Uh, what...feelings of déjà vu?
Well, join the club!
Yesterday, I prefaced by remarks by saying that I was "reaching"...
Today, I'm reaching for the stars...and it is eclectic, indeed!
I think Julie's jealous (and political) streak is showing today...
Early this morning I wrote one of my pithy intros to a CAT Tracks edition concerning our wannabe Republican candidate for Vice President...entitled "FOXy Lady". With tongue planted firmly in cheek, I indicated a certain attraction (a wink and a nod, if you will) to the one some have labeled the "Hot Governor". I even stated that I was going to support the McCain-Palin ticket!
Julie knew well my sense of humor...lamenting often my "groaners".
Julie also knew how I would "practice" lying to her...achieving a tremendous "gotcha" early on in our courting days about my friend, Joe (no, NOT "six pack" or the plumber! It was Joe Shwartz...that fella known near and far.)
So, Julie...it was JUST a joke...I didn't really mean it! Trust me...
Okay, guess I've gotten ahead of myself...not making much sense so far. Let me hit the rewind button...
After posting my McCain-Palin edition, I began making my morning rounds...to check my local news sources. Checked in with the WSIL TV Channel 3 and KFVS TV Channel 12 Web sites to no avail. Since the Southeast Missourian Web site takes a while to load on dial-up, I wandered off to fix a pot of coffee. (Julie would be surprised by THAT. We both had tried to get into coffee in the early years, but it never stuck. Julie did drink hot tea and using the coffee maker for both sure messes up the taste of tea. Since I long ago acquired a taste for cola in the morning, no problem there!)
Anyway, when I returned to the computer, I saw a name that brought back memories...Carole King.
Staring back at me was the following:
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Southeast Missourian
Grammy winner Carole King will visit Cape Girardeau today as part of a two-day visit to Missouri to support the presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama. King, known for hit songs such as "It’s Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move," will not be performing. Instead, she will speak with volunteers and voters about her support for the Illinois senator and take part in a telephone bank calling potential voters. King will be at the Obama campaign office, 821 Broadway, beginning at 6 p.m.
Hey, it's OBVIOUS to a desperate man searching, reaching for "signs"!
Okay, okay...I must practice patience! You don't have my life experiences...required for proper context. THAT is the burden that all great authors bear. Sigh...
When I saw the name Carole King, my mind immediately leaped to another of our "courting albums". Yep..."Tapestry" by Carole King - released in 1971 (the same year as the aforementioned "Every Picture Tells A Story".) Julie literally wore out the vinyl on that one. I later bought the CD version for her...AND...downloaded it to her iPod.
A split second later, little bells started ringing in my head...little bells that remained silent yesterday as I focused on another performer...Rod Stewart.
Well, if you are not familiar with Carole King and "Tapestry"...I'll bring you up to date on this "sign".
Who, pray tell, do you think WROTE and originally sang "So Far Away"?
Hey, you're smarter than a 3rd Grader...head and shoulders above Sarah Palin!
Yep...second song on Carole King's "Tapestry".
To continue my "reach"...
Julie knew that the timing was right...that my mind WOULD make the connection. AND...after getting my attention (yeah, sometimes you have to use a 2X4 on a Mewell), Julie knew that she could deliver her political message...VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN! (By the way, Julie was a Hillary supporter...NOT Obama, whom she met when she was on the IMRF Board of Trustees. Also, I know with certainty that Julie would NOT have been lured to the McCain campaign by his selection of Sarah! I can almost hear her now...)
So...Julie...message received "loud and clear"!!!
Couple of footnotes:
When you're down in troubles
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I'll be there
Yes I will
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend