By Clare Marie Celano
Correspondent
Fans were literally “sprung from cages out on Highway 9” on Sept. 27 as they lined up inside rows of steel barriers while they waited to meet Bruce Springsteen when the Freehold Borough native came to Barnes and Noble, Route 9, Freehold Township, for a meet and greet upon the launch of his autobiography, “Born to Run.”
A day earlier, Springsteen fan Jerry Barca of Freehold Township came by the book store to scan the scene. After eyeing row upon row of barriers lining the parking lot in anticipation of 2,000 fans who were going to greet The Boss on Sept. 27, Barca echoed the words from the title track on Springsteen’s 1975 album “Born to Run.”
Barca, who is a longtime Springsteen fan, made sure he obtained a ticket that entitled him to spend a few seconds and take a photo with the singer, and to bring home a pre-purchased autographed copy of Springsteen’s memoir.
Audrey Hunn of Bucks County, Pa., is what one might call a diehard Springsteen fan. She arrived at Barnes and Noble on Sept. 25 and slept in her car for two nights and was first on line to meet Springsteen on Sept. 27.
Hunn said she has seen Springsteen in concert about 250 times. She has danced with him on stage at Madison Square Garden, had a 22-year old denim jacket with an airbrushed painting of Springsteen signed by the singer in 2010, was chosen to contribute to the fan book “My Bruce Moment” and used his music to soothe her while giving birth to her daughter 18 years ago.
Hunn said she told Springsteen at a 2010 show in Asbury Park that she had waited 22 years to get her denim jacket signed. She said he replied, “I think you’ve waited long enough.”
She said when she danced with Springsteen in New York City on Jan. 27, “I whispered in his ear that I was 52 days clean and sober and ready to come out of the darkness to dance with him. He made me promise to stay that way.”
Hunn said she came to Freehold Township to update Springsteen and to tell him she has been sober for 10 months.
She said, “His music is like the soundtrack to my life. It’s all relatable. For every major milestone in my life, good or bad, his music has taken me through it.”
Scott Geller said he has seen Springsteen perform 106 times. Geller was introduced to Springsteen’s music by a friend in 1973.
“The first Springsteen song I heard was ‘Rosalita,’ ” he said. “After that, as they say, that was all she wrote.”
“His music is visceral,” Geller said. “When I hear his music, I feel something. It gives me goosebumps. I feel the music in every fiber of my being. … His concerts are an experience that go beyond just the music. Bruce makes his fans feel special. He engages his audience. He connects with them. He’s shaking hands. He’s calling people up to dance. He is a part of them. It makes you proud to be a fan.”
Geller said his best memory is getting a Merry Christmas hug from Springsteen at a 2010 show.
Although Debbie Borden of Marlboro did not have a ticket for the Sept. 27 event, the decades-long Springsteen fan stopped by the Barnes and Noble parking lot at 2:30 a.m. Sept. 26 to check on her friend, Hunn. She returned in the afternoon to hang out with Hunn and Geller, having been to concerts with both of them.
The three friends have a strong connection to one another which they say is from Springsteen’s music.
“His music means happiness to me,” Borden said. “It has also allowed me to establish a strong connection with my younger son, Timothy. His music brings us closer.”
Borden said she has made many friends over the years through the “Bruce community.”
“It is not just his music, but how he brings people from all walks of life together though his music,” she said.