Diary of a Bridge Pro #24

​Whole lotta convergence going on - 


  Elvis in Hawaii: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On:  

  Amazing days, one after another. Let me try to share my sense of wonder at events with you.

  I find myself reminded of Johann von Goethe, the noted elite thinker / polymath, prominent in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Recent events remind me of a Goethe quote I had printed on a business card for quite some time:

  "Beginnings have a magic to them. Begin something!"

  *****

  Goethe wrote in the late 1700’s and into the early 1800’s. I definitely love what he had to say about beginnings!

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  They call Goethe a polymath - I had to look that up, maybe you’re not familiar with that word either: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polymath

   A person of encyclopedic learning - what a fine thing to be!

   Or, if it sounds like too much work to become that learned:

   What a fine thing to be known as!

  *****

  Morning in this small midwestern city - a day of short group meetings. 

  Very early, I caught some of the gathering of Friends of Bill across the street from my place.

  Later this morning I got a few minutes uplift at the morning shabbos prayer at the synagogue across the street from the cafe where I'm typing this for you, 

   I interpret that as something of a “trigger” - I've resolved to be more receptive to signs and "triggers" in life - let's hear from Chris Hynde of The Pretenders.

  *****

  The Pretenders, Hey-Ho, Ohio:

  I intended to embed that great Pretenders song and then in looking for the lyrics I learned: That song was originally the B-side(!) of an even bigger hit for the band, "Back on the Chain Gang".

  In the last several columns I’ve relied upon "Putting the band back together" (think Jake and Elwood) as an ongoing theme. I think of Chryssie Hynde in that context, for while management and many fans wanted her to be simply supported by anonymous musicians, she insisted instead that she wanted to be “part of a band”. 

  Some of us crave a tribe or similar to belong to, I guess that’s what I’m getting at here.

  Original lyrics plus video clip:.

  https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/16535/

  I’ve been taking it for granted that readers will know what a “B-side” is. And on the “Diary” front, there’s great live music playing as I write this to you, Rich himself on guitar at Stella's cafe this morning.

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  Chain Gang, Official Video:

  I'm inspired by Chryssie's music to the point of thinking:  "I ought to write at more length on the theme of  belonging." 

  *****

  Her music inspires me deeply, like that of several other female singer-songwriters among her contemporaries - Joni Mitchell, Carole King.

  Regardless, let's hear from Chryssie again:

  Lyrics, video clip, Don't Get Me Wrong
 
  https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pretenders/dontgetmewrong.html

  YouTube Video Clip of Don't Get Me Wrong

  Thought for the Day: Cross the Diamond with the Pearl

  Closing Thought: I notice there was no bridge hand in this blog - I’ll put double in a future column, to compensate!

• BG