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Perfect Day
In 1972, Lou Reed wrote and recorded a song called “Perfect Day” for his album Transformer. It was released as the B-side to “Walk on the Wild Side.” I think anyone who’s had a perfect day can relate to its simplicity. I was going through a box of photos, looking for something else, when I… Read more
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The Artists’ Prayer
When I was small, I prayed. It connected me to something bigger than myself. Henry Miller prayed to a different god than the one I grew up with. We all pray to our own gods and goddesses. In 1934, the Apollo Theater opened in Harlem. Babe Ruth, in his last year as a Yankee, hit… Read more
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Two Hearts Beat As One
“Say I’m a fool, you say I’m not for youBut if I’m a fool for you that’s something” I saw U2 at the Garden Monday night and was reminded again of how similar a rock concert is to a Christian mass. Bono – following in the footsteps of singers like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis,… Read more
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Racist Friend
“If you have a racist friend Now is the time for that friendship to end.” The Special AKA I ran across this picture and it got me thinking about the false logic behind racism and the type of bigotry that likes to think of itself as rational, as even a type of common sense. It’s… Read more
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Marriage
On the sixth of June, three days shy of our silver anniversary, my wife and I found ourselves on a pew in a cathedral in Sicily, unintentional witnesses to the sacrament of marriage. The bride and groom, in front of their God, family, and closest friends committed one of the most audacious acts imaginable: they… Read more
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Sicilian Sketchbook #2 – Taormina
From Taormina, Sicily, you can see the mainland of Italy. In the other direction you can see the smouldering volcanic giant, Mt. Etna. You can see a lot of things. It’s difficult, in a place like that, to not see something beautiful. As you might expect, the people who live in such a… Read more
Words & Music 