To Kesey

Standing on the side of the lake, you slowly swimming in the rain, a grey beard (a sign of your impending old-age, but you still walk in the mud) hiking down a tree-covered trail, just you and me (today) makes me remember.

Remember when you were young? When you were young, you barked all the time. You chased a ball up a hill and then back down. You ran into the woods during hikes, dragging big sticks down trails and begged me to throw something. When you were young you knew how to make me smile, and you smiled back. You swam in the river all day long and hiked with me on the Appalachian Trail, wet and warm in the tent at night.

Remember when we were hippies? When we were hippies, we didn’t dry off after swimming, even though we had mud on our feet. I wore a red hat with long hair. When we were hippies we didn’t care about the back seat of the green car; the four door five speed with VW on the hood. When we were hippies we walked in the park in the rain, and the snow and in the middle of the day. When we were hippies we drove with the windows down and sunroof open; me with my arm out the car and foot on the dashboard, you with your head hanging out of the window, jowls flapping in the wind, a big smile in your eyes.

Remember when we became three? When we became three your mom moved in and we lived in a small apartment and you played with your friend Reggie. We spent the afternoons at the park, swam every day and chased balls in the field behind the house. You chewed on everything.

When we became four, you had a brother and a friend who liked to swim with you and chase balls, and follow you around because you are his example.

When we became five we felt sorry for the little girl because she had nowhere else to go. It wasn’t easy because she is her own personality, but you make it work.

Now we are six, my friend. A little mouth, small legs, a tiny hand to pull a tail, grab an ear, pet your face. Another boy…at least we aren’t outnumbered.

foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy, seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me

Hey kiddo-

I was sitting here at my computer listening to the collection of music we’ve been playing around the house for the past couple of months. There are several mixes by broad categories including a bluegrass mix, a dance mix, a jack johnson mix, a master mix (the file I used to sort songs from), a reggae mix, and a sleep mix.

I won’t list all of the song(set)lists in this post, but today I found another grouping that I must have created a couple of weeks ago. This one is called Gabe’s Greatest Hits.

Some people (mommy) will disagree on the song selection, I’m sure, but this is dad’s review. I have to admit there are a couple of what I would call mommy songs that should have made it. For example, there are no Dixie Chick songs included here, although I would add one or two. I secretly suspect that during the day your mom plays the soundtrack to Rent and probably Felicity, so none of those songs are included here. Jack Johnson get his own category, and is well represented here as well.

I think the first song that got me listening to Jack Johnson again is the song Taylor (first the video, then the version found here, and then finally the studio version). The other Jack Johnson songs on the list are fun to sing and dance to.

The bluegrass songs are fun to sing along to, although I still can’t get the verse from Jenny Jenkins (I'll buy me a foldy-roldy, tildy-toldy, seek-a-double, use-a-cozza roll to find me, roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll).

Enjoy!

Love,
Dad

Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch from the Garden State Soundtrack.

My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper & Jack Johnson from the Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies soundtrack for the Film Curious George.

Taylor by Jack Johnson live from the Austin City Limits Music Festival (2003)

Upside Down by Jack Johnson & Money Mark from the Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George.

Talk of the Town by Jack Johnson & Kawika Kahiapo from the Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies soundtrack for the Film Curious George.

You Are My Sunshine by Norman Blake on the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Jenny Jenkins by David Grisman & Jerry Garcia from Not For Kids Only.

Go It Alone by Beck on Guero.

Superman by Five for Fighting on America Town.

100 Years by Five for Fighting on The Battle for Everything.

No Woman, No Cry by The Fugees on The Score.

The Fear You Won't Fall by Joshua Radin from The Fear You Won't Fall – Single.

Star Mile by Joshua Radin on the soundtrack for The Last Kiss.

Wading In The Velvet Sea by Phish from The Story Of The Ghost.
The Only LIving Boy in NYC by Simon & Garfunkel from the Garden State soundtrack.

LonelyRiver.wav by The Whiles I downloaded from their website.

Arms of a Woman by Amos Lee from the soundtrack to The Last Kiss.

Eyes of the World by the Grateful Dead from Without a Net.