That is kind of an apt description for how I blog. I put on a headset and listen to iTunes and let the words take me away. Sometimes it feels like the keyboard is my guide and I am just following along.
Springsteen’s Hungry Heart catches me
“Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going”
Simon and Garfunkel grab me
“Kathy, I’m lost,” I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They’ve all gone to look for America.”
Some songs just tug on my heart. Sometimes I listen to music and I just get choked up. Sometimes I find myself sitting in the dark a solitary tear running down my face and I wonder how the world can be filled with so much pain and so much beauty. Sometimes I wonder how amidst the chaos we keep going and then I remember the look that my children give me when I bless them and I remember.
Each Friday night they know that they will receive a special blessing. When they are sick and or scared they come looking for it and I give it. Moments in time that I wish I could keep forever.
I could have been a sailor. I could have been a man of the sea. I have the wanderlust. My paternal grandfather used to be in the carnival business. He had the wanderlust and sometimes I feel it reaching out to me, calling me. The fire inside, it burns, bright. The fire inside is always raging, it is gaping maw searches for fuel. Always.
The Talking Heads said it well
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautifulWife
And you may ask yourself-well…how did I get here?
James Brown has a cure for melancholy thought
Get up offa that thing,
and dance ’till you feel better,
Get up offa that thing,
and dance ’till you, sing it now!
Get up offa that thing,
and dance ’till you feel better,
Get up offa that thing,
and try to release that pressure!
I still get pumped watching Rocky. I ran the steps in Philadelphia, along with about a half dozen other people. I felt a little goofy, but it was fun.
Listening to the theme from Chariots of Fire still makes me want to run. I could write more, but it is a little late. Instead let me list some more songs from this evening.
Burn Down The Mission– Elton John
Siúlil a Run– Celtic Woman
Love Ain’t for Keepin’– The Who
It Was A Very Good Year– Sinatra
Weekend In New England– Barry Manilow
Stardust– Nat King Cole
What I Got– Sublime
Under The Milky Way– The Church
One Tin Soldier (The Legend Of Billy Jack)– Coven
The Fire Inside– Bob Seeger
Until It Sleeps– Metallica
O Mio Babbino Caro (From Gianni Schicchi)-Kiri Te Kanawa
Young Turks– Rod Stewart
Jack's Shack
Stace,
I trained you well. 🙂
CM,
Hey now, don’t go ruining my rep. People might think that I am going soft.
FS,
That sounds nice.
Robbie,
I’ll have to check it out.
Robbie
You should listen to the song, “One of These Things First” by Nick Drake. It talks about similar things as you – things you could have otherwise been.
fluentsoul
Very nice post. One of our favorite Shabbat moments is when my husband blesses our children, too; they’re still pretty little, but they look forward to it already.
cruisin-mom
Jack: great post…so heartfelt…I ran up the Rocky Stairs too…isn’t it the greatest feeling?(hokey, yes, but great).
And…drum roll please…
YOU BLOGROLLED ME!!! Yay!!!! thanks 😉
Stacey
America is one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs. And you quoted my exact favorite lines from it. And that song by Barry is his best!