1968
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Simone, Pot, and OLLI
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Spirits show us the way. For the last two days I’ve been thinking about listening to Nina Simone. I’m at home today and thought I’d do a light mop of the kitchen floor. I always have a few tokes of herb, and decided, let me put on Nina Simone in my iTunes collection.
As I swayed to her recording at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, my mind was transported back to so many great dates with Ed there. How we loved the music. How I miss him as he passed too early to reminisce. All through the years, the music we shared was joy. When he started buying records, we were engrossed in the art of the album covers. When we went shopping, it was never just one record, but a small collection that grew to a library of great tunes. When he went away, his friend stored them for him. I wonder where the records are today? They would be worth more than many a stock. So as I’m be-bopping now to the Beatles (Sergeant Pepper), one of his favorites, I can only smile. In conclusion of my dance down memory lane: Steely Dan-Gaucho. I’m going to rock out with his “Hey Nineteen.” In writing class, I sit next to a friend at OLLI. He’s a nice man with his own great adventures. He read my memoir about being part of a group of marijuana smugglers in the late 1960’s. He turns to me and asks, “Do you still smoke?” “I do.” He’s rubbing his knees as he’s had replacements but still has pain. He says he had a smoke and it really helped with the discomfort. “Do you know where I can get some? My doc won’t give me a prescription for medicinal marijuana use.” “Do you want me to buy you some?” “Oh would you? I didn’t know how to ask.” “Directly,” I answered. After talking about what his need was, he surprised me with his order. I laughed to myself as I realized, I’m doing a deal, again! “Let’s keep this low key,” he requested. “BRING CASH!” “Twenties okay?” Hmm, hundreds are better. As I left the now-mopped kitchen, I went to the music cabinet to find the Nina CD, so I could put it in my nightstand and listen while I dozed off at night. I started picking through where I thought it would be. All of a sudden, a bunch of CD’s came spilling out. I grabbed one falling to the floor. I was taken aback when it was the Nina Simone. At once, I realized I had a visitor. I laughed out loud. I don’t believe in coincidences. So you are here. Thanks for leading me to the music of our youth. |
About Marsha Michaels
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