blue moon (2)

Monday, September 01, 2008

A Concert Of Memories ©

I find myself most night sitting in front of the computer staring at a blank screen with the TV playing in t he background, usually on the space channel like right now.
There is an original Star Trek marathon playing.
But I’m not really paying attention because I am listening to the music pouring out of my speakers.
No matter what my day was like when I sit here all I think about is nothing.
Yet everything.
It all depends on the music.
Every song from my past evokes a memory.
Some are pleasant, others painful.
But it doesn’t matter because each smile, laugh and tear they represent is precious to me.

563 songs sleep on my IPOD
563 memories
563 stories

Let’s see if I could give you a bit of a concert with some of my memories.

The Doobie Brothers come on with “Long Train Running



The Best of the Doobie Brothers was the first album I ever bought to play on the first stereo I ever owned bought by my father for Christmas.
A Yamaha with duo cassattes and big kick ass speakers.
Someone broke in and stole it a week later but it was a good stereo.
Good thing we had insurance.
That was in 75 and I was sixteen.

In 77 I was peeling up the street in my powder blue Mustang listening to “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas on the radio.



But when I wasn’t in the car racing up the street I was in the Disco Viva dancing to the Bee Gees “Staying Alive”
Is it me or did their voices sound like someone kicked them in the balls?



Unless I was stoned, then I was at the Chaud listening hard rock like Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”.
Back when Ozzy Had two brain cells left.



That was a funny place.
It was two bars upstairs and down stairs.
Upstairs was the Rose room where you took a date to have a good time.
Down stairs was the Green door where you went to get drunk, fight and possible killed in a knife fight or a shootout with bikers.
Great place to party, loved it.

In the 80s I was just fucken stoned all the time.
Life was like a badly scripted cheesy movie, except that it was for real.
It was like a ten-year scene right out of the movie “Goodfellas”.

I remember in the summer of 82 sitting in the VIP booth at the Super Tramp concert with a friend watching a 40-foot screen as they played “Crime of the Century” and the power died.



We sat there snorting lines as long as my arm while the cops made sure no one bothered us.
Hey, those were the 80s.
Then everything went black.
Nice rush that was until we figured out the power went down.

For twenty minutes the power was off and when it came on the band struck up right on the cord where they were cut off like it had never happened.
Maybe it didn’t but when the concert was over and all the people were gone and the lights went down.
We were still there smoking a joint while the Limo driver waited.
Last time I saw him was at his funeral ten years later.

On my main rotation, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Kind of man” could be heard.



Mad Dog was crazy about Lynyrd Skynyrd and this song reminds me of him.
Funny thing was that he tried so hard to be a simple man but made his life complicated until he ran out of it.
Oh the parties in the bush.
He built bon fire once, piled a mountain of wood then lit it on fire the fucken flames must have been 50 feet high.
When it was really roaring he picked up the metal cooler and walked out to the fire and walked into it to a boulder he had in the center of the inferno and invited me in for a beer and damn if I didn’t stoll right on in.
Mike and the rest of the boys said we were nuts.
We made it a trandition after that first time and it wasn’t long befoe all the boys had all done it at least once over the years.
A lot of singed hair.

I got into ZZ Top in the 90s and still have the key chain I picked up at the concert in 96, June I think.
I was with this cute little blonde that turned out to be a lesbian.
Who knew not that it mattered.
As I was leaving the concert I picked up a tape.
The next night while on my way to a party I was playing it in the car while stopped at the lights and this beautiful chick came up to the window and asked if I could crank up the tunes.
So I leaned over and put up the volume then I did offered her a ride to where she was going but she declined.
Blue Jean Blues” was playing that day, I sat there waiting even after the light changed until the song ended before I pulled away.



As I sat on the couch at the party having a beer my thoughts drifted to her as Blue Jean Blues came on the stereo.
I brought in my tape so beddy could copy it and his girlfriend walked in and introduced her friend.
The chick from the lights.

Four years later we sat in our private pub where no one knew where to find me then told her it was time she stopped hanging around me and found someone that would take care of her.
I was looking a five year stretch in a federal pen and I wasn’t letting anyone wait for me.
That and I knew the guy she worked with loved her and she him so why waste time with someone when t here was someone ready and willing.
Love isn’t something to waste.
I walked out of that restaurant with a lump in my throat but didn’t look back as I got into the car and drove off into tomorrow.

Funny thing, the next day my lawyer beat the charges in court and I never went to jail but it was the right thing to do.

I saw her walking down the street the other day as I sat in a pub having a beer and looking out at the world.
She still looks just as beautiful as she did back then twenty years ago.
I didn’t say anything as she walked pass the window because it was the right thing to do.
Mike used to say and still does that she would have been worth giving it all up for.
Maybe he was right, maybe he wasn’t.

