“You and me belong together. Like cold iced tea and warmer weather. Where we lay out late underneath the pines and we still have fun when the sun won’t shine. You and me belong together… all the time.” Lyrics excerpted from the folk song “Belong Together” by Mark Ambor, from his debut studio album- Rockwood; circa February 16th, 2024.
It seems somewhat bizarre that this catchy little ditty was out for almost a full year before it caught my ear a week gone by. Even more bizarre is the source from which it was experienced. (You can’t just “listen” to music, it must be an experience… or it’s just background noise). This as a tune used for a “dance emote” in the grand-saw’s online gaming platform- Fortnite.
For those unfamiliar, a “dance emote” is a dance move you can purchase online that your gaming character can do in game. They usually run around 7 bucks a pop. Our world has gotten so weird… Anywho…
As the song played, and the character started into its routine, I looked at the grand-one to ask where it was from. He was- singing along?!? So, I looked then at Lil Red, my petite sweet, curled up on the sofa with her blanket and pup dog. Her phone had been sidelined, and she was watching and listening intently. A pleasant look of sweet familiarity on her pretty little face.
“You guys know this song?”
Of course they did. It had been getting airtime for almost a year now. How had I missed it? Didn’t I listen to the radio during my daily 45-minute drive to and from work?
Well… no. The drive is made in abject silence. To mentally prepare for the working tasks ahead and plotting the to-dos of the afternoon. Because it gets in the way.
Regardless, post-experience a line from the song had plucked a heartstring. Later, inquiry was made of my beloved. Did she recall how, at the old house, we’d drag a blanket out under our pines. Then sit out there beneath the nettles and… what exactly did we do? She recalled the doing and likewise could not recall the what.
We’d sat? We’d talked? We’d drank? We’d picnicked? Looked at the sky? Looked at the dirt?
It was in essence a magic moment lived that cannot be re-lived. Whatever we’d done it was pleasant, and we’d done it together. That last was the important part. And why don’t we do things like that no more? Oh yes, that’s right- because it gets in the way.
Ah my love. Remember when afternoons stretched into eternity? Reading novellas aloud. Watching candles burn down. Till it gets in the way.
Recall the island retreats of the weekends? Locked away. Lights out. Curtains drawn. A stack of crap movies and plentiful snack options. The worst movies are the best movies because you talk and laugh the whole way through. Till it gets in the way.
Dancing in the grocery aisles? Convenience store comedy that made you smile? Lost in arms and eyes awhile? Till it gets in the way.
Enough! Stop it! Stop this “it” that’s in the way! It’s fricking everything up!
You cannot. Because the “it” is life. And for there to even be a way there must be life. And life will always find a way… to get in the way. And once it’s in the way… make things flow like s*** through a spaghetti strainer (there’s an image for ya!).
But isn’t there a loophole? Isn’t there another path around? Some way to actually live our life? Be a winner at the game of life? Do not drain any pasta in that thing!
We have to make living part of life again. We cannot reminisce in hopes of re-capturing. That just leads to tarnished memories. Can’t start over. We’ve come too far and backtracking just leaves too many footprints in the sand. Can’t pick up where we left off, because we can’t remember when and where we stopped.
We’ll just have to go from here. Perhaps, if we start the journey hand in hand, we can find our way together. And when life gets in the way we’ll laugh, live and love through it.
A sideways 15th Valentine dedicated to my love, my life, my all.
I welcome almost all questions, comments via Focus, or E-mail me at wanderingchainsaw@gmail.com. Hope to hear from ya, until then try and stay focused! See ya.
