Hello, Good Bye

On the same day Grant McLennan died in his sleep, on the opposite side of the planet earth, my brother's wife gave birth to their first child, my mother's first grandchild. Noah Jack Burkley was born at 5:27 PM Eastern time. Blue cigars, and tiny tennis shoes!

Grant McLennan was a member of The Go-Betweens, one of Australia's first contributions to intelligent post-punk rock beginning around '78. He released several solo albums full of earthy and heart felt songwriter songs. He collaborated with Steve Kilbey on two albums under the name Jack Frost which were stunning albums as well. Recently he reunited with Robert Forster of the GBs for two more albums with mixed results and the two were even interviewed by Teri Gross on NPR in the states.

That said, The Go-Betweens were one of my favorite bands, and that's why this news was sad.

GL's spoken lyrics from Trapeze Boy (Jack Frost)-

I hadn't thought about Mrs. Morgan for years, until I read in the paper
that she had died. When I was a boy, Mrs. Morgan played solo with my
mother every Tuesday afternoon. There were two other women there, but
I can't remember their names anymore. Monkey, Magda, something like that.

Mrs. Morgan collected opals. Her husband Ted owned a circus, which kept
him away and out of the picture most of the time. I'd come home from
school and the women would be hard at the cards. I liked Mrs. Morgan, she
always had a little chip of opal for me, and said that I should save it
for a sweetheart. I came home one day and Mrs. Morgan was crying in our kitchen.
My mother told me to leave them alone. I learned later that a boy from the
circus had fallen and died. He used to ride the trapeze. Mr. Morgan went out
of business and they moved away. I've still got the opals.

It's funny how someone you've never met manages to stay with you.

I have listened to Grant's voice for years, but never met him, yet he manages to stay with me as he will with many.

Condolences to the McLennan family.

May 6, a bittersweet date.

I haven't met Noah, my nephew yet either. The earth and universe have this unperceivable exchange of life force that we all face and feel. My little post about the loss of a skateboard, and my "RIP" title, though more really about Eri thru digression, seems a little silly in light of today's entry.

Congratulations Ben and Michele.

b