But that was then and as Colin James would say that it's “Far Away Like On The Radio



The 20th century ended with Ricky Martin singing about my life with "Living La Vida Loca" aka Living the crazy life.

WOOOO HOOOOO !!!!
Booty shaking time.



For the first time in a long time I was single as an adult and life was crazy.
Second Ex moved out.
First EX skipped town with the kids for eight years so I did what was left to do.
Partied from sun up until sun down and the party is still rocking the rafters as long as there is good music and good looking women to dance with.

Life moves on, as does the music.
The words are different as is the beat but the meaning is still there, only the memories stay the same.
We live with our choices and go from one room to another in the grand mansion called Life.

So what has Baby Blue (My IPOD) have to say about all of this?
Baby Blue says, The Eagles with “Hotel California



Perfect ending.

I hope you enjoyed my concert of memories.
I have heard many songs and some hold special memories frozen in time and ageless.

Have a nice day

Ok, how many of you thought I was going to post all 563 stories?

HA HA HA!!!!!!

Walker

27 comments:

Puss-in-Boots said...

Listening to music from the past is like looking at photos...you're catapulted right back into the time. It's magic, funny and sad. Ah, nostalgia...it's a wonderful thing.

My favourite Lynyrd Skynyrd is Sweet Home Alabama...an oldie but a goodie.

Suzanne said...

Wow, so I'm you're number one on blogger. Just got finished listening to the Eagles. My favorites. Do you realize I lived about a mile from Hotel California when I lived in Beverly Hills! Yup. I did. And yes, it actually exits. Obviously, it isn't called Hotel California, but everyone knows it is. It's the Beverly Hills Hotel. I grew up in a small town in upstate NY and who knew I'd live a mile away from Hotel California!!!??? You bet your ass I didn't!!! And you bet your ass I'm proud. Who gets to do that? Very few.

The rest. Bee Gee's. I graduated in 1977. You go figure. Loved um.

Zee Zee Top. Nope, never got into them. They always seemed rather sexist, and even at a young age I just couldn't. Decades later. Nope. Instinct is good. Never lets you down. You will never understand, but women all over the world do. And that's okay. Let it go. You love them and that's okay, but me, nope.

The woman you let go. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

You wrote some stuff about your divorce, the kids, etc that offended me, but I love you and understand, so am willing to overlook a lot of "stuff." But only to a certain point. I don't know why, but there are times you border on ass-in-ine and expect me to play along. Just so you know...I won't. I'm not going to pretend that you're perfect because sometimes you suck. I suspect you know that. I also suspect you know I would never, ever play this game. I'm just me and I would never. Do I still love you? Of course. Will I continue? Of course. Do I expect you to get your act together? Of course. I love you my dear friend and know you're searching. We went to school together and you don't even realize. HANG IN THERE!!!

This is a great post. So many memories. We're the same age you realize. No, I'm not your type. Trust me!!! Not even close. Cuz I'm not a 20 year old with big boobs, but the memories are very precious. Thank you for this one.

XO Suze

Suzanne said...

Hope you made it through that. All ups and downs. It takes a good guy to know. And and I know you took the time. Nope, I'm not perfect, I make tons and tons of mistakes, but dear friends always take time to notice. I know you did. Why? Cuz you were in my dream and you kicked ass!!! Yummy. Yup. Now you know.

XO

P.S. Yup, I'll repeat, Seinfeld, manturbation episode..."Okay, I'm out!" Too funny.

Monogram Queen said...

Music does evoke MANY emotions! I did not think you were going to do every single song. I swear!

The Mistress said...

I AM CANADIAN TOO!

Inner Voices sent me here.

Blame him.

Walker said...

Puss-in-Boots: Music is the looking glass to the past mirrored to the present

Walker said...

Suzanne: I've never been divorced.
Never been married.
In fact I don't believe in married.
Probably because I don't believe in divorce :)

MY ex ran off with one of my friends and took my kids with her even though I had a court order forcing her to let me have the kids.
If I talk natsy about my EX which I seldom do, she earned it in more was than you know.
I won't even count the two times she stabbed me.

20 uear old with big boobs isn't my thing.
Fact is that most of my girl friends but one was older than me.
My first introduction to sex was with a 28 year old when i was 13.
Since then I rather go with experience rather than age.

You sure you're not hiding behind the cell phone eh?
And will you post already so I can come over and hide behind the rose bush to hastle you. LOL

Walker said...

Monogram Queen: I don't think I could have done it anyway.
Blogger got a hernia loading all these YT links.

Music is so integrated into my soul everything I hear on the radio reminds me of something.
Thats what happens when you get older.
You've heard alot of music to that point in life.

Walker said...

MJ : You know, I suspected that you might be Canadian because of the hot and sexy, red and black stripped Long Johns you wear ;)

INNER VOICES said...

im not responsible if mj pees in here!


and yes the songs of the good ole days eh?


fun post!

