As I was driving to the Chocolate Church Arts Center for the Judy Collins concert, I found myself remembering past concerts by artists whose music and lyrics had made an indelible impression.

There are some musical artists whose impact on our soul is forever imprinted on our psyche.

Seeing Bob Dylan in 1975 in the Rolling Thunder Revue Tour is still my reigning all-time favorite, and best wedding present ever. Recalling Dylan and Joan Baez singing “Blowin’ in the Wind” together still makes my eyes well up. That was a tear-fest, believe me.

The last concert I went to in Connecticut before moving to Maine in 1988 was Crosby, Stills & Nash. As soon as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” began, the women in our merry group sang along and cried together.

Misty-eyed, I could see the Chocolate Church's marquee coming into view. I would soon be seeing “sweet” Judy Blue Eyes herself on the stage of the historic Bath venue. Stephen Stills wrote the song about Collins, during their breakup.

I had the good fortune of having been contacted by the Church's executive director the day of the show, November 22, asking if I was interested in a comp ticket that had become available for the sold out show. Thanks ever so Jennifer DeChant and board member (and fellow thespian) Thom Watson!

I was quite excited — Collins is someone I had always wanted to hear in concert and I couldn't wait to hear her exquisite voice. This evening, I knew, would be a major highlight of 2013, for me, anyway!

While I was playing with my camera settings, the two seats next to me were claimed by Pat and Joanne Oberuch. Joanne and I, unbeknownst to us at the time, would cry together later.

At 73, Collins' voice is as divine, pure and clear as it was in the 1960s. The first half of the show she played guitar, the second half, piano. She was, in short, enchanting. Between songs Collins' shared memories of her past. Here's one: in 1964 she was one of several guests at the Woodstock, N.Y. home of a record producer. Another guest was Dylan. Collins' said she was awakened in the early morning hours by unidentifiable sounds. She followed the sounds down a staircase and found herself outside Dylan's door. She sat down and listened for a couple of hours as he wrote “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

After a few minutes of silence in honor of the late President John F. Kennedy, Collins' shared her experience as an invited performer in the “JFK 50: The Homecoming.” The event, held in late June of 2013 in New Hope, Ireland, commemorated Kennedy's trip there a few months before he was assassinated.

Collins' sang a few Jimmy Webb tunes, “The Moon's A Harsh Mistress” and “Campo de Encino.” She had Joanne and I crying during “In the Twilight,” written about her mother, Marjorie, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

“Her memories chase her down the days of childhood ...”

“She's a lady and she doesn't know my name now ...”

“She sees her garden growing wild ...”

“And she's gone just like the flowers in her garden ...”

Collins' lyrics are contemplative, paint great visuals, and are entrancing. I could've listened to her sing for much longer than the two hours that evening in Bath.

For her sole encore, sung a cappella, Collins' invited us to join her in singing “Amazing Grace.”

Amazing Judy Blue Eyes.

Amazing evening.

Cue the waterworks ...