2017 - September 7 - Magician (for Mike Seaman)

Today we had a memorial service at work for Mike Seaman, who taught economics and sociology for the college for 27 years before he suddenly passed away this summer. Although passed away is a little bit too much of a euphemism. He was killed. On June 27, he was out riding his bicycle outside Mt. Pleasant, MI, and he was hit by a car driven by a young woman who had been drinking and who didn't see him for the glare of the sun.

Mike affected me in many ways. I liked him a lot. Respected him even more. And then there was his amazing mind with room for so many different things.

He was a bicyclist, but he was also a skier,and that's something I used to know a thing or two about. One of the conversations I had with him that sticks with me was about ski wax. We were talking about Swix, which was the brand I grew up with. In Norway we even have an expression - blue Swix conditions - which really are the perfect conditions for skiing. Cross country skiing. But as I was telling him about my experiences with waxing skis (and yes, there is an art to it, as you want to make sure that your skis glide while still sticking enough that you get some push, yet not too much, as that results in snow accumulation under the skis, and that's no fun), the fact that I last did that about 25-30 years ago. He was excited to share some of the updates with me - and he was enough of an expert that he might have the opportunity to travel to Norway to work with ski wax and other preparations. He also liked hearing me talk about my dad completing the Birkebeiner in Norway (at least I think he did), as the Birkie, the American race inspired by the Norwegian original was one of the ski races he had participated in...

He is also the reason I let my hair and beard grow out. Not because I wanted to be like him, but because I feel more comfortable like this, and he showed me that it is ok to be different - even in a professional setting. By focusing on looking all grown up, professional, and responsible, I had lost track of myself, so about three years back, I just stopped worrying about how others saw me (although I haven't really stopped, truth be told, as I have to remind myself that what other people may think isn't as important as what I think). I am still professional, and I try to be responsible. Being grown up, on the other hand, is a matter of opinion, but I do my best.

I always wanted to take one of his economics classes, but I never did, because I always thought I'd still have a chance to do it later. That opportunity has now passed. But I don't think I'll ever forget Mike. I know he probably would have laughed at some of the more humorous songs I could play - and maybe even enjoyed it if I played a song like Bela Lugosi's Dead. But instead I end up with Magician by Lou Reed from the album Magic and Loss. While it is a song that is a lot more about a slower loss than the very sudden and abrupt loss we experienced with Mike, it is one of the best songs I have ever have heard about death and dying.

August 19 - Berlin

If it hadn't been for yesterday's post, I would probably not have found Berlin again this go around. However, it's once again been playing at work, and I remember just how good I think this album is. It is not easy listening - especially not if you listen to the lyrics. It is a concept album, and to me the most heartbreaking line is from the song The Kids: "They're taking her children away..." The title track opens the album and starts with a descending piano riff, which lays the foundation for the song (although in very modified way when Reed starts singing - if that indeed was what he did). We lost Lou Reed in 2013 - but his music lives on. I encourage you to find Berlin and give it a spin. It is so worth it.

January 17 - Sunday Morning

And on the 17th day he rested. I think it is time to really just sit back and relax and listen to the song that opened a very classic album from 1967: The Velvet Underground and Nico. The Velvet Underground was a very artsy musical collective. Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Moe Tucker. Lou Reed was a great rock and roll poet (heck, any kind of poet), NYC born and bred; John Cale came from Wales to study classical music and brought a very different musical sentiment to the table; and Sterling Morrison on guitar and Moe Tucker on drums rounded out the classic Velvet lineup. For their first album, they also brought in German Nico to sing, and her voice seems to fit the music perfectly.

I am no VU historian, and I was a late comer to Velvet Underground - I was well into my 30s before I truly appreciated them. Don't get me wrong, I had heard them before, and thought I liked them - but I didn't listen to the full debut album until I was in my 30s. Please listen to the lyrics - I find them slightly unsettling and a great contrast to the serenity of the melody - which in turn makes it the perfect opener to the album. I have a feeling I will revisit this album later this year - but that is still to be determined. But for now, sit back and enjoy this Sunday morning.