An Evening In Ellicott City

Through the years, I've always enjoyed spending a Saturday or Sunday afternoon strolling down Main Street in historic Ellicott City. The old buildings and hilly landscape transport me back to a time when things were a little less complicated. Unfortunately, a couple of major floods over recent years have wreaked havoc on small business owners in this historic district. But on my first trip back since the last flood, I was happy to see that business was booming and the streets were crowded with enthusiastic visitors. 

My long-time friend, Mike Young, happened to be playing an outdoor gig with his band (Radio Monkey) near the Little Market Cafe. This was the primary reason for yesterday's visit. But we were able to squeeze in a quick dinner and a little shopping beforehand.

Our first stop was at the Manor Hill Tavern. We made our way to the upstairs bar where I was greeted by a small but interesting chalkboard list of the house beers. It was a bit torturous to me as I had volunteered to be the designated driver for the evening. I figured I could have one decent draft beer with dinner and switch over to soft drinks for the rest of the evening. So, I narrowed my choice down to two brews which were, interestingly enough, named MaryAnn and Ginger. Both were IPA's which is my go-to beer type. But since I've been partial to the Mary-Anns of the world since the early days of Gilligan's Island, I went with that one. 

When it came time to order dinner, I went with the Honey Blue Crab Pizza. It consisted  of Alabama White BBQ, lump crabmeat, Fritos (yes, that's right), corn, blue cheese, and honey habanero. How could I pass this up? When I placed my order with the bartender, I asked if I could get my pizza with no corn. I explained that I'm having a colonoscopy in a few days and my doctor instructed me to avoid seeds, nuts and corn for the days leading up it. She laughed and assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. Yeah, I know, sometimes I surrender way too much information. By the way, the pizza was absolutely delicious! Even without the corn!

After dinner we strolled along Main Street and visited a few of the local shops. One of which was a hat store. Even though my hat collection is pretty much limited to baseball caps, I'm fascinated with all kinds of hats. For instance, cowboy hats have a way of instantly upping the sexiness of any girl next door. Imagine Mary-Ann in a cowboy hat. Ginger who? And how cool does Slash look in that big black top hat while he's playing the intro to "Sweet Child of Mine"? I would love to walk into work one morning wearing that thing. But I don't think that it would have the same effect. Anyway, I left the shop empty handed.

I headed towards the Little Market Cafe with Tina, Toni and John. The area was already buzzing with activity. We were lucky enough to find an empty table near the side of the stage. As we settled into our seats, a guy came walking by with an interesting record album in his right hand. We inquired about it and he told us that it was an obscure John Lennon album that he had bought at one of the local shops. He had a brown paper bag his other hand. He informed us that he also bought a set of Num-Chucks and he slowly pulled them out of the bag. It was a weird segue. We just laughed, and said, "Relax Mr. Miyagi, we're not here to steal your Lennon record." The guy casually slipped the wooden sticks into the bag and quietly walked off into the sunset.

We were joined a short time later by our good friend and old high school buddy, Derrick. We chatted with Mike for a bit before he hit the stage with his Les Paul. Norm, another old high school friend, stopped by to complete the mini-Gibbons Class of '83 reunion.

Everyone's focus turned towards the stage as the band kicked off their first set. They played a variety of popular songs from the 80's and 90's. The tight musicianship of the trio was noticeable. I've known Mike since we were freshmen in high school. Even back then, his ability to navigate around a fretboard was remarkable. He has since grown into one of the most respected guitar players in the area. He was especially impressive of this June evening as he had to battle hoards of flying cicadas. At one point, he had four of the winged creatures clinging to him while he delivered a guitar solo.

The trio delighted us with the Judas Priest version of "Diamonds and Rust". In my opinion, one of the best covered songs ever. Of course, the song always excites us to a point where we feel the need to sing along. As the bridge of the song kicked in, I think we were louder than the band's PA system:

Now I see you standing with brown leaves all around and snow in your hair

Now, we're smiling out the window of this crummy hotel over Washington Square

Our breath come out in white clouds and hangs in the air

Speaking strictly for me, we both could have died then and there....

While it certainly wasn't pretty, it was fun. I was so amped up with musical energy that I tore the lid of my bottle of Deer Park and guzzled it with reckless abandon. (By the way, next time someone else is driving!)

The band closed down the evening with a blistering version of Iron Maiden's "Wrathchild". This was a song that Mike and I grew up listening to and played with our respective bands back in the day. While some of the younger people in the crowd had probably never heard the song, it still forced them to bob their heads. Paraphrasing Derick, "That's the way you close a show!"

As we wound down the evening, we all said our goodbyes. We acknowledged how, no matter how long we go without seeing one another, we can always pick up right where we left off. It was a very nice moment.

Our day in Ellicott City was very enjoyable. We ate good, spent some quality time with long-time friends and heard some great music. Looking forward to doing it again real soon....

kw

WBFF - The First Fifty Years

Once upon a time, before cable TV was available for everyone, many of us had to rely on over-the-air programing to deliver our favorite TV shows. This would often require you to adjust your TV antennae (affectionately known as "rabbit ears") to fine tune your TV screen. Even with all of this additional work, you were still limited to five or six channels. In my hometown of Baltimore, we had the three major network affiliates (ABC, NBC & CBS) and two "UHF" channels which consisted of the Maryland Public Broadcasting channel and the newly introduced WBFF channel. 

WBFF, introduced in 1971, was a welcome addition to our viewing repertoire. As a child, I can remember rushing home from school so I could catch the start of Captain Chesapeake at 3 pm. Captain C, as he was affectionately known, was the host of a variety of shows that ran for the remainder of the afternoon. He would give a brief monologue and then he would transition into an episode of "Rocky & Bullwinkle", "Speed Racer" or another similar kid-friendly cartoons. Captain would make spontaneous appearances during the commercial. And although I was usually alone, I always felt like the captain was with me in an adjacent armchair.

Captain Chesapeake was like Santa Claus in the sense of his mystique to young minds. Did he really live on a house boat in the middle of the Chesapeake? Was his sidekick, Mondy the Sea Monster, real? At some point, kids would start with the "C'mon, you don't really believe all that, do you?" As an honorary "crewmember", it was hard to give into reality.

As the evening progressed, the kid shows would give way to classic sitcoms such as "Gomer Pyle USMC", "Get Smart", "The Munsters", "I Dream of Jeannie" and the beloved "Gilligan's Island". If you happened to drop by a friend's house, it was common to see one of these shows playing on the TV. They were staples of our youth.

On Saturday nights. we would tune into "Ghost Host Theater" which featured old horror movie starring the likes of Vincent Price and other classic horror movie actors. While these movies might be considered lame by today's standards, they were scary and creepy enough to keep a youngster on the edge of his seat back then.

The "BFF" in WBFF is officially stated to mean Baltimore's Forty-Five. However, I have also heard it referred to as Baltimore's Finest Features. Although the former is technically accurate, I believe the latter is more appropriate.

Aside from the classic sitcoms, WBFF also ran some pretty interesting commercials. I can remember the ads for "Ray's Hair Weaves". I don't actually know anyone that bought one of these hair weaves, but Ray always made them sound like a must-have item. 

There were also the Carvel Ice Cream commercials, featuring "Fudgy the Whale". The announcer's voice was unique, sounding like he was talking through a muffled bullhorn.

I can also remember the commercials for the plastic slip-covers for your furniture. In the commercial, kids would be jumping up and down on a couch when a thunderous voice would startle them with, "Hey, you kids! Get off of that couch! What are ya trying to do, ruin it?!" And I can actually remember people buying these covers. Although they would certainly protect the fabric from a splash of red wine, they made the couch or chair extremely uncomfortable. You would sit on these things in the summer time and then have the joy of peeling your bare arms and legs from the plastic as you got up. 

WBFF also had their own local newscasters. The one that sticks out in my mind is a guy named Ernie Boston. He had this deep "Rodney Dangerfield" type voice and an all-business delivery. My good friend, Mark, used to do an awesome impression of Mr. Boston.

WBFF just celebrated it's 50th anniversary in my hometown of Baltimore. Although the programming has changed quite a bit from my childhood days, the station is still on the air and doing fine. I thank them for the memories and wish them many years of continued success for the future.

kw

RIP Hammerin' Hank

 It was a Monday night back in 1974, April 8th to be exact. I can't quite remember why, but I was over my grandmother's house. As an eight-year-old, my appetite for baseball was just getting started. The Monday Night Baseball game was just getting ready to begin. I adjusted the rabbit ears on my grandmother's old 19-inch TV screen to sharpen the picture. 

