Bob (not his real name)

I'm blessed to be retired. There is a measure of freedom that I appreciate.

One thing I do to stay involved is volunteer, serving the homeless. One guy in particular opened my eyes in a few areas. Let's call him "Bob".

He was about 6-foot tall, kinda lean (as you might expect), and had a goofy sense of humor. First time I met him, I said something silly and he responded as Moe Howard of the Three Stooges. I responded in kind as Curly, and it got sillier from that point forward.

From time to time, when I saw him, he'd have the shakes. I didn't know if it was Parkinson's or some other condition.

In the months to come, we got a chance to talk about many things, some serious and others light-hearted. He opened my eyes to life on the street. I had no idea the nature of the dangers after dark on the streets. More than once, Bob would tell me about some guy who got into a fight in the wee hours of the morning. Also, when Bob described the level of savagery, I was shocked. Also, there was a lot of theft between folks, which would also set off fights and arguments.

I can't say we were friends in the classic sense. I never even knew his last name. But, we had started to get to know each other enough to have in-depth, real conversations on a wider circle of topics. He helped me grow in new ways.

In my limited exposure to that society, I initially held the impression it was a loose-knit type of communal environment. It was a lot more dog-eat-dog that I'd ever considered. Bob mentioned several incidents where  some guy jumped him, and left him bruised. A couple of times, Bob ended up in the hospital to recover.

One Thursday in mid-October, Bob and I talked about the coming winter and his provisions for staying warm and dry. He also mentioned that a few nights before, he had awakened to a larger guy pummelling him around the head and shoulders. Bob wasn't visibly bruised, and not necessarily emotionally shaken. He seemed more resigned to the fact that such acts were part and parcel of life on the street.

The following week, as I was starting to set up, another homeless guy came up to me and asked "you heard about Bob, right?" The guy went on to tell me several guys took turns beating on Bob late one night, for reasons unknown. Apparently, during a pause in the assault Bob crawled away from the scene of the attack to a nearby point of concealment in an attempt to prevent a follow-on attack.

Bob's body was found at sunrise.

In the days that followed, I scanned the local paper for a mention, maybe an obituary. Nothing. Week after week, no mention.

I realize some murders capture the community's attention in a sudden way. Others may be noted, but the story soon fades. Some get ignored. I don't know if the local police are in the midst of investigating, or if they are stymied by lack of leads. This is not to disparage their efforts to keep the streets safe.

To think that Bob died alone on some downtown street, by the hand of others, and has been all but forgotten is heartbreaking.

Life is such a gift. There are so many signs around us that reveal just how much we've forgotten that fact.

The take-away I offer is this: take the time to consider what your existence means. What does your life symbolize? What do you stand for?

P.S., in mid-November, I got word that a different homeless guy I know (let's call him Carl) also suffered an attack from a group of guys, apparently just because.

Q: "Where you been, old dude?"

A: Procrastinating, mostly.

Don't mind admitting, after the Aurora, CO shooting this summer, I did wonder "who cares about what movie you watched or what tune you heard?" Some of the stuff I wanted to post seemed pretty shallow.

So, we go from Aurora to shootings in Texas, Wisconsin and now Connecticut in a matter of months. People all over are asking "what can we do differently to prevent this in the future?" or "how do we explain it to our kids?"

I wish I had answers.

I do have a few thoughts, though. One, let's stop with the "we never thought it would happen in this neighborhood" mindset. The proof has been long evident that this kind of horrific attack can happen anywhere.

Let's also stop with the "he didn't seem like the kind of person to do this" view. Any of us are capable of great evil in a specific circumstance.

You want to explain it to your kids? Tell 'em evil has always been a part of life on earth. Tell 'em not to add to the evil that exists. Tell 'em the value of every life.

My bigger concern is "why do so many people feel that when they are hurting, it's appropriate to inflict hurt on innocents?" As much of a opinionated windbag as I am, I can't get my head around this fact. When did this perspective seemingly explode and pollinate virtually every corner of the globe?

Am I advocating increased gun control? No.

I advocate for increased "people control". In our society, we need to change the nature of discourse. I don't think we're asking the right questions. I was talking with some friends yesterday, and we all agreed that hearts need to change. The sanctity of life needs to be reaffirmed. Our approaches dealing with mental disorders or even personal challenges need to be re-evaluated.

Will I post about movies, music and other goofy stuff in the future? Yep. But, I can't shake this feeling that with all we have in this nation, we are falling apart faster than most are willing to admit.

