Dear Friends,
I have no idea what the title of today’s blog means, but it seemed like a good idea when I typed it a minute ago. “I might like it” is ambiguous enough to mean anything, I suppose. I should just go with it.
Last night we had a birthday dinner for Liam at Pomo with his sisters and my mom and Joe. It was really nice, and everyone had a good time. We laughed a lot, and my mom got me caught up on what is currently going on with Granny.
Unfortunately, Granny got an infection after taking some antibiotics that caused her to have thrush. She’s been in a lot of pain, and we haven’t been able to go visit since we got back from Maine except for once. It’s been super rough on her. I feel terribly that she has been in so much pain.
She is starting to feel better, a little bit at a time, but this has taken a lot out of her. I wonder how much energy she has left in the tank. It’s some strong DNA, though, in that line of old ladies.
*****
Today is going to be an interesting day at work. As a team leader, I get to attend my first leadership meeting. I’m not sure what to expect, but I plan to participate fully and stick up for my team if need be. That’s the type of leader I am.
Most likely, though, it will not require me to do a whole lot except listen and learn. I’m still going to be ready to speak up and be a strong member of our school team. This is the only way to a few extra bucks in education.
*****
Some music stays with you your whole life. There are a handful of songs that just sort of seem like they have always been there. One of those songs, at least for me, is “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed which first appeared on this 1972 solo record, Transformer.
Even at a young age, I knew there was something subversive about the lyrics. This was before I understood them, of course, but I knew Reed was talking about some naughty things by the standards of the early 1970s. As a kid then, it felt kind of sneaky and great to sing, “Plucked her eyebrows on the way, shaved her legs and then he was a she…”
Or…
“Candy came from out on the island/in the back room she was everybody’s darling/but she never lost her head/even when she was giving head.”
I had no idea what that meant until middle school and even, it was salacious. I loved that Lou Reed could play with words and situations over the simplest, yet catchy as hell music. Several of the songs off of Transformer are among my favorites. Not just from him, mind you, but my favorite rock and roll songs of all time.
“Satellite of Love” always puts a smile on my face. It’s the second track on the B side and I love it. I have always enjoyed how it just paints a picture of the silliness around falling in love. When you are first smitten with someone, you just start thinking of the most random shit and you find it fascinating. I have to think this is where he was at with this one.
When I first picked up a copy of this back in high school, I think it was sophomore year and on cassette, I listened to “Vicious” over and over, too. I always loved that line about hitting someone with a “Flower.” Reed sounds playful, but as the song goes on, you realize that this person is really capable of being a mean son of bitch if he wants to be.
There was an element of danger around Lou Reed that I was pretty entranced by as a youth. I used to say that if I could go back into any era or music scene, I would have wanted to go to New York and be part of the Velvet Underground’s whole thing. There was so much happening in that town from 1967 to 1975 that would have been super cool to see.
I probably would have gotten some bad habits, but maybe not. Level heads did seem to come out on top there quite a bit. Might have been advantageous to have a somewhat sober mind around all those speed freaks and junkies.
“Perfect Day” is also on this record and it’s a great fucking song. It’s always got me right in the feelers (and I think I said that before). It’s true. You can just feel the melancholy in Reed’s voice as he remembers those times that he could never get back. Time spent with someone he loved and maybe even loved him.
I know “Perfect Day” has become some kind of facsimile of itself after being used in commercials and movies and such, but it is still a very special song. I used to listen to it when I was sad (and still often do) because it made me feel connected to something larger than myself. I wanted to have a connection with Lou Reed so badly as a young man.
Other standout tracks for me are “Wagon Wheel” and “Hangin’ Round.” Hell, I like them all in their own way, but those two also feel like songs I should mention. The entirety of Side A is pretty fantastic and as I type this, I can’t not say the same thing about Side B.
Visit this record again if it has been a while. I’ve certainly enjoyed taking it for a spin.
When Teresa was born, he had a website, and you could ask him questions or leave him messages on a message board. I told him how I was stoked on being a father and loved playing guitar for her while she rocked in her rocking chair. He responded and simply said, “Give Teresa a kiss.”
I thought that was about perfect. Just like Transformer.
*****
See you tomorrow.
AI birthday dinner ideas.
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