You Know I Worship the Ground You Walk On

Alamo Drafthouse Citypoint Brooklyn

In recent years, on many a night and days, I hole up and listen to Linda Ronstadt albums on repeat.  Of course I've always loved her but it wasn't until now that I began to need to hear the cry and plea in her voice in order to get through my days.  Now to see the much anticipated biography, I see how even though she didn't write the songs, she carefully chose each one to fit her emotional climate at the time.  In that way she sang them so perfectly from the heart.   She is inspiring to me as she took her path without all the consideration and calculation of some female musicians in the present day.   Some women might find this opinion offensive but like many strong lesbians I've met, she thinks like men in the best of ways.  They don't overthink, they don't worry too much and they are able to 'do' without all the extra words needed for many woman, me included.  She was leading a band of men back when it was not common to have a female boss, but she just did it and wasn't apologetic.  She brought other musicians up and encouraged their growth, most of them men.  She also had strong female characteristics of keeping peace and not getting caught up in power.  She was a strikingly gorgeous woman without a huge ego, which is rare and was able to partner with equally gorgeous and talented women for musical collaborations. Every decision she made seemed to be driven by her love and interest in the arts,  showing a vibrant use of her soul.  I can't say enough about people speaking through their art especially in sad times. 

Parmesan Truffle Popcorn
I had a very sad few weeks that I'm still in and so I took my sad ass to this matinee showing and treated myself to a large Herbal Iced Tea and a giant metal bowl of Parmesan Truffle Popcorn.  I sat in the front row where the chairs recline and was smart to bring a sweater to cover myself like I was laying in front of my couch.  I really couldn't have been more comfortable and happy in those 2 hours.  When I left I felt I took a whole laundry bag full of motivation with me.  Oh I shoved it under the bed to use soon, I promise.

It's a sad story if you let it be but she tells it so full of hope and comedy.  At the end to see her now, unable to sing well, somewhat shaky but surrounded by so many friends who love her and of course all of us fans who adore her work, makes it much easier.  And what an inspiration on how to handle lemons in your life!  She humbled my whiny ass right down.  Fill it with humor and friends and don't feel sorry for yourself.  Be grateful for what you've accomplished and given and don't stop living.  I had a thought one night that I woke up and jotted down on my notepad.  Linda should write songs! When I woke up I realized what a wonderful idea and bonus for her fans if she chose to write lyrics for others to sing, maybe choosing a vocalist for each as she chose her songs.  If I could speak to her I would suggest it.  She is very well read and extremely intelligent.  She can no longer sing but obviously has so much more life in her.  It would be a new challenge.  I can only imagine she has closets full of interesting material for songs having lived that life. 

But for those of us less amazing, talent-less schlepps, I can only hope to find ways to contribute any worth I do have and sneak tiny morsels of happiness in along the way.