Part of the recovery after heartbreak or tragedy is the desire to re-connect with some semblance of normalcy. It's tough, but we are compelled to pick up the pieces and go on.

See ya somewhere down the road...

What's on my iPod - "Don't Stop Me Now" by Toto

Number seven of my ten favorite Toto songs is the instrumental "Don't Stop Me Now"


Lyrics - http://www.toto99.com/lyrics/xxlyrics.shtml 

Off the "Fahrenheit" album from 1986 is this gem of a track.  Miles Davis lends his legendary trumpet skill to the track.  Miles Davis!  When I saw his name on the liner notes, I thought it was some gag, or maybe some studio sampling thing.  But, it was no joke, the man was present & gettin' it done.


Lukather and Paich are credited as co-writers.  A mellow groove guitar lick leads off, followed by piano and a light jazzy touch on drums.  Then, Davis rolls in.  He really "takes his time", his notes floating in and out of the arrangement.  After verses and chorus, Davis takes the outro solo, with a little "scat"-style free form piece.  It was a neat close to a brilliant track.


This track sets a great mood - it evokes images of "after six", formal nights out, great company and great times.  It's classy and not rushed at all.  Fans of Davis' work would not consider this out of place in his catalog.  It was a great collaboration.  


The band's history of extensive studio work and resultant work relationships made team-ups like this possible.  It's a big part of why I am such a big fan.  You can't predict what any given Toto album is gonna sound like. Their work isn't stale or pre-conceived.

Next time, number 6 - "These Chains"

Happy Bastille Day

...and it's my birthday, as well.

Admittedly, I'm not the strongest Francophile.  I've flown over France a few times, and have watched "The Three Musketeers".  I've read a bit on the overthrowing of the Bastille and the resultant changes in French governance and society.  Now that I'm retired, I have time to perhaps dig in more into French language, culture, etc.

Mostly, 14 July is a chance for me to eat pie and ice cream with no guilt.  Now that I'm solidly in middle-age, I can't consume the cake and other fun stuff as much as I like.  Today, I can.

Having said that, for the folks in France and other areas celebrating today, Vive le France!  Vive le Republique!

What's on my iPod - "Bottom of Your Soul" by Toto

As my list of favorite Toto songs marches on, number eight is "Bottom of Your Soul".


Lyrics - http://www.toto99.com/lyrics/xxlyrics.shtml

This song is from the 2006 release "Falling In Between".  This is the most recent studio release by the band (as of this posting).  While this album didn't get across-the-board supportive reviews, there are interesting ideas all over the ten songs.

David Paich is credited as this song's writer, with Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams sharing lead vocal duties. The lyrics are a call to the listener to raise awareness to the troubles and suffering around the world.  


Percussion starts this one, with longtime Toto ally Lenny Castro making a great contribution. Greg Phillinganes, who had been playing with the band for a while before this release, fits seamlessly with expert piano and smooth backing vocals.  Bassist Mike Porcaro shows his usual deft touch teaming with drummer Simon Phillips nailing the rhythm section.  Also, listen for backing vocals from Chicago bassist Jason Scheff.  


This track got a bit of attention when the album was released, but not enough to chart. The folks at MelodicRock.com gave the track a highly favorable review, and strongly supported the album overall.  


This album was a great summation of all the skills and techniques the band has learned over decades of playing and composing.  This may very well be the band's last studio album - if so, it's a superb closing statement. This song is a high point of the album.

Next time, number 7 - "Don't Stop Me Now"

My novel - second update

I've incorporated red pen-and-ink changes.  Three friends graciously offered to "peer review" it.  I eagerly await their candid inputs.

Goal is to self-publish late summer/early fall.  We'll see...

Old Dude, Old Movies - "Stormy Weather"

This 1943 release starred Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Lena Horne and Dooley Wilson, along with a host of top African-American entertainers from that era.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036391/

This is an amazing presentation of talent.  Given the social mores of the time, too many people missed out on a treasure.

Like most musicals of that time, the plot was just a vehicle to get the stars on screen, doing what they do best.  Mae E. Johnson, singing "I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City".  The Nicholas Brothers, dancing up a storm.  Horne, singing the title number, a tune that would become her signature song.  Fats Waller and Cab Calloway make solid contributions as well.


This movie is one of the best musicals ever made.  I'd strongly recommend it to anyone.  Seek it out; it's worth it.