Do you remember? Can you remember?
We’d meet on Cedar Drive then walk to your house with a shiny new vinyl masterpiece wrapped in cellophane. Leather and silk, denim and cotton, forged in the hard driving snow. Both excited in our own ways, we’d walk with purpose yet ever so slowly towards anticipation.
We’d open the door and remove our mucky shoes. I would sit on the large couch, watching as you carefully opened the package and meticulously cleaned the grooves with a special anti-static brush.
“Made in England” … you would always say. Then you’d carefully balance the cartridge, slowly lower the arm, and dramatically dive onto the other couch.
Eyes closed … we would journey into an ‘Endless Enigma‘ or onto the ‘Heart of the Sunrise‘. No words. No grunts of delight. You were the only one I knew who could truly listen.
We were the listeners … you and I.
When it was done, we would sit and think … then speak. You would finish my sentences, and I yours.
Do you remember? Can you remember?
Do they have twitter or Facebook where you are? Can you read what I just wrote?
I miss you. I miss listening … I miss being heard …
For Richard
Photo Credits
Feature Pic – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Keith Dobson says
I think of Richard often when I hear a song on the radio from those days. Yes, ELP, King Crimson, the list goes on. Spent many a day (and night) in that living room. Wonderful memories. I miss those times for sure.
Gil Namur says
I do too my friend. And I remember you more than you know ๐
So many good memories! And there are Greg Cam’s gloves …. ring a bell? ๐
Gileeeeeeeeeee
Keith Dobson says
Hmmmmm. Racking my brain trying to remember. You must admit that there were several โfoggyโ days from an awareness perspective going on back then. Lol!
Gil Namur says
Indeed there were! I’ll send you a private message LOL
John says
Yes, I do miss that passion for music….Internet radio makes it so easy. Other friends who are unable to ACTIVELY listen to music or whose tastes are just too narrow….
Still have a spinner. But all the CDs are now in my i-tunes library (uploaded in hi def sound of course). Music always had and always will have a way of bypassing my defences and touching my emotions. I have made some very poor decisions about love because of the music that was playing…
What made Richard pop in your head Gill? Yes the 16th anniversary of his death is October 29….perhaps he is floating around visiting us all?
Nice to see how many still miss him. As I will continue to do.
John
Gil Namur says
Hi John!
Richard pops in my head often.When I wrote the last piece (http://lifeasahuman.com/2011/arts-culture/music/my-top-10-most-influential-albums-of-the-70s/) and was listening to some of those old tunes, it took me way back and I just had to write that … or let it come out if you will.
I hope all is well with you. Colleen says hi and we both send big hugs your way ๐
Gileeeeeeee
Michele says
I have a “spinner” I was going to give away … if you want it, it’s yours!
Gil Namur says
Thanks sis!
I might take you up on that ๐
Have a great day today ๐
Dale says
It is great that a piece of Richard still lives on in us.
Gil Namur says
Indeed … and it does Dale ๐
Marcus Redivo says
If you still have your turntable and vinyl, I still have my ears, and the stuff between them.
I may not be Richard, but I know what you mean.
— marcus
Gil Namur says
Hi Marcus,
Thanks! I don’t have a spinner anymore.
You are very kind ๐
Cheers,
Gil