Paul Got Back

Sir Paul came to Chicago for my birthday. It was a magic night and I'm so glad it happened, and that it happened at the United Center. Known as The House that Michael Built, the United Center replaced The Chicago Stadium back in the mid-1990s, when the Bulls were repeating and three-peating and MJ consistently proved that he was the best there ever was and the best there ever will be. 

The Chicago Stadium once stood right across the street from where The United Center is now, and it's where I first saw Paul McCartney and Wings during 1976's Wings Across America tour. That old barn is gone now, demolished. But Paul and I are still here.

Almost 50 years ago, I was a still in my teens, living in my parents' house. I was a secretary for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Sears Tower.  My parents are gone. Sears – where I made the quantum leap from clerical/time-card employee to copywriter – is gone. The Sears Tower is now known as The Willis Tower. But Paul and I are still here.

Here's the SunTimes review

Of course, Paul and I go ever further back than the bicentennial summer. February 1964, I fell in love with him as he sang "All My Loving" on The Ed Sullivan Show. My mother recalled me saying, "He's so pretty it hurts." Those eyes, that voice! He was this six-year-old girl's perfect image of a romantic troubadour. He remains that today.

Paul played to 23,500 people, and I bet just about every one of us felt an emotional connection to him. I was sitting next to a woman of my age who brought her 80-something mother to the concert because the older woman was "giving up." Mom was moving less, going out less. The daughter (a mere 65!) hoped that seeing 83-year-old Paul perform for three hours without a break would inspire her mother to become more active and engage more with the world. In turn, she oohed and aahed over a photo of my darling little grandniece Violet wearing her Yellow Submarine bib. I was sitting in front of two twenty-something girls (sisters, perhaps?) dancing around in crop tops that revealed impossibly toned tummies. I thought, "I had a tummy like that once as I danced to these very songs."

At the end of the concert, Paul and his bandmates came out waving four flags: The stars and stripes, the Union Jack, the Illinois state flag, and the Rainbow Pride flag. At a time when it's become suddenly and regrettably fashionable to advocate taking civil rights away from gay Americans, I appreciated Paul using his influence for good.

It must be wonderful to be Paul McCartney. To bring all that music, all those memories, all that iconography, all that love wherever you go. 

As long as he's willing to keep performing in Chicago, I'll be here. Enchanted. 

 

Thursday Thirteen #440

After the feast. I never cook, and once again for Thanksgiving this year I will be taking advantage of the prix fixe menu at a local eatery. But I'm aware that often there is leftover turkey. So as a public service, I'm cribbing referencing the list from Taste of Home. If any of these appeal to you, you'll find the complete recipe here.

 

There are 40 recipes, so I've pared it down to the ones that sound tastiest to me, and italicized the ones I'd love to taste. (I admit it: I like turkey.)

 

1. Turkey tetrazzini

 

2. Creamy turkey soup (really, I think I'd love this one)

 

3. Turkey melt

 

4. Turkey noodle soup  

 

5. One pot Thanksgiving dinner (also looks fabulous)

 

6. Turkey shepherd's pie (yes, please)

 

7. Turkey stew with dumplings

 

8. Turkey lattice pie

 

9. Turkey macaroni bake

 

10. Turkey quesadillas with cranberry salsa (points for creativity)

 

11. Turkey pot pie

 

12. Turkey-sweet potato soup (I suspect I would either love this or hate it)

 

13. Turkey sliders

 

Do you have plans for your leftover bird? 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up

1. What are you currently reading? Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. I got this book for Christmas 2017 from my dear friend Henry. It was the last holiday we spent together before his accident changed everything. For a long time I couldn't pick it up, but now it's time.

 

If you saw the recent Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me from Nowhere, or heard Bruce talk about his dad during one of his concerts, you know their relationship with difficult and complicated. Now I understand that's only the tip of the ice berg. The Springsteens were at times a multi-generational household, and his grandmother made everything darker. It was a lot for a little boy to handle. He tells the story with tremendous compassion – he's very "everyone was doing the best they could" about it. But still, I want to give young Bruce a hug and reassure him.

