Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. Do you think EL&P would work on Gord’s Gold? I will take that dirty look as a no. Do I have Gentle Readers that have no idea what I’m talking about? It’s the Emerson, Lake, & Palmer song Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression Part 2. Listen to all of Karn Evil 9. I’m always amused when people think I only listen to acoustic music. They were my favorite band for a while, and I still love them.
Yesterday I had my first Friday therapy session in ages. I like that best but my next one is a week from Wednesday. That’s the fault of COVID-19. For the first time in months, I was able to make two appointments at once so I’m all set for the Wednesday after that. Therapy is a wonderful thing. There are still people that think there’s a stigma attached. So what? if there is, it’s worth it. I resisted getting it for years, largely a matter of finances, but not totally. Ironically if you think that you don’t need help but think everyone else does, you can be helped by therapy. I spent some time yesterday discussing how somebody else’s behavior bothered me. The idea was not to change that person’s behavior but to help me deal with it. Telling other people that they are terrible and should act like you is an ineffective way to get people to change, it makes things even worse. I essentially did that to a friend and my complaint was her telling other people that they are terrible and that they should act like her. Reacting to other people’s sins by committing the sin yourself happens quite often. I’m a good Jew, I often feel guilty.
It was a Friday in May or June so I spent the early evening at Wagner Park for the Sunset Singing Circle led by Terre Roche. As has become our tradition this year Fred and I met for dinner at The View, an excellent restaurant at the south tip of Battery Park, right on the water. Yesterday was the best weather yet for the singing circle, and for the first time The View was crowded. We couldn’t get a table, we had to sit at the bar. Not quite as comfortable but the food and view were as good as ever and the bartender was fun. He was training a new server. That meant we got a lesson on how to work behind a bar. There is system to everything. It’s not brain surgery, but time and accuracy are important. He was a great teacher, and she was a great student.
The timing with Fred’s train from Long Island is perfect. We finish dinner right on time to get to the singing circle. It was a perfect day, and I was coming from therapy; to make up for that I did several things that were idiot story worthy. I arrived at the elevated train station just as the train came in. I hopped right onto the train. As the train pulled out of the 125th street station I saw a young woman across the car from me give me a look. I realized that I wasn’t wearing my mask! I hate that. The only downside to not wearing a mask outside is forgetting to put it on when needed. I’m doubly vaxxed so it’s not a huge deal, but I want to be careful for the sake of others, and I want to set a good example. I have learned this year to listen to podcasts or music when I’m walking or on the subway. When I got settled down in the car I took out my earbud case. I remembered to bring it. What I didn’t remember was to put the earbuds inside them. I forgot I used them for therapy. The idiocy doesn’t end there. I also forgot to bring my stadium seat. I had to sit on the grass for the singing circle. I don’t mind that, I turned down Fred’s offer to use his WFUV blanket. What I mind is sitting without back support. I was squirming much of the time and my leg fell asleep. Is that it? Any more idiot stories? Yes there is. I also forgot my songbook. If my head weren’t attached to my shoulders I’d forgot where I put it. It was not in my bag because I used it to prepare Gord’s Gold. I play at least one song from the singing circle every week.
Despite not having a comfy chair to sit on or a songbook I had a wonderful time. I got a new songbook from Frances, the young woman from the Battery Park City Authority that administers the singing circle. It was her 21st birthday. She’s been doing this for 4 years and I finally learned her name. I’m me, so of course we speak every week. I try to be on speaking terms with all the people in my life I see on a regular basis.
There were many kids there and they kept requesting songs. That was great, just what music needs. I heard them and their parents singing behind me. They sang well. As much as anything else what makes the singing circle special is not just Terre and her friends playing instruments, it’s the audience participating. You should join us next week and sing. You can bring an instrument and play if you like.
This was the first circle of the year that I wasn’t cold at the end. I went there just wearing a t-shirt and put a flannel shirt on as it cooled down. I never needed more than that. I brought a hoodie for the walk home, but I didn’t even need it then. As I was spending the day out I didn’t take my daily Donut Walk™. When I got off the subway I saw that I had walked two miles yesterday. My goal is three miles a day and I know it’s only 0.4 miles to my house. As the weather was still beautiful I decided to try and walk 0.6 miles out of my way. I judged well. I ended up walking 3.14 miles yesterday.
I’m now torn. It’s a beautiful day, but I don’t feel like going out. Tomorrow I’m heading south to Brooklyn for a house concert, my first since the plague started. I’ll have many friends there including Fred. I might not have he wherewithal to take a walk tomorrow. It’s already after four but perhaps I’ll force myself to go out. I just turned off the Met game as they fell behind 7 runs in the eight inning. If they had just fallen behind by three runs I’d have the consolation prize of my fantasy team pitcher, Peter Fairbanks getting the save for the Rays, but now it’s not a save situation. I’ll post this and see how I feel but my legs are telling me, stay home.
Wise Madness 