Turns out it was there all along, just a little older and wiser now. Comforting, really…..the opposite of “creepy”. [And by way of update, I discovered that my son now enjoys this song, and when I told him about the show, he asked me if they played “Wave of Mutilation” (which they did)].
Pixies
The Pixies, Chad Stokes, and Pineapple
A strange combination, right? Here is the backstory: I pay a lot of attention to things that are not really worthy of my attention. It is probably not the most efficient use of my time, but still, I am slightly obsessed with signs, and the inter-connectedness of things…..people, events, music. I wrote a blog post recently about my son’s take on a Pixies song that seemed to be following me. (“Oh, There is My Mind”).
Although I love the idea of signs, I rarely follow them. To wit: I once thought that the discovery of my old Joshua Tree tee shirt was a sign that I should re-consider my decision to not attend the U2 concert. (“A 1987 Bono for the New Year”). That stupid tee shirt might very well have been a sign, but ultimately I didn’t follow it, even when, the night before the show, I had access to a ticket. I also was once sure that a song at a wedding was beckoning me back to France (“Book the Villa, it’s a Sign”), but that hasn’t happened yet, either. C’est la vie.
Spotty history aside, even if you are not a “sign” kind of person, you’ve got to admit that the following signs from last Saturday are enough to make you scratch your head. I’m not committing to follow through on anything, but it does make me wonder what The Pixies, Chad Stokes, and pineapple have in common, and what they might be trying to tell me.
SATURDAY SIGN #1
I had tickets that night to see Chad Stokes (from Dispatch and State Radio) play with his new band at a small club. I’ve always had an imaginary friendship with Chad, because he looks like a friend of my sister’s who brought a pineapple to my wedding. (“On Sisters and Pineapple”). I love everything about pineapples – their symbolism of hospitality, the fact that they hail from Hawaii, and that they remind me of my wedding day.
My sister texted me to have fun at the show and to say hi to Chad for her. I responded that maybe I should bring him a pineapple. A few hours later, what do I find at a thrift store — a small wooden pineapple. Spooky, right? I bought it, of course. I had two other wooden pineapples at home that were screaming to become a trio. (Sorry, Chad).
SATURDAY SIGN #2
Pineapple in place with its two other buddies, we headed out for appetizers and drinks before the show. My husband had not yet read my Pixies-related blog post, so he sat and read it while we waited. “Good post,” he said, and we started talking about the kids (this is what all parents talk about on their nights out, yes?) Without missing a beat, the song came on. That’s right — the “creepy” song — “Where Is My Mind?” — again. Third time in only a few days. It’s not that common of a song, is it? Why will this song not leave me alone?
We looked at each other – “Hmph. Strange…..”, but ultimately did not reach any conclusions about the meaning of this occurrence, and we headed out to the show. And it was a lovely show…..very small venue, a great combination of Chad’s new songs, State Radio songs, and Dispatch songs….including one of my favorites, “Elias”, as an encore. The rest of the evening was, blissfully, pineapple and Pixies-free.
So what does it all mean? That I really have lost my mind? That I should go to Hawaii? That I need a weekend away with my sisters? I’m still mulling over the possibilities — you know, for a Sign that, ultimately, I will not follow.
Oh, There is My Mind
It always amuses me when my kids voice an opinion on a song from the back of the minivan, or the other side of the kitchen island. Sometimes I’m surprised at what they like, and sometimes I’m disappointed that my favorites aren’t theirs too. Either way, I’m glad they are listening, and 20 years from now, hopefully they will have songs that will bring back vivid memories for them, the way music does for me.
My son is quite possibly the funniest kid I know, which is not surprising, considering that his dad is the funniest grown-up I know. He comes out with zingers that make me laugh, scratch my head, and wonder how he comes up with this stuff. And then I forget to write it all down.
This morning. Breakfast table in an otherwise not-empty room (yes, PJ reference)…….As his sister thumbed through a catalog, he queried, deadpan-serious: “Do they make American Girl Doll weaponry?”
His sister and I laughed, but — is this the untapped marketing angle that would make American Girl Dolls appeal to boys? Before we had much time to discuss the details of combat gear for Kit, however, we were heading out the door. My daughter, not to be outdone in the clever comment category: “I’m wearing this hoodie today, it makes me feel like I live in Hollywood”. Apparently that makes for a good day when one is in second grade.
Yesterday in the van, my son had taken aim at the Pixies, declaring, “this song is creepy” when “Where Is My Mind?” happened to come on. (He attributed it to the “woo hoo’s” at the beginning. Fair enough.) He and I go out for coffee together twice a week, just the two of us. It’s a tradition that started two years ago, when we were trying to figure out what to do with the extra half hour in the morning while his sister is at choir. We drop her off at school, then hit a coffee house — latte for me, hot cocoa and a baked good for him. Topics of conversation include baseball, dogs, vacations, and, most recently, lessons (for me) in the game of Magic: The Gathering. We once sat and played a game, which earned me a ‘Way to Go, Mom’ thumbs-up from the bearded 20-something barista.
This morning we walked in to the coffee house – a different one than usual – and you can guess what song was playing….. “Where Is My Mind?”. Now that is creepy. “Hey, Sweetie — it’s your song!” I said, and he pretended to grimace.
You know how, as a parent, you experience fleeting moments that make you feel like you are doing something right? (The ones that balance out all of the times when you are sure you are screwing your kids up for life?) This morning was one of those moments. My sweet fourth grade boy was stressing out over a school project. We talked through it and came up with a plan. Then he took a sip of cocoa, cocked his head to one side, looked at me and said, “Mom, I always feel better when I talk to you about stuff.” True to form, I welled up with tears, but managed to tell him – hey, that’s what Moms are for. I’ve often joked with him that he and I share the same brain, and it’s true. We are wired the same. I like to think that this will give me an edge in helping him navigate the teenage years…..we’ve agreed to keep our morning coffee dates going, and I really hope we do.
He wanted to stay home with me today. The real reason is that he is in the middle of a big baseball card sorting project, and he is, in his words — “making great progress”. He wanted to hunker down in his room and keep going, with a Harry Potter book on tape in the background. I know this because we share the same brain, and days like that appeal to me too. He tried to tell me, however, that if I let him stay home, he would help me with stuff around the house:
“Mom! If you let me stay home today, I’ll be your house elf”.
I kissed him and ushered him out of the van. But if I really thought that he would do chores for me all day, I’d probably let him stay home.
Corduroy Notes 