Harmolodics

Happy Saturday morning. Getting my coffee ready this morning I realized just how quickly we’re working our way through the coffee I brought back from Germany, Caffè Gustoso . It’s a bit of a sad realization.

So, here is your ‘word of the day’; nadir; the lowest point in something – “could it be that once we finish up this batch of coffee that we’ll quickly reach the nadir of what is our Saturday morning’s delight?”

“Harmolodics” – Early in the week I took the bus into town for a late afternoon/evening concert on our downtown Fountain Square. My plan was to brave the heat and listen to a jazz concert by a little known group, the Justin Dawson Quartet. It wasn’t so much to hear the group as it was to listen to what they were going to play.

The whole concert was devoted to the music of Ornette Coleman. In fact, their second set was the playing of Ornette’s complete 1959 – Jazz altering – album; “Changing the Face of Jazz”.

It was a wonderful performance.

Some might ask, who is Ornette Coleman? Rather than me blather on, here’s a YouTube to give you some insight:

A strange Fourth – It was a joint decision; we weren’t going to head out to grab one of our surrounding area Fireworks shows. This proved to be a great decision when, exactly at eight O’clock, the rain came rolling in.

Then it got better. Across the street was a porch party and they were loaded up with beer and Fireworks. They were not to be deprived! So, every few minutes, with nearby thunderclaps and sheets of rain, a ‘volunteer’ would dash out with some piece of barely legal Firework (not certain – maybe these weren’t legal).

Through and above the trees we could see the colorful explosion to be immediately followed by the street filling with smoke. This explosion-noise-sparkle-smoke scenario continued till sometime after we fell asleep.

A strange Fourth (part deux) – Mid week my ‘homey’ buddy and I were off to a nearby Kroger’s for some grocery shopping. So, here we were, two grizzled senior types, one loud because the other is hard of hearing, trying to decide on the best hotdogs to buy.

I don’t think our presence was at a level where moms would remove their children from the aisle.

After pass number two through the store, and a little nonplussed, I asked a clerk where the bread aisle was. Turns out it was at the other side against the wall with 3-foot lettering overhead – whoops.

After pointing out the signage and me thanking the young man, he replied with a: “thanks for your service!”.

Me, looking totally nonplussed glanced over at my neighbor buddy and realized he was sporting his ‘Veteran’s’ baseball cap. Yup, that was a first for me. I thanked the lad on behalf of my friend who hadn’t heard him.

Yes, we are a good team!

Life of Brian – During the Seventies I delighted in anything put out by Monty Python. Even solo stuff such as Faulty Towers starring the brilliant comedian John Cleese was all part of it.

In 1979 they made a wonderful satirical movie. Ok, so it was also a wee bit irreverent, but still, as the Brits would say; “brilliant” – Life of Brian.

Anyway, what I want to get across that what we enjoyed as being great satire in 1979 has now become reality — now merely 45-years on our society is just catching up.

It’s not simply reality, but should you laugh at it today, in various parts of the country you can get slapped with a healthy fine. We’ve come a long way baby!

And, Marcia is up. Now, with this week’s Ramblings nearly complete I can join her and be on the lookout for Kroger to deliver her grocery order. Are you beginning to also realize that much of retirement revolves about food? Food to eat, foods to select, food to order, and food to discuss?

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Question: Independence Day is not all parades, grilling, flag waving, and fireworks. It also has a darker side. Which three of these former Presidents all died on July 4th?

1) James Monroe
2) John Quincy Adams
3) John Adams
4) Thomas Jefferson
5) Andrew Jackson
6) Martin Van Buren