 

Because it's so intense, I'm not consuming it in greedy gulps, the way I expected to. I hope to get it done by year-end, but I'm not sure I will.

  

2. What did you recently finish reading? Miami, It's Murder by Edna Buchanan. This was a very gritty book. Our heroine, Britt Montero, is a reporter on the crime beat for a major Miami newspaper. Set in the 1990s, newspapers were thriving and well-funded and always competing to get to the crime scene first, before the TV cameras arrive.

 

So Britt finds her plate reportorial full with a serial rapist and a cold case that may involve the current front runner for governor. Both stories are compelling and it's natural that she be at the center. Buchanan makes Miami feel like a very real place and at times I really did smell the sea air and develop a craving for a Cuban pork sandwich like Britt prefers.

 

But it was a little too intense for me. I would have preferred more attention on the plotting – which was very good – and a little less on the "action." The final plot twist caught me by surprise, and I appreciated it, but it could have been resolved more realistically and perhaps more impactfully without all that violence to distract me.

3. What will you read next?  Something Christmas-y.

 

  

Happy Birthday to Me, Parts 4 & 5

The Main Event. My friend Joanna really came through on my actual birthday, and I am so grateful. I admit that my birthday has been a day that leaves me emotional since I lost Henry and John. For decades they – like my mom and my oldest friend – were the ones who fussed over me the most. When you share a birthday with a national holiday, like me with Thanksgiving, friends tend to say things like, "Let's do something after the holiday." As an adult, it's hard not to sound petulant when you insist, "NO! I want to tear paper off a giftie on my special day!" Yet it's true. On the actual day, I want to feel special and celebrated. If I don't have that, I'm afraid I feel bad and lonely.

Enter Joanna. She started planning my birthday in October, when she got back from her month-long holiday in London. I know she has had severe financial/business woes, so when she first brought up the topic, I suggested inexpensive options. "No," she insisted, "that's not good enough for your birthday." And she kept reiterating – Saturday, November 22. She said she wanted to celebrate me on my birthday (so important). 

It began at the Cultural Center. If you ever visit Chicago, be sure to swing by. It used to be the Chicago Public Library and it is impressive, with a shiny spiral staircase and a Tiffany glass dome. There are always free art exhibits and, since it's right across the street from Millennium Park, lots of good places to eat.

So I was excited started my special day with a one-performance-only play – Siskel & Ebert at 50. The two Chicago movie critics who became national figures and shaped film-going for 25 years got their start here on our PBS station in 1975. Before the play, a live band played their original theme, Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag," and afterward, both of their widows told stories. Since Joanna and I are both film lovers and met at through out movie group, this was perfect (and free!).

Original artwork created for this performance

 

Then we went to The Walnut Room for a late lunch/early dinner. Can't put too fine a point on what a big deal this is as Christmastime here. We had their famous chicken pot pie for lunch and then split a slice of Frango Mint pie for dessert. (Where better to enjoy Frango Mints than where they were introduced?) Here's a shot of the beautiful Walnut Room tree, this year a salute to Marshall Field's. Joanna and I posed in front of it as a waiter patiently took our photo (we were probably the 2000th customers he did this for).

 

While I enjoyed our meal, I felt a little bad about it because I know Joanna is cash strapped. But this was her choice. She was very proud that she managed to get us a table. I appreciate that she wanted to make my day special. She also gave me a Beanie Baby – a white angel bear. It's a collector's item. She wants me to have it. That's the important thing.

The Final Act. Last week I was surprised to get a text from my former co-worker. I haven't heard from her in forever! She said she and her husband wanted to come out to my neck of the woods to celebrate my birthday. I was so touched that she remembered. So yesterday, the day after my special day with Joanna, we had a lovely lunch at Cooper's Hawk, a restaurant we all like (even though only her husband had wine).

 

My birthday these days isn't the same as it was a decade ago. I miss my mother fussing over me, I miss John wanting to party down, I miss my oldest friend wanting to take me to lunch and then start our Christmas shopping, I miss Henry telling me how much I would always mean to him.

But it's not without joys. I savor them.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Revisiting Steph

1) Has anyone ever told you "I love you" but you didn't say it back? No. I always say it back. Even if I don't mean it. I know that's not right, but I can't stand to see a person feeling embarrassed or vulnerable, so I blurt it out.

