I was so relieved when quitting time came at work tonight. It has been a long week. Why is it that some weeks just zip by so quickly and others just go at a snail's pace? It was like watching water boil tonight. I didn't think midnight would ever come so I could go home!
Last Thursday the youngest son of one of our employees died in a drowning accident. The funeral was on Monday. His mother, "L" used to work in my department and she and her family live in my town. Her son was only 18 years old. He and two friends were down at the river and he was pulled under the water by a swift current. My heart cries for his family. This boy was my "favorite" of L's two sons. He was the kind of kid who was not shy when talking to older people. He would make direct eye contact and kid around with you. I remember years ago when he was about 11 years old he came with his mother to my house for a visit. I had a case of Wizard of Oz movie cards (like baseball cards) sitting on the top shelf of my computer desk. He kept eyeing them and finally asked me about them. I got them down for him to look at. Ever since that visit whenever I would see him in a store or around town, he would smile big and wave at me. Once I was at the local grocery store looking at magazines. I heard a gruff teasing voice call out to me, "what do you think you are doing?" I looked up and it was him. He waved and we both laughed.
The last few years I had heard that he had been getting into lots of trouble and I worried about him. I choose to remember the funny and friendly kid who looked at my cards and teased me. His mother is returning to work on Monday and I know it is going to be rough.
On Wednesday we had book fair at work. The "Books Are Fun" company comes to our hospital about three or four times a year. I bought a recipe book for my daughter, a beautiful "grandparents" picture frame for Mom and Dad and a classic rock cd for myself.
The rock cd only has twelve songs on it but they are all so good. Last night I opened it up and put it in the computer to play. If somebody had peeked into my window and seen me they would have gotten a big laugh.
I was sitting here head banging and dancing in my chair to the music. Memories of my teen years came flooding back to me as I listened to the music. These are the songs on the cd:
More Than a Feeling by Boston (I saw them in concert when I was 16)
We're an American Band by Grand Funk Railroad
Radar Love by Golden Earring
Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers
Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting by Elton John
Maggie May by Rod Stewart
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet by Bachman Turner Overdrive
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer's Wheel
(Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
Show Me the Way by Peter Frampton
I had a fierce crush on Peter Frampton when I was a teenager. I still have my Frampton Comes Alive album that I got for Christmas way back when. That was the only thing I asked for that Christmas. My parents have pictures of me posing with that album on Christmas morning. The first time I ever saw him sing was on the tv show The Midnight Special. I thought he had such a dreamy smile.
I went to several concerts when I was a teenager but I never got to see Peter Frampton. I wonder if he is still singing? I know I saw him several years ago on tv and he had lost a lot of his hair. Getting old sucks!
I need to take my dog to the vet tomorrow. He needs his toenails clipped and also I discovered a lump about the size of a nickel on his neck that needs to be checked. It doesn't seem to bother him. I hope it isn't anything bad.
7 comments:
that is sad about that young man.
The songs you listed are all fantastic. I miss going to concerts.
Every few years we have someone drown in Lake Superior here--it is such a sad, sad thing.
Every time I see/hear a reference to 'Sweet Home Alabama,' I can't help but think back to a friend's brother. He always thought they were singing 'Sweet Home and My Llama!' Talk about mis-heard lyrics! :D
Hi Hammer...welcome back from your vacation! Yeah, I miss going to concerts too. The last one I went to was at the Illinois State Fair in 2000 or 2001 to see Styx and REO Speedwagon. They were fantastic.
I just checked and Peter Frampton is still singing. He'll be in Chicago on June 21st but the concert I'd really love to see is in Atlanta Ga on 8/16/07 to see Peter Frampton AND The Doobie Brothers. Whoa!
cmk, that is funny. To this day whenever I hear Manfred Mann's Blinded By the Light, I always "hear" the lyric as "wrapped up like a douche, another roller in the night". I always knew that couldn't be right but it was several years before I found out they are really singing "revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night."
That's sad about your young friend.
Did you take your dog to the vet? I'm wondering, it reminds me of when I had Spot's lump checked.
Yep, Frampton's still alive, he lives in a ritzy neighborhood here. He's played at some area concerts, I think. I'm always taken aback when his picture shows up in the newspaper, I associate him with that wonderful long, curly hair.
I'm so sorry to hear about your friends' son... what a tragedy.
That music? Yeah. I'm with you.
How's the dog????
p.s. yes, I'm going to do the meme... soon.
Janet, that surprises me about Peter Frampton. I would have thought that he would live in England!
I just now looked him up on Wikipedia and it says that after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks he decided to become a U.S. citizen.
I wasn't able to get Dexter into the vet on Saturday. I will get him in sometime this week. I also thought of your Spot when I found that lump. Sometimes the lump doesn't seem so large and almost gone and then other times I feel it more. That makes me think it's some kind of gland. It is located on the side of his neck under his collar.
Yes it's sad to hear of tragedies such as that... Sorry to hear it.
I know what you mean about work shifts, some passing by quick... and others (like today) that don't! Geesh--boil already!! :)
Hope your dog is o.k... Have a good rest of the week!
AJ
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