Put Your Records On...
I remember the days when I had my little case of 45s. Complete with polka dots on the outside of Turquoise and lime green; my favorite colors to this day. Watching the video of this song (linked above) I thought back to those times when you would ride your bike around the neighborhood. Take your 45's to play on that little-record-player-in-a-box that every one owned. It was the same one you listened to story albums on as a young child. We were so low tech and sound quality was irrelevant. If you could sing along, it was the best of times; nothing else mattered. My sister will deny it, but there were a few Donny Osmond and Jackson Five sing alongs on our front porch. Sometimes with a coke bottle microphone.
Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.
I have a friend in my life that I can say would be the girl I want to go ride bikes with. We went out recently to get a coffee and a wee bit of shopping. We found ourselves in a shoe store. I found the cutest little sandals. But the best part of the outing was trying on some super heels. We are old, well me older than her. We are good sized women and we were being very casual in our very casual clothes. My girl Sue decided we would try some on some really high heels. We paraded and laughed...I almost wet myself (see I am older). I look up and she is taking pictures. It was a laugh like riding your bikes at ten and something funny was said. It was so far away from a need or part of a plan. It was just a moment of pure unadulterated joy.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
These days of 50 seem to make me look back. There is definitely a nostalgia but I realize not in a sad wish-I -were-young-again way. It is a desire to take stock, to put your ducks in a row. You realize that life is not limitless and that which is a given today....loving on my dog, Sundays on the couch with D, phone chats with my sister, super heels with S... Those things might someday be a cherished memory. My girl told me last week I was very philosophical that afternoon. I realize am on quest. It is time to figure out what things I want out of this life and go after them.
So my past and my future are each very present in my today. For my past, I often wish I could go back and just observe a day in my life to see what I would notice or remember. I can't help but think the most insignificant non-thoughts of the day would unravel me; because now I understand the constants of that life would someday leave me...forever (Albert the Cat, parents, grandparents, marriage, ability to do a cartwheel).
And yet for my future I have to remember everyday seems mundane at the time you live it, but I need to pay more attention to be in the moment. I have learned to value it all. I wanna live more days on my bike and just ride and listen to the birds and wonder what I will do until the street lights come on and it is time to go home. Maybe, stop and put my records on...or play a little hopscotch in super heels with my girl S.
What I do know is ... I am going to figure it out. I am gonna find myself somewhere (Africa?, Guatemala, Nicaragua?), somehow (service work, living abroad, off the grid?). Those things won't matter, what will matter is I am gonna live my life with my records on and maybe sometimes in super heels!
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
un·a·dul·ter·at·ed
(
n
-dl
t-r
t
d) KEYADJECTIVE:
- Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter; pure
"Put Your Records On"
Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.
Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
Sipping tea in a bar by the roadside,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Got to love that afro hair do.
Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
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