A Prayer For Life

You Can Take The Girl Out of the 80s...

Yes, The Police will be at Wrigley Field shortly after Independence Day. Don't think I will be there though. A travesty, I know. The reality is that I missed out on getting tickets when they went on sale (sold out in an hour). They are on ebay now for vast sums. Just not sure if I want to shell out what some may spend on say, a used automobile. The only person who seems vaguely interested in going is my husband and I think the interest is drummed up just to please me. So, I'll let this one simmer.



But there is another lovely English band coming to Chicago...The English Beat. Oh the memories....The poofy hair, floral pants, big sweaters, driving my scooter here, there, and everywhere. Soulful lyrics, jazzy horns, with just a hint of proper, British sensibility. I Confess is definitely on the ipod:

Just out of spite,
I confess I've ruined three lives
Now don't sleep so tight
Because I didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine.

Night after night time time after time.
Done too much of both types of w(h)ining.
Still wasn't right fight after fight
Till "Get out of my life get away from me get away from that gun"

"No it's not a joke it's cards on the table time
Yes I could have phoned
I could have spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dieing
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight."

Always searching for paradise,
I'll admit that I'm good as blind
Darling I confess yes I've ruined three lives
And didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine.

I confess
Our love seems like a punishment
And I confess,
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent

I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess.

No-one wins and there's no denying,
Don't pretend like you don't know why,
Just a little word here a little push there Darling
I confess look I confess that I don't really care

I confess I confess I confess.

Out like a light,
Another boy who's given up trying,
Blinded by fright,
He scream my life's not open,
Please get out,
I know I'm shouting,
I like to shout.

It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
I could have phoned
I could have spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dieing
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight."

Always searching for paradise,
I'll admit that I'm good as blind
Darling I confess yes I've ruined three lives
And didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine.

I confess
I deserve some type of punishment
I confess
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess

In my mind, The English Beat is ska. I'm no music critic or expert. Just a huge fan. Everytime I hear the sad saxaphone rifts in Can't Get Used to Losing You, I'm right back in 1987:

Guess there's no use in hangin' 'round
Guess I'll get dressed and do the town
I'll find a crowded avenue
Though it will be empty without you

I can't get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Called up some girl I used to know
After I heard her say, "Hello."
Couldn't think of anything to say
Since you're gone it happens every day

I can't get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

(Saxaphone solo)

Can't get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

I'll find some party wait and see
Who am I kidding, only me
Cuz no one else could take your place
Guess that I am just a hopeless case

I can't get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Can't get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Will I actually make it to the show? It's 50/50. But it's so much fun and a little sad to remember all the craziness. And the music just brings it all back.

Church Sign Wisdom 3

Saw this today and it made me go...hmmm. My Aunt Melody G. seems to have always known this without being told or reminded of it. My neighbor Lauri C. also comes to mind. And my RCIA sponsor, Jim B. My late grandfather Elmer certainly lived it. Eddy J. has permanent status on this short list. There's even an endearing lady who works in the McDonald's drive-thru in Downers Grove who makes every customer smile...every single time.

I really admire this quality. It's an organic goodness unrelated to mood or circumstance. That's not to say that these folks don't ever have to make an effort to be kind. It's just that their "kindness set point" seems to be more elevated than that of your standard crab apple (i.e., me).

So, like anything else, you work with what you have and try to do better. And I'll keep trying. In the meantime, it's nice to have inspiration by way of role models and oddly enough, street signs.