Walker said...

INNER VOICES: It's ok everything is rented here.

Suzanne said...

Okay...I've got alot to fix. But first I have to post on the Wild Onion before IV hit's 25. Gotta buggie! But will be back. Wow. I really missed SO much even though I read everything. Yikes!!! Was I drunk? I don't drink!!! Okay, I'll be back. Oh, and it's IV's birthday on the 11th. Stop by an enjoy the festivities. Wow...was I drunk? Thanks for pointing every error out. Makes my job so much easier. :)

Walker said...

Suzanne: You have nothing to fix unless you broke my cell phone,
You didn't pee om my cell phone did you?
Damg drunks pee on everything. lol

BlazngScarlet said...

Music IS my life! lol

Honestly, like you, I have certain songs that take me back to places and times in my life. Some pleasant ... some not pleasant.
Either way, I'd be lost without the soundtrack of my life.

Great post Walker!

I have missed you my friend, but I promise i'll be around more.

Teresa said...

This is an awesome post. I know most of these songs, but I learned them after they came out....I am a little younger than you. I was in second grade in 1977. But I had the Saturday Night Fever record because I LOVED John Travolta.

But, we all have songs that bring back certain memories, eh? Kenny Chesney has a song about just that called I Go Back. Check it out and as always, thanks for an amazing post.

XO

PBS said...

Those are a bunch of great songs that certainly bring back memories. A drive down memory lane with a powder blue Mustang?!

Doo Dah said...

Oh, them some great memory songs.
:-) each one takes me back also.

LMAO at snortin a line as long as your arm...been there done that!

jeez them were the days...

Walker said...

Scarlet: I know you loves your music.
Each song envokes certains thoughts and memories.

I know you're abusy lady but seeing you even once in a while gives me a smile :)

Walker said...

Teresa: I down;oaded it and listened to it a couple of times.
I like it the words and meaning.
Songs give us life and cradle us when we need some confort.

Walker said...

PBS: And where have you been young lady huh. worry the shit out of me.

Music is one of the links between us all.
It's where we can all escape to an understand each other.

Walker said...

Doo Dah: The 80s were something weren't they.
Every generation has its thing.
Yeah those lines were killers and youth was resilient.
Now not so much but still chugging along.

Thank you for stopping by and come again

Suzanne said...

Dude, I don't drink!!! But still have a lot to fix. I've read almost you're entire blog and I missed by that much!!!??? Shit! I'm better than that. No really. I am!

And I remember a post about how you like big boobs. Can I get an Amen from the congregation?! It was this blog. Right? If not, I apologize. Oh, and about the x-wife. Sorry. Didn't realize she wasn't. Honey, I'll tell you something. I have too much on my plate. And apparently can't keep anything straight! But at least you were gentle and kind. Thank you my dear friend. Oh, and one day I'll tell you about the dream. It was amazing and so were you!!! Wow!

Oh, and just so you know, Rob plays hockey, so trust me, I understand. No, he isn't the sort of hockey player your brother is. Rob's just good. He started playing at around 4 years old in Massachusettes and was Captian of the CA team that won the state championship. Played in college and had hopes of being a professional, but realized all the good players being drafted were from Canada and decided to become a doctor or lawyer. Became a lawyer. He always played fair (he was a forward). Still does. He's gorgeous on the ice. Absolutely gorgeous. Anyone who knows hockey understands men and women who can skate like no body's business. It's magical. I know you understand.

Thanks for this one and thanks too for your friendship. I'll be back of course! Oh, and honey, it's IV's birthday. Stop by the Wild Onion, my blog, RC's blog, IV's blog, etc. Your comment will be greatly appreciated.

Love you and thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I needed that!

XO

Karen said...

Great post Walker. I couldn't listen to all the songs or I would be here for 2 hours with my slow connection. I loved Dust in the wind and had completely forgotten about that song though it was a real favourite at the time.

Songs and smells are the two things that can instantly send me back in time. Sometimes I'm glad to be there and sometimes it's a painful reminder. However, it's all part of life isn't it, the good and the bad? Thanks for the trip down memory lane. xx

Walker said...

Suzanne: Wow I haven't read my entire blog.
Hey did you happen to find my brain laying around back there somewhere?

Yes I do love women with big boobs but it doesn't mean I wouldn't play with small ones either.
I'm not stupid you know just greedy LOL

Walker said...

Gypsy: I live in my world of memories and music.
Quite the dancing partners.
The only thing smells remind me is food lol

O I'm a typical man in that aspect but I just smoke a joint to so :P

PBS said...

"Young Lady" :)

Fire Byrd said...

Some good music going here Walker. I could really be dancing round the kitchen to some of this.
x