I then made a quick run to the kitchen to retrieve a can of 7-Up* and a half-empty bag of Bugles. I returned to the small living room and got as comfortable as I possibly could on the plastic-covered sofa. My focus was now on the small television where the Atlanta Braves were about to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Of course, this was no regular game. You see, Hank Aaron currently had 714 homeruns under his belt. One more long ball would move him past Babe Ruth as the all-time HR leader. 

My grandmother couldn't quite understand why I was so antsy. I tried to explain the situation to her. But she still didn't seem to take a whole lot of interest. In her defense, she wasn't much of a sports fan. Her athletes of choice were the polka dancers on the Lawrence Welk Show. 

Anyway, the game eventually started. Even though I was watching the game from a rowhouse in Baltimore, I could feel the excitement in the Atlanta air. The first few innings went by without much ado. Aaron walked his first time at bat. But then, in the 4th inning, it happened.....

Hank laid the sweet spot of his bat on a high Al Downing fastball and drove it deep into left-center field. Bill Buckner, the Dodger left-fielder at the time, gave it a valiant effort. But he could not bring it back. The ball landed on the other side of the fence (and into the glove of Braves' reliver Tom House). And just like that, Hank Aaron was the new homerun king.

I instinctively jumped off of the couch and called for my grandmother, "Nana! Nana! Come here quick!"

I desperately wanted someone else to experience this moment with me. She quickly appeared from the front room of the house with a concerned look on her face. She probably figured I was choking on one of the Bugles. She asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. He did it, Nana! He did it!"

Of course, my grandmother didn't share my excitement. Again, I tried to explain the significance of what had just happened. She just shook her head and said, "As long as it makes you happy, That's all that matters." 

I was so excited that I didn't sleep too much that night. I think this where my interest in baseball really kicked into high gear. I would later attend high school at Cardinal Gibbons which was the original St. Mary's Industrial School where Babe Ruth's baseball career was born. I often wondered if the Babe's spirit would haunt me for rooting for Hank Aaron to break his record. Since there were no hauntings to report, I believe the Babe was OK with it.

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Although I had to confirm the actual date and day of the week, I really do remember this event like it was yesterday. Hank Aaron went on to become one of my favorite and most respected players. The guy was everything that you'd ever want out of a great ball player. 

Henry Aaron was signed by the Milwaukee Braves. But he came very close to signing with the San Francisco Giants. The main reason that he went with the Braves is because they offered him $50 more per month. Think about that for a minute. $50 a month was the difference of Henry Aaron and Willie Mays playing in the same outfield.

Facing many obstacles, Hank towered above them all. He became a role model of hard work, focus and dedication. He would eventually gain the respect and admiration of baseball fans everywhere. He was a class act, on and off the field.

Henry Aaron finished his career with 755 homeruns, 2297 RBI's (still the all-time record), 3771 hits and a lifetime batting average of .305. He also won three Gold Gloves for his defensive play. He went into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982 with 97% of the vote (who could have possibly voted against him??)

Years ago, I remember watching a documentary about Aaron's legacy. Hank's wife made a comment that summed him up for me...."Henry was a great baseball player. But he was a better father." 

What more can you say? That is perhaps the greatest compliment that can be given to a man. May the Hammer rest in peace. One of the greatest men ever to grace a baseball field.

kw

* For some reason, the only soft drink that my Nana ever had in her Fridge was 7-up. I don't ever recall a single Coke or Pepsi.

Remembering Virginia

My earliest memories of Virginia take me all the way back to my childhood. Virginia was my mom’s cousin, and they were very close. We would get together regularly at summer cookouts and holiday dinners.

In those early years, I must admit, I was quite intimidated by Virginia. She was so intelligent and always seemed so sophisticated. And I was just an uncultured kid trying to find my way. But Virginia always took the time to talk with me. She would offer advice and encouragement and always left me with a positive vibe.

I can remember gathering at her Locust Point home every Christmas. With our family growing bigger, we would sometimes have to squeeze into the furniture like packed can of sardines. The stairs to the second floor often doubled as overflow seating.