 

2) Do you consider yourself organized? Not fucking remotely.

 

3) Where do you look first when you go clothes shopping? ThredUp.

4) Do you often reflect on your past in terms of eras or milestones ("it's been 10 years since X happened")? Yes. I'm often like, "When was that? After the World Series but before covid." The 2016 Cubs and the pandemic seem to be the big markers for me.

 

 

 

5) Were you more recently ill or injured (flu vs. twisted ankle)? Injured. I suffered a pinched nerve in September.

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: The Lady in Red (1986)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) Is red a color you often wear? No. I was a redhead for decades and avoided reds and yellows. I am slowly allowing red and pink back into my closet. Yellow still leaves me looking a bit sickly.

 

2) In this song, Chris De Burgh is thrilled to be dancing with the woman he loves. Do you recall what was playing the last time you stepped onto the dance floor? The Beatles "Twist and Shout."

 

3) Chris says he wrote this song about the first time he saw his future wife, who wore a red dress when she came to see his band perform. Tell us about a memorable concert going experience. I'm making another concert memory on Monday when I see Paul McCartney! I just found out that my friend Mindy and her husband are going, too, and sitting in the same section as I am, just six rows behind me. The United Center seats 23,500 – what are the odds that Mindy would just happen to be sitting so close?

 

But to answer the question at hand: I've seen Sir Paul at Lollapalloza, Soldier Field, the late Chicago Stadium and Wrigley Field. All were outstanding, but my favorite would be have to be Wrigley. Not only is that ballpark one of baseball's great cathedrals and the home of my Chicago Cubs, Paul's timing was exquisite. I was in the midst of a cancer scare, awaiting major surgery so organs could be biopsied. I was terrified. At this moment, my knight arrived! It meant the world to me. PS Everything was benign, thank God.

 

From August 2011

4) Chris' father worked as a diplomat for the United Kingdom. Former US ambassador Robert D. Blackwill believes a diplomat should possess strong writing/speaking skills, meticulous attention to detail, historical knowledge, and stamina. Do you have any of those attributes? I write and speak well. Which is not to say I would make a good diplomat. I think I'd be terrible at it.

 

5) Chris' family owns Bargy Castle, a 15th century fortress in County Wexford, Ireland. Bargy Castle has been converted into a hotel. What's the last hotel you stayed in? The Holiday Inn near the Grand Rapids Airport. It was my second stay there and I can see it becoming something of a home-away-from for me as it is so convenient to my niece, her husband and their new baby. My niece has graciously invited to stay at their home but I'm comfortable at the Holiday Inn. She's a working mom with a new baby! She doesn't need to get her home ready for guests. I just want to sit, talk to her and her husband, and look at that adorable baby. I'm just as happy to sleep at the Holiday Inn.

 

6) Chris is a wine connoisseur who sold a collection of vintage reds for over $500,000. If you suddenly came into $500,000, what would you do with it? My fantasy would be to move into a small apartment on a short-term lease and then, while my condo is empty, renovate it. I need new floors and that's so hard to do when I'm living in here with all my furniture and other stuff. If there's money left over, I would pay down my mortgage. That would free up cash every month for me to do good.

 

7) In 1986, when this song was popular, singer/actress Lady Gaga was born in Manhattan. Have you been to New York City? Yes, but not for decades. I should go back. I found New York exhilerating.

 
8) Also in 1986, NHL Hall of Famer Jacques Plante died. Are you a hockey fan? I used to be, but not anymore. I appreciate baseball so much more.

 

9) Random question – You just slid behind the wheel and are about to embark on a long road trip. Which of these famous Williams would you choose as your navigator: Willie Nelson, Bill Murray, or William, Prince of Wales? First of all, I don't drive so I'd need my William to drive. I don't want Willie Nelson driving. He's 92 years old. I adore Bill Murray – he cracks me up and we're both Cub fans. But I'm afraid over a long trip I'd learn we aren't just naturally besties and that would make me sad. So I shall choose Prince William. I'd love to hear about his life and besides, he'd have a protection officer in the car behind us, so we wouldn't have to worry about getting lost or running out of gas.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Me, Part #3

More gifts came in the mail! First was the lemon-scented Yankee Candle. I suspect that was from my Cousin Rose, but there was no note so I'm not 100% sure. While I appreciate the thought and like the scent, this will be a regift. Candles just aren't safe here with my feline roommates.

