Sigh. Labor Day is gone and summer is semi-officially over. Yes, I know, the Autumnal equinox won't occur until the 22nd of this month (at 4:18 p.m. Okie time, to be exact). And yes, it's still too warm outside. But mentally, summer is over.
I don't really remember getting much of a break, not that folks who aren't in academia on some level get actual summer breaks. I think having summer vacation for the first 20 years of your life sets a permanent body clock. Around the first of June you expect to fall into three months of leisure and slothfulness. Well, or working long hours for minimum wage. Really, summer is for lounging around reading endless stacks of books, swimming on lazy afternoons, learning to water ski, or chasing lightening bugs. It's about oiling up with baby oil and feeling my skin sizzle in the heat. Ah the 70's. Ah the skin cancer.
Being a big fan of NPR, I've been listening to their ongoing discussion of songs that remind people of a summer in their past. I've tried to focus in on a song or two that conjures up a summer memory. The only song that brings a strong memory is anything by Elton John. B-b-b-Benny and the Jets, Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word, Someone Saved My Life Tonight. Did the man perform any songs with less than five words in the title? Oh, I guess there's Daniel.
Anyway, anything sung by Elton John immediately transports me to a rented greyhound-like bus filled with sweaty teenagers traveling across country from Kansas to California and back. Somebody thought to bring along their collection of mixed tapes, with songs copied from their 8-tracks or record albums back home. Elton John's falsetto streaming from the speakers, sweaty couples making out, girl-cliques forming and un-forming as fast as the miles rolled by. All of the adults apparently safely at the front of the bus.
I guess I'm nostalgic for all the 70's songs as I make plans to attend my 30th high school reunion. There were some great songs in the 70's. And yes, there were some really, really bad songs. This has to be high on the list of worst songs ever to make it to the top of the charts. The sad thing is, Mark and I can sing every word.
5 comments:
I couldn't even bring myself to hit play...that song makes me wanna throw myself out of a greyhound bus full of sweaty teenagers.
Oh, the memories...thanks!!
Cari- I know! How did that song get on the charts? Unfortunately the lyrics really stick in the memory banks. Ugh.
Hey, I liked that song! Of course I was seven...
Forgot to mention that "Afternoon Delight" reminds me of summer in the seventies. But then I thought it was about fireworks. D'oh!
Yeah. Couldn't hit the play button either. But I DID really like Afternoon Delight. Great harmony ya know.
Loadin up the reunion bus tomorrow, 9:00 am! Right on!!
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