If Music Be The Food of Life, Play On
Easter Sunday, 2025
It’s funny how life lessons show up out of nowhere, in the middle of the day, in your car, with windows down and the music on.
After Easter Sunday Mass (which, in my life, is a whole new issue) I headed to my niece's house to celebrate the holiday with my family.
To go from my house in New Jersey to my relatives in Pennsylvania (where they pretty much all live) I have to take highways but mostly back mountain roads. On the drive, I listened to The WFAN (New York Sports Talk Radio) and once I was up in the hills, static replaced the sports talk.
It’s then that I switched to the CD player.
I don’t listen to CDs much in the car, so it was a nice surprise when the first song escaped the speakers.
Rock ‘n’ Roll (Part Two)
As soon as I heard the drum beats and hand claps, I knew what CD was on.
One of the best bars I ever been to was Mary’s Husband’s Pub in Belmar, N.J. in the eighties. That bar had the best D.J. (Screwie Louie), who played the absolutely greatest music.
This CD was a collection of those songs, and suddenly, out of the blue, life wasn’t so bad.
Let me clarify, my life is not bad. Of course, I have my moments, like everyone, where there are flashes of self-pity. Whether it is money, family, work (although I’m retired), and mostly for me lately, love and relationships questions (how high school is that?).
But, at this moment, in my car, the trifecta of church, beautiful weather, and great music injected a much needed boost to my life.
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
This is one of those songs that pulls you in as soon as it starts, and I found myself singing along with the first line (something I rarely do when driving).
Hands Up, Mony Mony, Thank You for Being a Friend, Glory Days, Centerfield, Brown Eyed Girl
One song after another, lifted me up. Found myself tapping the steering wheel, singing above the speakers, followed by fist pumps that accentuated the base line.
What the hell was going on? This was not me.
American Pie, Walkin’ On Sunshine, Build Me Up, Buttercup, Piano Man, I’m a Believer, Too Bad, Shout! Sweet Caroline
By now I am fully dancing in the driver’s seat behind the wheel of my car. Well, maybe not dancing, more like Elaine from Seinfeld with awkward body movements that fought hard against the rhythm of the song.
Either way, my friend Marvalyn would be proud of me if she could see me.
Why?
Marvalyn is a friend from our trivia team (more like Family Feud) on Wednesday nights at a bar in Whitehouse, New Jersey. Marvalyn is famous for dancing along with every song even while standing in place at the table.
I am infamous for never dancing, no matter what song was played.
If only she could see me now.
We’re Having a Party
Damn right we are…
Once in a while I have these epiphanies, moments of clarity, and I never know where they will come from, or how they will be delivered.
But it all comes down to this...
...life is good and, sometimes, you just have to listen to realize that.