Everyone would engage in random conversations until Virginia eventually rang the dinner bell. At that point, we would all line up to retrieve our feast from the back kitchen. Virginia was a great cook, and her Christmas dinners were always something special.

Virginia’s husband, Ken, could not always be there as he was a paramedic and was often requited to work holidays. But I really enjoyed those times when he was there. He was a big man with a very deep voice, but he was as gentle as a Teddy Bear. The playful banter between he and Virginia was always fun to watch. They made the perfect couple. Another thing that I remember is that Virginia never referred to him as Ken or Kenny. It was always Kenneth. He was a good man and unfortunately left us way too soon.

Virginia also had a dog that she adored. He was a Samoyed and he looked like a huge, white fluffy dandelion. He simply went by the name of Teddy and not Theodore as you might expect.

As the years went on, Virginia and I became very close. We would meet up regularly every Tuesday at my parent’s house for family dinner night. There, we would catch up on current events and try to solve all the problems of the world. But at precisely 7 o’clock, we would turn our attention to the TV and watch Jeopardy. It came as no surprise that Virginia knew most of the answers. She was so smart.

About 10 years ago, I invited her out to join my trivia team on Wednesday nights. She enjoyed it so much that she wound up playing with us almost every week. She was a welcome addition to our group. She was not only very intelligent, but she was also a lot of fun. She instantly bonded with all my friends and everyone looked forward to seeing her each week.

Our trivia host and good friend, Ray, affectionately referred to her as “Aunt V”.

Virginia could also be very competitive. If another team happened to beat us, there could only be one possible reason: They cheated. 

There was this one team that used to sit in the far back corner of the room. And they would occasionally beat us. Virginia was sure that they were cheating. So, I tried to convince her that they were very smart, and they probably beat us fair and square. To this, Virginia quickly replied, “Bullshit. Let them come out of that corner and play in front of God and country. And then we’ll see how smart they really are!”

Virginia and I would often discuss personal issues that either of us might be going through at the time. I would lay out my whole dilemma and then I would wait to get her feedback. Her initial response was always the same. She would look at you for a moment and then, in a Tony Soprano-like way, she would ask, “So, what are you gonna do about it?”

I would reply, “I don’t really know. I was hoping to get some advice from you.”

She would respond back with, “Hmm…” 

And then after taking a moment to process it, she would say, “Well, here’s what I would do…”

And no matter the situation, her advice was always solid. At times, she could be brutally honest. But that’s one of the things I loved about her. She didn’t candy coat anything. She just told you the way it was.

Oddly, for as sophisticated as Virginia was, she would occasionally let out a loud belch. I asked her about it one time and she explained that it’s a compliment to the chef. It means that you enjoyed the food. I remember the first time she did this around my trivia team. Feeling the need to address the surprised look on everyone’s faces, I whispered, “She likes the food.”

She was also very outspoken on politics. We had many long conversations across the political spectrum. Sometimes, when a major news story broke, Virginia would call me. I would pick up the phone and answer with the standard “Hello”. Well, Virginia would skip the traditional salutation and immediately hit me with, “So, what do you think of this bullshit?”

From there, we would talk into the late hours of the evening. She was so in tune with everything that was going on. I always came out the conversation learning something new.

During the football season, we would often gather at my house on Sundays to watch the Ravens. Virginia would show up in her purple jersey and with a big bottle of Pinot Grigio. While the rest of us were knocking back beers, she would casually sip on her glass of white wine. Like I mentioned before, she was always a little more sophisticated than the rest of us. When the game was over and party wound down, Virginia was usually one of the last people to leave.

Whenever we planned a party, Virginia would always ask if she could bring something. Knowing that she made an awesome Key Lime Pie, I would often ask her to make one. I remember one time she told me that told me that she was having a really hard time finding any Key Limes. So, I said, “Just use a regular lime. What difference does it make?”

She quickly pointed out that, while you might put a “regular” lime in a bottle of Corona, you never put one in a real Key Lime Pie. So, not willing to compromise the integrity of her Key Lime Pie, she made a coconut cream pie instead. And like everything else she made; it was delicious. But I didn’t dare ask if she used regular coconuts.

