(“I’ve been falling so long it’s like gravity is gone, and I’m just floating”……)

While I don’t know that I’d use the term ‘falling’, 2021 has definitely been an unraveling of sorts. I’m still curious to see which knots will hold.

In the fall of 2019, I went to a Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears show at the Tractor Tavern with my sister. I was already standing on the river bank , and in looking up at those old beams and exposed brick, had one of those rare moments when my path seemed clear: What do I love more than old buildings and live music? What’s stopping me from opening my own venue?

At a party not too long after that (remember when we had parties?), I mentioned my idea to an old friend, who noted that my face lit up when I talked about it. I am sure that was true. Sometimes those around us can see things more clearly than we can. Anyway, the rest of 2019 wore on like any other year, and I was so excited about my barely-formed idea that I couldn’t stop talking about it, even convincing another friend to come on board despite the lack of any real plan. Of course, then 2020 hit, and I was suddenly very glad that I did not own a small live music venue.

At any rate, two years hence, “Gravity’s Gone” by Drive-By Truckers has been a bit of a theme song for me in the fall of 2021. Is it because:

1. It makes me feel like I’m two stepping in the aforementioned Tractor Tavern, which is one of my favorite venues;
2. The song makes reference to “champagne hand jobs”, which always makes me giggle. I’m still not really sure what this means (OK, maybe I have an idea). Anyway it’s a great phrase, one that I’ve yet to be able to work into casual conversation; or
3. Another line in the song, which reminds me of my Grandma: “If you’re supposed to watch your mouth all the time I doubt your eyes would be above it”. (Such a great line; I mean really, can we all now just speak our truth like old women do?)

For those playing along, the official answer is #1. But of course it’s really all of the above.