I seem to be focusing a lot of my writing here on men these days … Gee! Go figure … and continue to be in the mood to do so.
So …
For NaNoWriMo, I’m working on a semi-autographical novel … to be tied to the one Stan is writing when November is over, if I manage the deadline, which I’m doubting … and in the process of constructing the bones of the book I’ve come to the point in my life, in my early 20s, where I worked as a roadie for a rock band in California.
Spider Kelly was a talented collection of smart, bitingly witty … for the most part … beautiful men, with whom I lived and worked and traveled for the good part of the 70s: Michael, John, Tony, Kit and Dusty … and to a later and lesser degree, Jeff.
With my well-known prodigious memory, I have no problem conjuring accurate images from the time … conversations, addresses, names of pets and girlfriends, clubs we played, insults we slung like grenades (all HiLarryUS!), lyrics and bass riffs and the heft of a Hammond B3 and its companion, the Leslie.
For additional inspiration, I pulled out a DVD sent to me by one of the guys a few years ago of a reunion they had, and I missed, dammit, back in 2004.
Wow.
I’d not watched the thing in at least 2 years, but was once again transported to the days of my misspent youth. At more than an arm’s length past 50, John still swings his bass and crouches above the mic just like he did at 20-something, and underplays his tremendous astuteness with the same shy-guy shade of a smile. Michael steps up to his vocals with the same sexy casual swagger and belts out those familiar words with every bit as much heart. Tony’s fingers haven’t slowed down one bit, and his “concentration face” … and smart-ass comment look … still flickers with the bloom of youth. Jeff still can’t remember the words to songs (and he’s the lead singer). Dusty, finally in ear protection, stretches between songs with the same arms-to-the-heavens reach and misses about all of the banter … due to lack of said ear protection back when it would have made a difference.
Prompted by this trip down musical lane, I wandered back to their website, gazed at photos from another life, listened to songs I haven’t heard for yonks and signed the guestbook.
I have, over the years, been in touch with Dusty and Tony by email, but lost all my addies in the latest ‘puter crash, so was right pleased when I thought to look up my boys on facebook and, lo and behold, found Dusty.
Amazingly … and I’m so far past doubting the fates that I’m more pleasantly surprised than actually amazed … Dusty had joined up just that morning! Of course, I friended him, and we’ve been catching up. (He actually emailed me, too, AS I was watching the DVD! How much do I love the times we live in?)
Michael, bless him, emailed me the same day, and to be sharing life details with him again is just too wonderful for words.
We’re all getting old now, but still rockin’ … and, more importantly, still friends, and how great is that?
I am now, and always have been, one lucky girl with the great proportion of men in my life. Sure, I’ve had my share of assholes and heartbreak, but weighed against the lifelong connection to so many wonderful friends of the male persuasion? I win, time after time after time.
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- The boys in the Iowa Ave. Garage (library photo)
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- A baby picture of the beautiful John (Credit:SK library photo)
A collection of my short stories:
I'm in this one, too ...
And I'm in here, as well ...
Paradise Preoccupied 
This is going to be a great story! I can’t wait to read it.
This is StellaD, by the way, using my new identity. Come on over and see my new site at fairstar.wordpress.com
[…] in to blogger Sandra when she made a post about the semi-autobiographical novel she was writing based on her time as a band-aid in the 70s. Since then we’ve been keeping up daily – the first new daily read I’ve had […]
“I am now, and always have been, one lucky girl with the great proportion of men in my life. Sure, I’ve had my share of assholes and heartbreak, but weighed against the lifelong connection to so many wonderful friends of the male persuasion? I win, time after time after time.”
I recently found some old friends in a similar manner on Myspace. I found one who was in touch with another, who was in touch with another…
I just keep on winning too!
Sandra! How sweet it is to find that your memories of this time are as warm as mine. This blog is great. I’m an old sentimentalist, and this trip down memory lane was a wonderful reminiscence of some great times. I’m sorry for not finding it and responding sooner. My lameness and laziness are legendary, my rudeness remarkable, my jerky-ness unjustifiable… but that being said, my lack of promptness is in no way indicative of my true inner feeling, which is absolute delight! I had a great time reading all of your musings and deep thoughts throughout these pages. You were always smart, sharp and witty, somehow keeping up with the five of us smartasses. Though obviously outnumbered gender-wise, you were able to easily hang with the guys and always managed to have a warm smile and some funny twist to add to the mix. How could you have put up with us all that time, and walked away with nothing but good things to say? Thank God for acceptance and forgiveness! Though in some ways, we never got to where we were trying to get as a band, I’ve come to find out that what they say is true… the journey is as important as the destination, and, really, I enjoyed every step and mis-step we all encountered on the way as we struggled toward the elusive goal together.
Thanks for being there then, and thanks for being there now.
You’ve really blossomed as a writer. I couldn’t be more pleased to find that you are indeed alive and well, living in Paradise, and that you still remember us all fondly.
I hope we can all get together at least one more time! Wouldn’t that be fun? Next time you come to Southern California, you must allow time for a face-to-face. One more sweet memory to keep us warm!
Until then, all the best of life to you. And thank you so much for everything.
-John-
John,
You were a gift then and continue to put a smile on my face all these years later.
I will most certainly find you next time I’m in SoCal and anticipate laughing until I pee myself over memories and present-day antics that are guaranteed high entertainment value. (I’ll have to do some wit-sharpening first, though, as keeping up with you has always been a relished challenge.)
The steps of my journey that I shared with you guys were some of the best I staggered and so packed with moments … sublime and ridiculous, often at the same time … that I have to credit them for many of the good bits that make me me today. For that, I have nothing but love and gratitude.
Being in touch with your mom now is such a bonus, and now hearing from you … Horsey puts fingers to keyboard and communicates, and beautifully! … has made my month.
As always, fondly,
Sandra