I was there and I heard them talk about the myth and was able to tell them it was true, all of it, because I had lived it.
You might not look at me and think I was him, but it is true and I could tell you the tale. Could tell you about when the people asked who can catch the Silver Man and I nodded my head and say I could.
One of those standing near the fire scoffed and asked me how I could prove it.
I smiled and said I didn’t need to prove it because that suggested I hadn’t done it when I knew I had.
Had looked the Silver Man in the eyes and known we were connected. Had heard them say, “you and I are inextricably linked and always will be.
“That might work for you, but I don’t have to believe it.”
“Nah, you don’t, but I can share a couple of words that speak to it all.
Love (love, love, love, love).
Insanity laughs, under pressure we’re cracking.
Can’t we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can’t we give love that one more chance?
Why can’t we give love, give love, give love, give love,
Give love, give love, give love, give love, give love.
‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word,
And love dares you to care for the people on the
Edge of the night, and love dares you to
Change our way of caring about ourselves.
This is our last dance.
This is ourselves. This is ourselves.
Under Pressure
He looked at me, scrunched up his face and asked how some music lyrics could tell the tale.
I said when it began because at first all we had were words and that forced us to get to know each other in a way that doesn’t normally happen any more.
“Mister, you don’t make sense and I don’t understand.”
I smiled again, “no I suppose you don’t and you probably won’t and that is ok. You don’t have or need to.”
Silently singing along with Bruce as his latest reminds me of discovering his Tunnel of Love album 32 years ago.
One minute you’re here
Next minute you’re gone
Baby, baby, baby
I’m so alone
Baby, baby, baby
I’m coming home
It feels like yesterday.
I see the glowing path of that Yellow Brick road that took me from there to here and outlines of the darker places it passed through.
Hit repeat and listen to Bruce describe that big black train coming down the track and feel the contradiction of that familiar ache and the certainty that echoes of the future will answer it.
Makes no sense but not all get to dance in the fire for decades without losing their identity or sanity.
But if you have been dropped into the shredder and then doused in flames you either turn to ashes or rise up from them,
Some say it is destiny, some say it is a choice but don’t ask me to tell you which is which or apologize for doing what comes naturally because some things simply are.
Epilogue…Maybe
Weather app says it feels like 30 outside and I am lost in thought. Bruce has been supplanted by a song whose opening lyrics make me snort but probably not for the reasons people think.
I complain about the cold but the truth is I could become accustomed to if I wanted to.
Might come from a desert people but I also am the product of those who lived significant portions of their lives in places with real winters.
So I have grown up with stories and the knowledge this could have been my life which is to say it has always felt like something that could happen, thus I have always been prepared.
There are similarities to complaints about certain foods which I could obviously eat if I choose to.
Very few are on the forbidden list and generally if they are it is because there are physical consequences that come with consumption so there isn’t much motivation to change my opinion.
Many hours ago two different groups of people said no to requests I made and then asked why I persisted in pursuing what I had requested.
“You didn’t say no because it is impossible or impractical. You said no because of inertia and the other guy refused because he is lazy.
I can convince you to submit or get others to make it happen so I am respectfully requesting again that you give me your cooperation now.”
Shortly before 6 PM I received confirmation from one and a call from someone who asked how I forced the change.
“I didn’t force anyone to do anything. I showed them a written reflection of their rejection. It was ridiculous and they knew it. Doesn’t always work out that way, some still live in foolishness, but better to try and fail than fail to try. Einstein is correct, opportunity lies in the middle of difficulty.”
****
Soon the cold will make my ears hurt and though I am intimately familiar with ache there is no need to add to it.
Besides there are some things that provide great joy now and that is enough for this moment.