Speaking of cats, I got a page-a-day cat trivia calendar. I suspect this is from my oldest friend, but again, no note. There was a time when she and I exchanged page-a-day calendars every year, so I really hope she did choose this for me. It would mean a welcome return to normal as she battles bipolar disorder. (But she's not answering my texts, so I wonder if her mood downshifted between when she picked the gift and its arrival.)

Then there's the personalized water bottle from Mme. Snarky Pants. How perfect is this? OK, so the one she sent is ginormous and my name is not Melissa, but you get the idea. It's especially fitting because of something that happened to me at work yesterday. I was in the storage room, searching for an empty carton to store the unsold Halloween merchandise. ZAP! I solved the mystery I've been reading. All the pieces just snapped into place. So clearly while my body was at the card shop, my attention was really on the case in 1990s Miami with fictional crime reporter Britt Montero. This mug just reinforces that Snarky "gets" me. 

Birthdays and holidays have been hard since John and Henry died. I'm glad – I'm lucky! – I have people who still fuss over me.

 

Religion and legislation

A young (20something) man in my movie group is a devout Jew. In addition to movies, we both follow baseball* and politics. He has educated me on what his religion has taught him about the LGBTQ community, explaining Jews are called to "acknowledge the sacredness of every human being and rededicate ourselves to creating a world where every person can live with dignity, safety, and pride." 

His rabbi has told him that abortion must be seen not in absolute terms but reviewed on a case-by-case basis. My friends Nancy and Mindy, also Jews but of my generation, have said that they were taught once a fetus is born, it's a baby. Until birth, the mother's life and decisions are honored.

The First Amendment states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ensuring the right to practice any religion or none at all. 

You know where I'm going with this: Why does the Religious Right feel it can/should pass laws that go against the sincere beliefs of other established religions? What about the rights of Americans who don't believe in God at all? Why is this group so willing to celebrate the Constitution yet so eager to blur or downright ignore the separation between Church and State?

At a time when Tucker Carlson is comfortable giving Nick Fuentes a platform, and Donald Trump defends Tucker for this – while demanding Jimmy Kimmel be taken off the air – this looks darker and darker. 

America should belong to all of us. Our tent should be big enough for everyone. As a Christian, I have no problem with inclusion. After all, my faith has taught me about love and activism. If I believe abortion should be rare – and I do – that's what sex education is for. That's what adoption advocacy is for. That's not what legislation is for. 

Apparently Catholics are the wrong kind of Christians in Trump's America, too. Immigrants being held here in Chicagoland are not only deprived of due process, they are not allowed to take communion. Convicted prisoners on death row get to observe their faith, but not detainees here. Maybe I'm wrong about this. Perhaps it's easy to ignore the human rights of people who have yet to be found guilty of anything not because they are Catholic but because they aren't white. Either way, I find this chilling. And more than a little hypocritical. 

I also am not for telling consenting adults what they should be able to do in the privacy of their bedrooms. Denying tax-paying gays the legal rights that come with marriage? How can that possibly be fair? What's next? Denying gays jury trials because you don't like their lifestyle? Maybe transsexuals should no longer be allowed to vote because some (by all means not all) Christians don't "approve."

To me, this is the scariest thing about MAGA: It's made us comfortable with intolerance from people who claim patriotism, but aren't willing to live it. We're complacent and don't see where we're headed. As my late friend John liked to say, "People living in Berlin before the war didn't know they were living in Berlin before the war." Of course, he was gay, so why should we listen to him?

 

*He and I disagree on the AL MVP, though. Fond as I am of Aaron Judge, I'm just in awe of what Cal Raleigh was able to accomplish with his bat this year while playing more than 120 games as catcher. What a player!

