istherelifeafter50

I must do more driving on a Saturday than I realized. Last week I wrote about the ‘70’s music and again as I tuned into 94.9 MIX-FM on my drive back from Arivaca I found myself pleasantly singing along to the old hi songs. As I did I realized the sense of empowerment I felt listening because the 1970’s where for me that age of independence; they represent the end of school, the start of work, leaving home, going college in America and finally marriage. I link music to all the times in my life; memory links I suppose.

I recall lunch times in my last year of school where I got to lay on the floor in Irvine Lott’s living room and finally break free from the shackles of big band and Olivia Newton-John to listen to the David Bowie album Diamond Dogs and marvel at the art work on Aladdin Sane. Phil Chapell introduced Carol King and Harry Nielsen in the hours we spent in his bedroom talking about girls and Everton.

Our chemistry teacher took a group of lads climbing in Leek and at the top of the cliffs we conquered we took over the pub’s round bar and I recall playing my favorite song over and over on the juke box, Hot Chocolates Emma.

After school was out and I started work at Owen Owens department store in Wolverhampton’s  Manders Centre I used to ride the elevators in the morning transporting the crème cakes from the shipping docks, where I worked, to the restaurant on the top floor. I used to lick the crème filling out of the cakes and nick the cherries. Then I’d go visit with Molly in Women’s Clothing. Molly and I had started on the same day. I recall her bright red lipstick and pageboy hair cut and to this day recall her whenever I hear Rock the Boat, the Hues Corporation lone hit. Kung Fu Fighting was on the juke box at the pub we eat lunch out just across the street from the store, and when we moved to Gnosall and I worked for HHS in Stafford lunch always involved a vodka and lime at the juke box favorite Frankie Valli My Eyes Adored You. I just wanted to carry some girls books home from school. I had no girl just a lonely 38 year old housewife flirting with me and wanting to give me a ride home. Bleh!

College bought an opening to so many changes; monumental ones. A new country, women and sex for the first time. Her name was Debbie and she stole my heart. While recovering from missing her during the summer of ’75 I discovered Yes and their arty album covers and danced at dorm parties to a routine with KC & The Sunshine Band, Get Down Tonight. I still recall ripping the seat out of my favorite bell bottoms by going down to my knees to soon in the routine. Sherman West played Whipping Post for me and the Allman Brothers and Southern Rock entered my sheltered musical out look.

After I married Debbie I have pleasant memories of our times together (since we didn’t get divorced until ’81 it is not all bad). Her swollen pregnant belly, seeing my first son born in the birthing room at Dr Charles Taylors clinic, and enjoying the feelings of young love (okay the sex and then the sex) while we listened to Earth Wind and Fire and went to see Diana Ross, Seals and Crofts and Bread in concert. After we separated for the first time I remember holding her and dancing slowly while John Lennon sang Woman.

My links to happiness seem to be rooted in ‘70’s music. Rock on!

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