Although Virginia was extremely intelligent, she struggled a bit when it came to modern technology. I talked her into buying a laptop computer several years ago. I helped her set it up and gave her a brief overview of how it all worked. But it wasn’t long before I would start receiving weekly phone calls about her latest computer issue. I became her own personal Geek Squad. I would fix one thing and then a day or two later, I’d get a phone call about another issue. I would explain that these were all minor problems and I suggested that she use Google to find out how to fix it herself. She thought about it for a few seconds and said, “Nah, I’ll just call you.”

Virginia was quite the reader too. As her collection of books continued to grow, her house began to resemble a small library. She never parted with any of them. And, for some reason, she always signed the first page of each book. Whenever she found one to be especially good, she would recommend it to me. Years ago, she turned me on to John Grisham. I think I’ve read everyone of his books since. She also really like Tom Clancy. If you’re not familiar with his books, they are quite thick. It would take me six months to get through one of his stories. But Virginia could breeze through it in a few days.

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From early on, Virginia was a person who could light up a room by simply walking into it. She had movie-star good looks and a personality to match. She would always greet you with a warm smile and initiate the conversation by asking, “So, what’s new?”

I will miss our long conversations, but I am so grateful for every word that we exchanged.

My world will, no doubt, be a little colder without her in it. But her colorful memories will always warm my heart.

Virginia, I will never forget you. You were one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. You encouraged me and gave me confidence. You brought me humor and joy. But most importantly, you inspired me to become a better person. 

I will end this by simply saying, “Thank you”.

 

kw

Remembering Evelyn

I was first introduced to Evelyn as a teenager. My best friend at the time happened to be her nephew. And we would sometimes drop by her house for a spontaneous visit. Evelyn was always very welcoming, and I always enjoyed our visits. Tina revealed to me recently that her mom had once said to her, "I really like Ken. I would love to see you guys get together." Well, it didn't happen immediately. But we did eventually get together. 

When Tina and I got married, Evelyn welcomed me into the family and treated me like her own son. She was a wonderful person, and we would go on to have many years of good times and fond memories. I'd like to share some of those memories with you today... 

It's no secret that Evelyn liked to shop. When she worked at BJ's Wholesale Club years ago, she would always make a predictable run through the store after each shift. I'm convinced that she spent more money than she made there each week. The trunk of her Toyota Camry was always loaded up with an over-abundance of merchandise. She would justify it by telling how little she paid for everything. And immediately after giving you the lowdown on the price, she would always follow up with, “And that’s cheap!”

 I remember a time when Tina and I took Evelyn to Ocean City for a few days. Tina had warned me that, one of those days, we would have to take her mom shopping at the outlets in nearby Rehoboth Beach. I tried my best to get out of it. But Tina wasn't having any parts of it. She said, "Hey, if I'm getting roped into it, so are you!" 

So. off we went to the outlets. As we made our way into Delaware, I started to think, "Ah, this might not be so bad. I mean, how long can someone really spend shopping?" Boy, was I about to find out!

Evelyn spent the next few hours looking through every shelf in every store. It was almost like she was taking inventory. After she accumulated a few bags, she would hand them to me, and I would run them out to the car. And then she would go into a new store to start the process all over. I whispered to Tina, "What the hell is she buying? 

Tina rolled her eyes and said, "Everything!"

I felt instant relief when Evelyn finally came out of the last store. She smiled at me and asked, "Are you having a good time?" 

I did what any good son-in-law would do in this situation: I lied. I said, "Oh, yeah. This really wasn't so bad". 

But to my horror, she followed up with, "Good. How about we stop and get some lunch before we hit the next outlet?"

My jaw dropped. "There's a next outlet?", I reluctantly asked.

"Yes, right over there", she replied as she pointed to shopping center on the other side of the highway. 

So, we ate lunch and then proceeded into round two of the shopping excursion. Conveniently, my Honda Accord had a limited amount of storage space. We finally reached a point where the trunk was completely full, so we started to pack bags into the back seat. I eventually had to break the news to Evelyn that we were pretty much at full capacity. I reminded her that we still had to save room for our luggage on our trip home. She replied, "Oh, we can ship our luggage back home. It's no big deal."

Fortunately, I wasn't required to go on too many of these shopping sprees. That duty went to Evelyn's beloved sister, Freddie. The two of them would meet up for lunch at least once a week and then wreak havoc on the local shopping centers.

Ok, moving on...