Thursday Thirteen #439

 

 

Thanksgiving pantry items. The big grocery store in my community is encouraging us all to shop now and make sure we have the pantry staples needed to create a turkey day feast. Here are the top 13, in order of popularity ... 

1. Stove Top Stuffing

2. Heinz HomeStyle Turkey Gravy (12 oz. jar)

3. Idaho Buttery Homestyle Potatoes (4 oz. packet)

4. Morton Coarse Kosher Salt

5. Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce

6. French's Original Crispy Fried Onions

7. Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup 

8. Store brand French cut green beans

9. Swanson Chicken Broth (32 oz. carton)

10. Dole Pineapple Slices (20 oz. can)

11. McCormick Brown Gravy Mix (.87 oz. packet)

12. Store brand steam-in-bag mixed vegetables (12 oz.)

13. Store brand ground cinnamon 

Are any of these items on your grocery list? 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

A welcome addition

I like having a medical team, a group of pros who I like and trust and, just as importantly, are willing to communicate and coordinate with one another. Chiropractor, dentist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, oral surgeon, orthopedist, shrink, urologist ... I look to them to advise me and help keep me healthy. 

But just before Easter, I lost my QB. My primary care physician left to join a practice about a half hour away. I was bereft. All those specialists I listed above – I can walk to their offices. This is very important to me. Yes, I adored her because she got me through covid and communicated so freely with the specialists, making sure my care was coordinated and right for my whole body. But I don't drive, and coordinating a rideshare or public transportation is too unreliable for when I'm not feeling good. I want care as close to home as possible.

All these months later, I finally have a replacement! I met a nurse practitioner who is willing to slip into the role. She's on a first-name basis with my orthopedist and is in the same practice as my urologist. When I asked her if she would review pain meds and antibiotics before major dental procedures, she said, "of course." Like it was no big deal!

Her office is in the local hospital. An easy ride on the bus or a 20 minute walk (it took longer yesterday because I stopped for a hot dog on the way back). 

She called in my prescription refills and said she wants to see me in January – new insurance year – to do blood work. Now I can have the mammogram and urine test I'd been putting off until I had a PCP.

Phew. I have a QB. I like her. Now my team is complete and I am so relieved.

Photo by mahdi chaghari on Unsplash 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up

1. What are you currently reading? Miami, It's Murder by Edna Buchanan. Britt Montero is a dedicated crime reporter in 1990s Miami. It's summer in the city and she has plenty to do. There's the bandit with body odor who is robbing banks. There's the rapist who stalks white color women in major office buildings. And there's little Mary Beth. She was raped and murdered 20 years ago and her case is still unsolved. Britt wants to see justice finally done.

 

I like Britt and her best bud, a photographer named Lottie. That's important in a series like this, which is too dark to be called "cozy."

2. What did you recently finish reading? Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie. I am a Royal Watcher, but have always found Andrew and Fergie among the least interesting. This book shows that there is a story here that needs to be told. It's sad and ugly, but it was worth reading.

 

They're both depressing figures. She's "needy and greedy," a damaged woman with few coping skills who was easily seduced wealth and attention. He's worse: not bright, not talented, and a moral vacuum. Unlike the other "spares" I've read about – second born heirs to the throne who find themselves displaced as soon as their nephews were born – Andrew seems to be a uniquely empty vessel. Troubled though they seemed, Princess Margaret and Prince Harry displayed greater substance. Margaret honestly loved her sister and mother and was extremely loyal. Harry wants to be true to his mother's legacy and do good. But Andrew? He seems to want to golf and get laid.

 

Yes, there's a lot of Epstein here. It was illuminating to see how he operated. Not everyone ensnared in his web was a sex offender. They all do seem to have been, like Sarah, vulnerable to blackmail. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but there seems to be plenty of evidence that Epstein had ties to intelligence all over the world. Perhaps Congress should look into that, as well into whatever the hell it is that Donald Trump so desperately wants to keep hidden. 

3. What will you read next?  Something lighter. 

 

  

Fan mail!

I got into the store yesterday and found a little red envelope, addressed to me, stuck to the message board with a magnet.

