You could have stayed up there, honey, he said. I was doing fine.

She cupped her hands to shout directly into his ear. I was getting dizzy.

This he seemed to accept, as he leaned away from her and said Oh.

For the rest of the concert, Linda stayed grounded with the other people cheering and shrieking with delight as Led Zeppelin played song after song, many of which Linda did not recognize. Around them, young men’s voices shouted out Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven. For the next few songs, she tried to stand with the rest of them and sway to the music, dancing along with them but instead, she felt a gathering sense of dread. She remembered the struggle, the broken glass and the girl with the gash on her face, bleeding onto the concrete.

She also remembered that they would be staying in a strange house that night, in a strange bed, and that the next day they would have to drive the six hours back to school. At the very moment she was having these thoughts, onstage, Robert Plant said Does anyone remember laughter? causing another cheer to erupt from the crowd.

Soon, her feet ached. She needed to sit down and found a place near the edge of the platform, where she lowered down to rest against it, alone. From that angle she could look up and see everyone completely focused on the performers in front of them, lifted up in rapture as though they were witnessing a great spiritual miracle. They were only people, though: four guys from England who knew how to play musical instruments well.

Lauren soon noticed her. She lowered herself down onto her haunches and cupped her hands to shout to Linda. Are you okay?

Yes, I’m fine.

Well what are you doing down here?

Linda shrugged. Sitting.

Lauren paused to consider that for a moment. You’re missing it!

When Linda felt she had rested herself well enough, had contemplated her navel for a long enough time, she lifted herself back upward to re-join her friends. She blanched at the strange sight of Robert Plant playing a harmonica, until she recognized the song When the Levee Breaks from the fourth album. The band did other things she and the thousands of others did not expect. All four of them, even the drummer, picked up folksy acoustic guitars and then sat together on a bench at the front of the stage playing a dreamy guitar number.

Just a couple of more songs later, the band left the stage. People