Years ago, I used to really like A&W Diet Cream Soda. Well, when Evelyn found out about it, she bought a few 12-packs and stocked her entire refrigerator with it. She was very thoughtful in that way. Well, one day I'm sitting at the kitchen counter when Karl (my father-in-law) goes to the refrigerator to get a drink. He was hoping for a traditional Pepsi. But all he sees are these Diet Cream Sodas. He holds up a can and asks, ""Hey Evelyn, what the hell is this?"

 She instantly snapped, "Oh, put that back, Karl. Those are for Ken."

Karl shoots me a dirty look and mumbled to himself. I just giggled and said, "Relax, Karl. If you want one, help yourself. Really, I don't mind." 

Of course, this only made him more upset and he said, "Can you at least tell her that you like regular Pepsi or Coors Light? Then maybe I'll be able to find something that I like in here next time."

I wound up drinking so much of that Diet Cream Soda that I eventually got sick of it. I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but I had to tell Evelyn to stop buying it.

And then, short time later, I went on one of these high protein diets. One day, Evelyn sees me eating a can of sardines. Well, you can guess what happened next…

 Evelyn was also a very good cook. I can remember gathering over her house for Sunday dinner. She would make enough food to serve an army. But it was always delicious. She made these spareribs that were out of this world. She would also make these spicy Italian sausages every Christmas. With beads of sweat rolling across my forehead, I would devour these things like a hungry lion. I knew I would pay for it later, but I really didn't care. They were that good.

 Evelyn and I could talk about practically anything, including politics and religion. I can remember having many spirited debates with her through the years. The funny thing was that we would sometimes be 180 degrees apart on a particular subject. We would spend a half hour going back and forth. And then at some point, for some unknown reason, she would take my side of the argument. I would say, "Evelyn, that's what I'm saying."

 She would respond, "Exactly." It would drive me nuts.

 A few years ago, a bunch of us were planning on going to the local Greene Turtle to celebrate my birthday. Knowing that we would be consuming some adult refreshments, Evelyn offered to drive. And that ride was quite adventurous….

 On the drive out of the neighborhood, she hit every speed bump with reckless abandon. The first one was especially painful because I didn’t see it coming. My head bounced off the ceiling and I landed back in the seat with a loud thud. I regained consciousness just in time to prepare for the next one. I guess she thought that you were supposed to speed over speed bumps, I don’t know. By the time we got to the restaurant, I felt like I just went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

 Well, the night went on and we did indeed celebrate. The alcohol did an adequate job of numbing our battle wounds from the ride in. And we slowly transitioned into a state of drunken obnoxious. And then, unexpectedly, a Karaoke DJ started setting up his equipment. At some point, I found myself with the microphone in my hand, trying to sing "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". It must have been brutal to anyone within earshot. Feeling somewhat embarrassed afterward, I said, "Evelyn, you don't have to wait around for us. We can take an Uber home. I feel bad putting you through this torture."

 She laughed and said, "No, I don't mind staying at all. I haven't had this much fun in years."

I tried to talk her into doing a karaoke version of "All the Single Ladies”, but she wouldn't bite.

Evelyn had been a tough and resilient person throughout her whole life. When things needed to be handled, she took action. When the family's house burned down years ago, Evelyn didn't sit back and feel sorry for herself. She took a job working in the meat department of a local grocery store and continued to work until she retired from BJ's years later. Working in those refrigerated rooms wasn't easy, especially as she got older. But she did it anyway and never complained.

 When Evelyn finally retired, things didn't really get any easier for her. Karl's health had real taken a downturn and Evelyn became his full-time caregiver. She did all of this while fighting her own bout with cancer. I always admired her dedication and loyalty during those trying times. She was a strong woman who I respected and loved.

 Evelyn will finally get some well-deserved rest. And Karl will be reunited with his "Ebby".

Evelyn, if you can hear me up there, please buy Karl a can of regular Pepsi and tell him that it's from me. I miss you both and I will never forget you.

kw

 

Good Riddance to 2020

When I first heard of the Coronavirus and the subsequent shutdowns in early 2020, I figured we'd be inconvenienced for a month or so and then things would go back to normal. Boy, was I ever wrong! So, here we are about to usher in the New Year and we're still dealing with the effects of COVID. And sadly, we likely won't come out of our new, restricted world until mid-way through 2021 at the earliest!