 

I got fan mail! A thank you note from Lynn, a woman who came into the card shop last week in distress. Every year her company holds a very early holiday party and nesting dolls are at the center. She forgot, simply forgot, to order the nesting dolls and now there was simply no time, not even for Amazon. 

I unfortunately had to tell her we had no nesting dolls. She looked like I'd broken her heart.

So I made a suggestion: What if we nested gift boxes inside of bigger gift boxes? It wasn't a perfect plan. The boxes didn't fit as neatly as the nesting dolls would have and we could only fix it to go three deep, as opposed to the five figures in a typical nesting dolls set. 

She was thrilled. So much so that she wrote out a card and walked it over to the store, letting me know "the box game" was a hit and thanking me for my "expertise and support."

I don't think I fully realized how important gratitude makes one feel until I worked with the public at the card shop. Her little card made me so happy. It was satisfying to know I played a part in their office party. 

I must remember to pay this forward and thank people who help me at stores and restaurants.

 

 

Happy Birthday to Me, Part 2

My aunt sent me a big box of teas again this year. It's very sweet, really. Since she moved to Florida decades ago, she recalls Chicagoland as an arctic tundra and wants to help me ward off the cold. The thing of it is she sends me more than I can ever drink. So I will go through the box and what I know I won't consume, I'll either donate to the food pantry or give to Will and Gregory when we meet for Thanksgiving dinner. 

She also included a festive little Christmas pin. I mentioned on Facebook that I lost one last year and was bummed about it. Again, it was so sweet of her to remember that after all this time and act on it.

What's sad about this is how small her world has become. Like many who are MAGA (or MAGA adjacent), she just can't resist telling the rest of us how very wrong we are. And reveal what a racist homophobe she is. Her oldest son, my sisters, and her adult grandchildren are all estranged from her. She has a great grandchild she hasn't seen. She's been enduring health problems – as people knocking on 80 will – and is hurt that they don't check on her. The only Mother's Day gifts she receives anymore are from me (she's my Godmother). 

I wonder if the cold comfort she receives by "being right" about Trump is worth it. 

I prefer to focus on the fact that she's one of two people left on earth who held me as a baby. I choose to treasure that she loves me and is my last tie to my favorite grandparents.*

And I cannot wait until this MAGA fever breaks and I can celebrate my birthday without Donald Trump intruding on it!

*My grandmother never missed church and was very active in the congregation and the Girl Scouts. She was every inch a lady. My grandfather was a German immigrant who was outspoken in his support of unions and Democrats from FDR to Jimmy Carter (<<< President when he died). They would be appalled by MAGA.

 

Photo by Olena Bohovyk on Unsplash

 

Sunday Stealing

What 10 Questions Can Tell You the Most about a Person

1. If you were an animal, what animal would you be? I'd like to be a happy housecat. Not one of those unfortunate cats who lives outdoors or whose owner unwisely allows him to roam. I want to be a cat who can safely snooze wherever, demand/get affection whenever, depend on never ending quality food/water,and lead a lovely life of serene leisure.

2. Are you generous? I try to be. I want to be.

3. Of the following, which consistently gives you the most pleasure: a) music, b) money, c) books, d) science, e) spirituality, f) food and wine, g) movies? C or G. But except for D, I'm a fan of them all.

4. Describe your dancing ability. Completely non-existent. 

5. What do you think your worst enemy really thinks of you? First you'll have to tell me who my worst enemy is. There are people I know I annoy, but I don't know that their antipathy has elevated me to the role of "enemy."

6. Can you tell when someone is lying to you? Sometimes but not always.

7. Describe how it feels to fall in love. Wonder. Every time I've been in love, it's filled me with awe at the enormity and beauty of it.

8. In deadly peril, what three people would you want in a foxhole with you? First, my friend Joanna. She's been through so much and she handles it all so well. Then Officer Mike, our neighborhood beat cop. He's calm and strong. Finally, my friend Kathleen because she's very good. I mean, her heart is solid and trustworthy. 

9. What is your greatest weakness? I'm stubborn.

10. If you were to live out the rest of your life as your favorite fictional character, which would you choose? Jo from Little Women.

