Because Fairy Tales Do Happen…

As some of you know, my niece is getting married this week. We are very close.  She is such a special woman and the man she is marrying is a terrific human being.  They have known each other since grade school…catholic grade school.  The priest who used to run the parish when they were in that school is coming back to marry them.  The families are friends. We all have been saying we have been waiting for this day for a very long time. It will be one hell-u-va part-tee!

I remember it was over a decade ago…we were in church.  The middle grades choir was going to sing. My niece, who was not yet in the middle grades, leaned over to me and said “See that boy, in the back row second to the right?…He’s the one I like.  I’m going to marry him.”  And she was right.

I was listening to more Beatles music through the weekend.  For me they write the most beautiful love songs.  I thought I would post an early wedding present to my niece and her fiance…my favorite Beatles Love Songs…

Or as it shall be known…The Fairy Tale Playlist

All My Loving –   The lyrics paint an innocent world of young yearning that is painful and delicious.

 

All You Need Is Love – Silly confession time.  When I was ten, I thought this would be the song playing as I walked down the isle.

 

And I Love Her – The unabashed declaration of love with the challenge “you’ll love her too” is intoxicating for any woman.

 

Any Time At All – The strong driving nature and attack of the chorus would send a shiver down any gal’s spine.  It’s the marriage of this savage nature with pop music that makes the early Beatles work so magnificent.

 

Don’t Let Me Down – And they never lost that savage delivery.  The lyrics and composition may speak of a more mature type of love, yet they ferocity is the same. The sliding melody brings a silken sexuality to this great song.

 

Eight Days A Week – Hypnotic and catching, this song builds on the exuberance of love that is so great it makes the days in the week eight.

 

Every Little Thing – Great song…fits the situation well.

 

Got To Get You Into My Life – Every woman dreams of striking a man this way.  McCartney must be a “love at first sight” kinda guy…this is a recurring theme in some of his work.

 

Here, There and Everywhere – A beautiful song. Complex, lovely and tender.  The bit “Love Never Dies” gets me every time.

 

Hold Me Tight – I remember being 12 listening to this and understanding what this song really meant…that knowledge with the driving bass and drums made my head swim.

 

I Feel Fine – Beyond the awesome feedback play at the beginning…A great simple song of how love makes you feel.

 

I Will – One of the softer moments from the White Album.  The sadness with in the lyrics of a man without love coupled with his deep devotion to his undiscovered love is so fragile and delicate. This is the same theme as “Got To Get You In My Life” but expressed so differently.

 

If I Fell – This song is the complete opposite of “I Will”.  The fear of being hurt is so universal and never better expressed than here.  You just want to say “Oh, Johnny, I could never hurt you like that.”

 

In My Life – I can’t hear this without tearing up.  ”Above all I love you more”, what a statement.

 

It’s Only Love – The power this crazy emotion has on all of us. Again here is Lennon’s fear of love and rejection.

 

I’ve Just Seen A Face – Here is McCartney again with his eagerness to fall in love and shout it from the roof tops.  This song is just so much fun with it’s frenetic pace.  I am so glad Lennon and McCartney balanced each other out.

 

 

Long, Long, Long – Here is George with a tender slice of biographical song writing.  Not until I saw the documentary did I realize how Harrison spoke through his lyrics.  Unlike McCartney wishing and Lennon reflecting…Harrison is actually telling someone he loves them.  Beautiful in it’s naked realness.

 

Oh, Darling – This song kills me.  The vocals are killer…pleading and promising with raw persuasiveness.

 

Something – This has been called the greatest love song of all time.  When you contrast it with what was actually happening in Harrison’s real life at the time, it’s the most precious gift of love.

 

Tell Me What You See – Amazing look at love.  You never hear a song from this perspective.

 

This Boy – Oh the part when John rips into the bridge is just so powerful.  The intensity is what takes this from a sweet song to a great song.

 

When I’m 64 – Here is Paul planning for life long love again!

 

And solo works

Love – John Lennon;  Haunting and simple; a whisper of emotion…afraid to rock the cart and disturb the sweetness he has found.

Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney; Powerful and driving; shouting from the roof tops…his dream came true.

You’re 16, You’re Beautiful, You’re Mine – Ringo Starr ; Adorable and innocent (okay Johnny Burnette wrote it, but I love Ringo’s version)

Give Me Love- George Harrison – This is one of those songs that is so ernest it hits you squarely in the chest. The humble plead is just so deeply spiritual.

BONUS TIME

I’ve Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison ; I adore this video! I mean c’mon who doesn’t love a sax playing squirrel?

And I Say It’s Alright…

The past two nights on HBO, Martin Scorsese’s documentary George Harrison: Living In a Material World has premiered.  If you are either a fan of George Harrison or Martain Scorsese, please catch it OnDemand or on HBOGo…it’s a new and deep look at a living breathing embodiment of personal Ying and Yang.

Harrison was my favorite Beatle. I was ten when I made that decision.  Partly, because I found Paul to cloying; partly, because Lennon’s acidity was a bit too stinging…and sorry Ringo, I never considered you. But after seeing just part 1 of this documentary, I have a deeper appreciation for  my choice…who George was and what he projected.  George was a “WYSIWYG”, what you see is what you get, man.  He didn’t candy coat things and play politics like Paul, nor did he follow the fashion and cause du jour like Lennon.  Even at 10, I saw that George was in the midst of an honest journey.  A journey full of light and love that could be stormy when impediments were thrown in the way.  A journey of laughter and self discovery.  A journey with a strong personal purpose and selfless bypasses.

The biggest eye opener for me was how in the present moment Harrison lived.  He reveled in his garden toils.  He glowed in the company of friends, idling playing the day away.  This year through my ailments and discoveries, “the now” means so much.  Too many people worry way too much about tomorrow and seldom see what is right there in front of them.  I can’t live life that way, because tomorrow never comes. All you own is now and it is too precious to waste.  How is it that a man I gravitated towards as a fan when I was ten years old can still bring deeper meaning and human understanding to me now some 30+ years later?

Harison spent his whole life preparing for the ultimate now, when his spirit lifted from his earthly vessel.  His frustration with being trapped in misery could be stifling, because life passes so quickly.  I feel that frustration too.  Life is too damn short to waste on being sad.

This week has not just been about my childhood influence, but also about the earth shattering passing of perhaps the person of the century, Steve Jobs.  Most of you know that I am an APPLE zealot. I have been in awe of what Mr. Job’s and Apple could achieve since the 80′s.  I have no less than seven Apple hardware devices in my home currently including my first iPod which I can’t part with for sentimental reasons.  I have struggled all week with my feelings on Steve Job’s death.  He was not a personal friend, nor do I believe we would have been friends if we had met. However, we could have talked for hours about The Beatles. But mourn I must. This man profoundly changed the world and my life with his vision. Beyond what he did for a living, what he believed was infused in every fiber of what he created, judged and/or demanded be made. The commencement address he gave just a few short years ago is perhaps one of the best life philosophies I have ever heard…and strangely similar to George Harrison’s.  Live the now…live it for you…because all things must pass.

Yesterday, was dark.  I hurt for the world loosing such a man like Jobs.  I hurt for his four children and loving wife.  I hurt for Pixar and all the Apple employees.  I worked very long hours with a round trip to Philly built in to boot. Plainly, I was sore, physically, mentally and emotionally.  It was dark, cold and lonely.

Today, though I took both what Steve Job’s said and how George Harrison lived and tried to internalize it. I reveled in the now.  I played music and sang to it like I was ten again.  The sun shone bright. I started my therapy again today!  WOOOHOOO.  Tonight, my body is busy drinking up the sticky clear liquid and spreading it around.  It always gives me a drowsy mellow feeling, peaceful…stoned almost.  I look forward to tomorrow morning when I wake.  My step will have more spring, my skin will be a better quality. Little aches will seem to dissolve and I won’t need coffee to focus my thoughts.  It’s a beautiful feeling to know that you will once again feel your absolute best. It is so beautiful that I am finding this eve delicious with anticipation.

