How I Spent Frank Gundry's Birthday

4am Monday 21 August 2006 Frank Gundry's birthday

High Dawn,

Thanks for the McMurty/Alvin concert
I had not seen James McMurty for a few years and now I wonder why
As usual Kenny was great in helping me out
Please convey my thanks to him

I sat down to write this email when I got home Friday night
I wanted to tell you about the weird day I had
and how the music made it all worthwhile
My left knee has been real painful when I walk up or down stairs
This has made me more stay-at-home than usual
I knew that having an opportunity to see live music was a good
incentive to get out

My day started weird enough
I had planned the night before to get my headlight fixed
before I went out
I left the house about 8:30 am with the intention of going
to Embarcadero Auto
I wanted to drop off Disk 2 of the Great Highway Tunes II
I gave Michael and Peter an incomplete set
They would put in a Saab headlight for me and I could visit
the art gallery (weird to go to a garage to see art)
That reminds me I saw Jerry Lewis at the Bromberg concert in Petaluma
If I didn't drive a Saab I would be going there

So I got in the car and began driving south on Skyline
I turned left onto Westborough
As I was turning I realized that this was the way I went to my Mom's
It's been a year and a half since she died and I didn't ever expect to go
this way again
I remembered that I needed to go to the bank and I thought about
getting a cup of coffee at the drive-in place in South City,
do my banking and take 101 back to the City
That way I could get my gas at Citgo
(gotta support the only gas company that is doing something right)

I used to get coffee and a sweet roll sometimes when I visited Mom
I still go there because I don't have to get out of the car
Their pastries suck except for the cinamon roll - and they are always out
I didn't want a cinamon roll but the person getting my coffee said that
there was one left and did I want it - I said OK
I put it in the garbage today - hard as a brick
Now that I have cut down on sweets, they have what I want

I left the parking lot where the coffee stand is and began driving south
My windows were real dirty, my gas was real low so I decided to go to
the Chevron station with a carwash
I pulled in - on the wrong side
I have been driving Saabs for almost 20 years and should know where
the gas cap is
I manuevered around and ... after a couple traffic jams ...
pulled up to the pump
After getting gas I went to enter the carwash info
It was then that I noticed the trucks and cars in line to get into the
carwash were carwash repair cars and trucks

It's God's way of punishing me for not going to Citgo
I went to the carwash in Westlake and pulled into the place where I
entered the required one dollar bills - I had 6, enough for the medium wash
Only four of my bills would work
I buzzed the lady, she took my money and I got my carwash
It's a different world when you see out of your windows

I struggled getting back up the stairs
It's only pain
I am not doing any damage by taking the steps
It's pain and the only thing the doc says is to take Tylenol
I am going to get it xrayed when I get the nerve
Now I had to decide whether I could endure the stairs again
One minute I am telling myself to not be such a candy ass
The next I am asking why should I put myself through that since I am
going out on Saturday night too

2pm Tuesday 22 August 2006 Hale Milgren's birthday

Well I was going to shower after I listened to Counterspin (KPFA 2pm)
It's painful to get in and out of the tub to take a shower
I decided to wait until 4 or 5pm
I was leaning to not going
As 6pm was approaching, I decided to take a quick shower and go
After my shower, I decided to not go
I got on the GAMH website to get the phone number to cancel
The show was sold out
That meant that I would know a lot of people
and needed some socializing

I used the rails to help me down the stairs
I wondered why I didn't do this always
As I was enroute I realized it was because I am usually carrying
something (my cellphone if nothing else)
I assumed I could rough it
That's dangerous for me in my old age
Leaving the house without my cellphone
Hell I usually carry my bag which has emergency credit cards, money,
pens, lighters, buds, papers, beads, etc - A real boy scout

11am Friday 25 August 2006 Andee Feldman's birthday

I drove to Geary Boulevard
I parked on Geary in front of Mel's Drive Inn
I stepped outside the car
It was windy but I caught a cab right away
I got out in front of the GAMH
Two minutes to spare - I was on time (almost)
I knew something was wrong
It was a sold-out show and there was only a dozen or so people in line

I went to the ticket window
They told me Kenny wasn't there yet
The show was at 9pm and doors were at 8
I decided to try and stand and decide what to do
If I stayed, I could not stand for an hour
If I caught a cab, I would just go back to my car - and probably go home
A minute went by
The nice lady from the ticket office brought out a chair so I could sit
while waiting

The chair was right outside the door so folks thought I worked there
I directed people to the correct line, gave wahtever info I had and felt
like it wasn't a complete waste.
I also got to check out the local color
Great looking mix of people from the neighborhood
Mixing well were the fans in line - from yuppie to biker

A cool couple from the hood
A young Latino man with well trimmed chin whiskers creating a dimple
in his smooth carved face
His lady, I guessed Eastern European, dressing in pants which must
have been painted on
They probably were tight even before she had a child
(and an easier life, I assumed)
Her top was a matching pink covered with sequins and lace
I respective cleavage and high-heeled shoes rounded out the perfect outfit
They walked slowly down O'Farrell beaming
A little chubby kid with the face of an angel was holding firm to
Mom's hand
His eyes were open to the sights - all the people
He caught my eye - we exchanged knowing smiles

A few minutes later I observed a short muscularly built African American
man cross the street
He was dressed in a tank top showing off his toned bicceps
It was cold but he seemed oblivious to that
His haircut was one of those 21st century things which passed me by
No sideburns, it looked like a shaved head with a toupee sitting on top
Or in this case it was real and neatly quaffed
He was panhandling
He spotted me sitting there

“Jerry Garcia, you came back!” he shouted as he stepped in front of my chair
“I sure miss seeing you around”
“Me too” I replied
“Jerry, I just need 50 cents more to get something to eat”
I heard the same spiel to the scared folks from Sunnyvale who gave him 35¢
I gave him a couple bucks and he bounced on down O'Farrell singing
“Drivin' that train, outta cocaine ...”
He entertained the folks in line and collected some more spare change
I love this town

Kenny came out and told me he would let me in as soon as the sound check
finished
I felt safe - with family
I went in a few minutes before the doors opened
I chose to go upstairs and sit
The show was great - I especially liked seeing James McMurtry

I got a ride to my car
When I pointed out where to turn I saw that I had left my parking lights on
I always drive with my lights on
Except when one is burned out - I don't want to give anyone an excuse to
pull me over.
When the ignition is turned off the light are too
But not if just the parking lights are on

My friend who gave me a ride offered to wait until I got started
I told him it was not necessary and would call AAA
I didn't remember until later, that I had left my phone at home
I turned off the lights, held my breath and turned the key
It groaned and then started right up
I love these kind of Saab stories

So what began as a thank you note has become a novella
I hope you don't mind I am going to copy this email to a couple friends

As always, I thank you and all the folks at the GAMH

I am a lucky guy

Peace!

ps        I'm not the only “Rambler”