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Rings (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) This song is about a young man who is happy to hear his phone ring. How about you? How do you feel when your phone rings? (Excited, annoyed, surprised, etc.) Depends on which phone. Hearing my cell ring annoys me because it's either spam or a friend who doesn't recall that you should text me on one line and call on the other. I prefer the landline for conversations because the call quality is so much better. When my landline rings, I have a more positive feeling because it's likely someone I want to talk to. 

 

2) He's got James Taylor on the stereo. Are you a James Taylor fan? Yes. I don't listen to him all the time, but when I'm in the mood he hits the spot.

 

3) He tells his girl he's been hanging with his buddies, Tony and Mario, but they're no substitute for her. What friend did you recently spend time with? What did you do? I spent Thursday afternoon touring a local architectural landmark with my friend Gregory.

 

4) Tony and Mario were real people. They ran a restaurant frequented by the songwriters. Did you dine out this past week? I got pizza to go on Wednesday and dined in on Thursday.

 

5) "Rings" is the only hit for the band Cymarron, who hailed from Memphis, a town known for classic southern comfort foods like biscuits and gravy, cornbread and mashed potatoes. What's on the menu at your home this weekend? I'd like to pick up some barbecue this weekend, if I get around to it.

 

6)  The boys in Cymarron took their name from their favorite TV show, the Western Cimarron Strip. What TV show are you currently enjoying? Maybe your fellow Sat9ers would like it, too. Modern Family. Yeah, I know it had its series finale 5 years ago, but I just recently discovered it. It's not only funny, it has diversity and heart. It's the family I wish I was part of.

 

 

 

7) In 1971, when this song was popular, the US Mint introduced the Eisenhower Silver Dollar. Is there any change in your wallet or pocket right now? Yes. About 45¢ in dimes and nickels only. (I put pennies in the piggy bank and quarters in the beer stein for laundry.)

 
8) Also in 1971, Mattel introduced Malibu Barbie, the doll with a tan. Have you ever used a tanning bed? Oh, golly, I did it back in the 90s. The man I was seeing back then confessed that he found tanlines sexy and so I resolved to get me some, even though I am excruciatingly pale and don't tan. So I bought several 20 minute sessions in one of those awful things, listening to tunes and trying unsuccessfully to relax. Ah, the things we do for love!

 

9) Random question – If we were to ask your friends, which of these qualities would they say they like best about you: your warmth, your sense of humor, or your intelligence? Probably my humor. 

 

 

 

It's not the same, but it's something

I spent the afternoon with Gregory. Like me, Gregory was one of the satellites who revolved around our friend John, who has been gone for 19 months now. As much as I miss John – and I do, every day – I think the loss is even greater for Gregory. Both gay men of color, coming up through corporate America in the 1980s, they had to navigate minefields I can't even imagine, and I'm glad they had each other. 

But because John was so charismatic, and also because, I suppose, I'm lazy, I lumped Gregory in with John. I assumed they were more alike than they are. In the year-and-a-half since we lost John, I've come to discover a man I've known more than 40 years. 

For example, Gregory is far more visually attuned than John was. Whereas John was all about the tunes, Gregory enjoys art and architecture. There are impressive examples of prairie style architecture in my neighborhood and a landmark home offers guided tours.* I asked Gregory if he wanted to see it and he was very enthusiastic. As we took the tour, he photographed a lot and asked many smart questions. (The man knows his doorways!) 

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash 

 

Afterward we went to a late lunch/early dinner at the bar in my neighborhood John loved. We compared notes about how our different neighborhoods are enduring the ICE occupation. We talked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, et al. He filled me in on others in John's circle that I'd lost track of (Vanessa, at 70, is contemplating marriage for the first time to a man she met at a conference!). I told him about an incredibly trippy old movie I'd just seen – The Locket (1946) – that had a flashback within a flashback within a flashback. 

Something was missing, of course. John. But he's gone forever, and we're here and we have to go on. I like to think he'd be happy that Gregory and I still see one another.

*Free in exchange for a donation to the food pantry. What with the government shut down, the ICE raids and the suspension of SNAP benefits, the demand has suddenly increased. As we go into the holidays, I was happy to help my neighbors.