Today, after my infusion was done, I went for a drive.  The sun was strong and high in the sky.  My windows were down and “Here Comes The Sun” played from my iPod.  A perfect now supplied by two of my biggest life influences.

That guitar sound is just so sweet.  My spirits lift instantly when I hear this song.  Today, I marveled at how the lyrics seem to marry my current state with my infusions.

And I say it’s alright…

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It’s all right, it’s all right

 

Words and music by George Harrison, 1943 – 2001

 

This post was created on an Apple computer. Think Differently. Steve Jobs, 1955 – 2011

The “I’m So Tired I Could Just Cry” Playlist

My eyes are watering I am so tired.  My brain is foggy and my head feels like it’s under water I’m so tired.  But I want to see Tammy I find Ron Swanson on Parks & Rec tonight…I know compiling a playlist will keep me going.  Music always helps.

A playlist entitled “I’m so tired I could cry” needs to start with some straight up hard core blues.

Bukka White – Sick and Tired

Lightening Hopkins – Goin’ Down Slow

Ben & Ellen Harper

Dusty Springfield – Everyday I Have To Cry

Little Anthony – Hurt So Bad

Jackie Wilson – Lonely Teardrops

The Rolling Stones – As Tears Go By

Janis Joplin – Cry Baby

Teddy Thompson – I Should Get Up

Billie Holiday – Lady Sings The Blues

Bettye LaVette – Your Turn To Cry

Howlin’ Wolf – Crying At Daybreak

The Beatles – I’m So Tired

 

GREAT NEWS

Now, some of you may know Aetna and my Immunologist didn’t agree on what was “medically necessary”…until this week!!!!!

My treatments are back on.  I am waiting for a product shipment.  I never thought I would say this, but I can’t wait to plug in.

The last 3 weeks has been a slow disintegration process of my body.  At first, I was running on the buzz of the immunoglobin. You can tell by my posts from down the shore…first week was very active.  The next week, I could feel myself wind down. It started with sluggish mornings.  I woke up more tired each morning.  Next, I found I would have to lay down each afternoon.  In general, the zeal for life was gone.  I felt like a faded photograph. And then…I got sick again.  I was in with the doctor this past weekend…a UTI & Cipro.

Now, I am back full time at work and still on antibiotics.  I am so wiped out every night I am usually in bed by 9 pm.  Oh, but thank you Dr. P and Aetna because soon the crystal elixir will be back in my life!

How to put into words how the immunoglobin feels?  I will let Joni tell you…

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I heard
Was a song outside my window
And the traffic wrote the words
It came ringing up like Christmas bells
And rapping up like pipes and drums

Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
And we’ll wear it ’till the night comes

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains
And a rainbow on the wall
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you
Crimson crystal beads to beckon

Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
There’s a sun show every second

Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today
And the streets are paved with passersby
And pigeons fly
And papers lie
Waiting to blow away

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning
And the first thing that I knew
There was milk and toast and honey
And a bowl of oranges, too
And the sun poured in like butterscotch
And stuck to all my senses

Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
And we’ll talk in present tenses

When the curtain closes
And the rainbow runs away
I will bring you incense
Owls by night
By candlelight
By jewel-light
If only you will stay
Pretty baby, won’t you
Wake up, it’s a Chelsea morning

Yeah…that’s exactly what I feel like when I have my infusions.  Don’t we all wish every day began with a Chelsea Morning?

MVI_6400

MVI_6400 a video by Shrewspeaks on Flickr.

Here are today’s surfers

LBI – One Week since my last infusion

Aetna and my therapy are still at a stalemate, so I am now at the end of my treatment window.  I am sure it is psychosomatic but I fell tired today.  Since my first infusion I have not needed nor desired a daily nap.  Today, I have resisted laying down, but whew does my body feel tired.  I don’t feel like cooking and in general my outlook is a tad bleak.  Could the infusions make that big of a difference?

On a side note, some young men were out surfing.

The Best of Day 4

sorry for this last one…hand held shot.  Should have been done with a tripod.