7 A.M.

Sitting, listening, tears streaming.

I received a lovely box in the mail yesterday from my Brooklyn boys. Among the gift items was a CD/DVD of Simon & Garfunkel (one of my very favorites!). I decided to let it keep Milton and me company this morning.

It takes me back to Easter Sunday, March 29, 1970.  I'm three months pregnant and staying with my parents on the farm. My husband of 10 months is in basic training outside of Chicago. I work at the hospital in a small city, about 10 miles away. There are no cell phones and we only get three TV stations - a few radio stations. I'm off work and enjoying my holiday with family. A call goes out in the night for all hospital staff to come help. I'm unaware and can't respond. The next morning, we learn that there was a terrible fire in town and five volunteer firemen are dead, 27 people injured with 12 admitted to the small hospital. Even in New York, Chicago, L.A., Paris, or any huge city you can think of, this would be front page news. Imagine a population of 8,000. Everyone in the town and surrounding area is either friend or relative, relative of a friend, friend of a relative, works with, goes to church with, or had their life/home saved by one of these killed.

Within the next few days, the fallen were to be eulogized, farewells given and put to rest. Several of the injured remained in the hospital. It was planned to have the audio broadcast on the public address system at the hospital. My mom was working that day and I came in for the 3-11 shift. I was able to ignore the service in the guise of busyness (Didn't want to cry at work!) Until the song. S & G in their pure, melodic harmonies singing, "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

I expounded a bit about the power of music to vividly refresh a moment in time in my post 'The Song Remembering When'. Thus the tears streaming at 7 A.M. I'm back there, back then, trying not to cry, not succeeding, feeling the anguish, feeling the sorrow of the above mentioned people, feeling my own sadness at the loss of so many, so young, so dedicated, from all walks of life, brought together in death by their mutual commitment to life.

I'll never forget. No one should.

*David Lee Rotten Note: Check out the amazing Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water performance that I was lucky to see LIVE at the 25th ANNIVERSARY ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME CONCERT- Madison Square Garden, NYC - October 29&30, 2009

This was a country song maybe in the 90’s. It put into words what most of us already know if we love music. 

THE SONG not only evokes the memory, it takes me back to that place. Gives me back that feeling, the place, the weather, the sadness or happiness of that moment. I’m there again.

“Kathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping. I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why.”

Simon and Garfunkel transport me back-I’m young and heartbroken and disillusioned and, WOW, they used my name. My most important boyfriend gave me my first S&G album and I’ve loved them ever since.

“Imagine me and you-I do-I think about you day and night, it’s only right, to think about the girl you love, and hold her tight-So Happy Together." The Turtles take me to my room, pale green with soft green and white striped curtains and sheets. My shorthand teacher suggested practicing to the radio. I loved that assignment! I must have written those words dozens of times. The only radio station I could reliably tune in had a very short playlist.

A few years later, married, pregnant and living in Key West. Hot and humid and rainy most every day. A different world from the Pennsylvania dairy farm where I grew up! Several songs can take me there. “I Wanna Make It With You” (Bread), “Fire and Rain” (James Taylor), “Spill the Wine” Eric Burden and the Animals. When I hear them, I close my eyes and I’m sitting at the old metal table I covered with bright contact paper to hide the rust. I’m smoking a cigarette and reading Ayn Rand. (yes, I was pregnant. In my defense, that was before we knew the possible consequences of that act) It’s hot and sunny-so humid! Then clouds and torrential downpours. The conch train goes by the Presidential Gate across from my downstairs apartment. Good thing it’s covered. In an hour or less, just as hot, all evidence of rain, gone.

Some years later, my sister was sick-deep depression-empty eyes. She had a record she loved and played over and over. When she died, I played that record once and never again. I was there again, the sadness, frustration, hope, fear and the culmination of sorrow and loss.

The song remembers when-through good times and bad-the soundtrack of my life.