Putting it mildly, 2020 has been a unique year. We have all been affected by COVID in some way. We all know someone who has had it. And we all probably know someone who passed as a result of it. One of my good friends lost her mom shortly after she tested positive for COVID earlier this year. Due to COVID restrictions, only immediate family members were allowed into the funeral home. We had to pay our respects in the form of a drive-by viewing. From inside of our car, we did our best to express our condolences as our friend stood next to her mom's casket and waved to us from the inside. It's hard enough to lose your mom, but to be so isolated during the grieving process seemed to be especially cruel. 

Working in the healthcare industry, I have seen some of the folks who work on the front lines. The respect that I have for these people can not be measured. They have worked countless hours throughout this pandemic, putting their own health at risk to care for others. Seeing death and despair day after day has a way of mentally defeating even the strongest of us. But the healthcare workers still get up and do it, time and time again. Amazingly,  I have heard people say that "this is what they signed up for". What a heartless thing to say. Where would we be if people "didn't sign up" for jobs like this? These people are heroes in every sense of the word, in my book. 

When Time Magazine prepared to name their "Person of the Year" recently, I thought that the healthcare worker would have been a shoe-in. But Time thought Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were more deserving. I personally think they got it wrong. But that's just my opinion..

The COVID vaccines were manufactured and released at a record pace. The Pfizer and Moderna versions have already hit the streets with AstraZeneca's on the horizon (maybe it's already out?). While it's probably too early to tell how effective the vaccines will be, at least it gives us a little hope for the future. The drug companies take their share of criticism. But I think they deserve a lot of credit for expediting these vaccines.

The next round of stimulus checks are due to be received in the next week or so. This will be a bit of welcomed relief to those who are struggling to make ends meet. But why are checks being sent to people who have not been financially affected by the COVID shutdowns? Maybe Congress should have spent more time trying to get money into hands of struggling Americans instead countless other pet projects. Yeah, I know... that's the way Washington works. But it certainly doesn't make it right....

On a positive note, the stock market is somehow at a record high. When the market tanked earlier this year, I thought it would take years to get back to even. But amazingly, stocks came roaring back and most people's retirement funds are up considerably since the beginning of the year. I've been investing for a long time and this has been the craziest year I've ever seen. If things start opening back up by mid-2021, we could see another economic boom. But things don't always goes as planned, so be careful.

We will progress into 2021 with a degree of uncertainty. Will COVID run it's course and finally leave us alone? Will a second strain come along and set us back even further? Will the vaccine rollout be effective enough to transcend us back to the "old normal"? When, if ever, will we be able to wander around in public without that damn mask?

The last thing I'll say to 2020 is, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!"

I wish all of you a very Happy New Year and hope that 2021 will be a much better year than it's predecessor. As we move forward, let's try to help each other out instead kicking each other when we're down. Never underestimate the impact of simply being nice. If we all work together, there's little that we can't accomplish. Wishing you and yours the best for the upcoming year!

kw

My List of Great Cover Songs

Through the years, there have been countless songs covered by a slew of artists. In a lot of cases, the covered version pales in comparison to the original. However, there are also plenty of examples of songs being elevated to another level when performed by a modern band. Of course music, like most other art forms, is subject to interpretation. With this being said, here are a few of my favorite cover songs that I believe were well worth the effort....

"All Along The Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix 

While Bob Dylan is known as one of the most prolific songwriters of our time, I think most of you would agree that he doesn't exactly have a velvet voice. Sounding like he has a mouth full of marbles at times, the passion of his music seems to get lost in his performance. I know I'm walking on sacred ground here but like I mentioned, it's all in the interpretation. Anyway, Jimi Hendrix electrified the Dylan classic and made it his own. 

"The Sounds of Silence" by Disturbed

This is an odd one because the original Simon and Garfunkel version was awesome. Trying to cover this one would be like making a remake of "The Godfather". But I can remember making my way through traffic on the DC beltway a few years ago when I heard this familiar song. I instantly realized that it was not the original. My radio told me that it was being performed by a band called Disturbed. I really wasn't too familiar with this band nor it's powerful singer. But as the song picked up momentum, the vocals became thunderous! The hair on the back of my neck began to stand up and applaud. If I had to grade this one on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a 12. Absolutely superb!

"Higher Ground" by The Red Hot Chile Peppers

This is another song that took a lot of balls to cover. Stevie Wonder is, as Eddie Murphy once said, a musical genius. So, how could anyone have the audacity to mess with one of his masterpieces? Well, the Chile Peppers did it. And they did it well. The infectious bass line draws you in right from the beginning and the energy explodes throughout the song. There's also an element of funk that takes this one to another level. I'll bet even Stevie himself would agree.

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" by Great White

Most people probably think that this is a Great While original. But it was originally written and recorded by Ian Hunter in 1975 (the same guy who does "Cleveland Rocks"). While the Hunter version isn't bad, the Great White version has an updated punch. The piano in this one really compliments the traditional guitar riffs. I had never seen anyone play "air piano" until this song came out.

"Proud Mary" by Ike and Tina Turner

The original CCR version was solid and had that familiar bayou groove to it. However, the Ike and Tina version got all up in your face. I loved the bass vocals that Ike Turner added to the song, And Tina Turner was a human spark plug who could electrify any performance. And who can forget the "swim dance" from Tina and her back-up singers during their live performance? If we could only harness the energy here...

"Diamonds and Rust" by Judas Priest

As a big Judas Priest fan through the years, I had to add this one to the list. It's always interesting when a hard rock/heavy metal band covers a folk song. And that's exactly what we have here. The original version, performed by Joan Baez, was a decent enough song. However, her version lacked the energy that it deserved. The original studio cover of this song, found on Priest's "Sin After Sin" album, was a bit lackluster in my opinion. But when they "unleashed" it on their classic live album, the song came to life. Rob Halford's dynamic vocals give the lyrics a shot of adrenaline that they so disparately needed. The song has since become a permanent fixture on the band's set list.

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

Although I might be jeopardizing my man card with this one, it deserves to be on this list. Whitney Houston had one of the best voices of our generation. Her rendition of the National Anthem during that Super Bowl years ago ranks up there with the best. But when she covered Dolly Parton's classic song, she blew it out of the water. One of the most powerful vocal performances in recent memory. While I'm not a sappy, love-song kind of guy, I always appreciated Whitney's performance on this one. It was recorded for the movie "The Bodyguard" which went on to become the best selling movie soundtrack ever.

"Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin

Originally written by Kris Kristofferson and performed by Roger Miller, this song needed to a kick in the ass. Along comes Janis Joplin and the rest is history. Her version builds the perfect momentum. By the time it gets to it's climax, you feel like jumping up and singing along. Janis was one of those special performers who had the ability to make you feel the lyrics. And that's exactly what she did with this one.

"I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Yes, we've all heard this song countless times. But many people don't know that the original version was done by an English band called The Arrows. Their version seemed a bit flat and lacked excitement. So, along comes Joan Jett and adds a heavy dose of black leathered attitude. And just like that, a rock anthem was born. 

"With a Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker

Is it really possible to do a Beatles song better than The Beatles? Well, Joe Cocker ventured down that uncertain path and came out victorious. With his signature gravelly voice, Joe gave this Beatles classic a unique twist. He turned the bubbly, pop-sounding original into a passionate work of art. The harmonious back-up singers are the perfect compliment to Cocker's raspy vocals. 

"You Really Got Me" by Van Halen

The song that introduced most of us to Van Halen was originally performed by The Kinks. The original version was a classic in it's own right. But when Van Halen got a hold of it, people stood up and took notice. It's fitting that Eddie Van Halen's legendary guitar solo ("Eruption") leads into this song. You could make the argument that this cover changed the direction of rock and roll forever.

"Black Magic Woman" by Santana

This is another song that many people don't realize is actually a cover version. Perhaps even more surprising, the original was done by Fleetwood Mac. Of course, this was during the pre-Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham days. Peter Greene was Fleetwood Mac's gifted guitarist back then and added his own bit of flair to Black Magic Woman. However, when Carols Santana laid his hands on it, the song instantly found a new home. You can hardly think of Santana without this song playing in the back of your head.

If I had more time, I could come up with countless other examples. However, these are the first few that popped into my head. I love to talk music with friends. So, next time we get together over a few beers, I'd like to hear your idea of a great cover tune. Cheers!

kw

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