Something in the Air

Memorial Day weekend heralds the beginning of summer, even though it doesn’t officially begin until June 21, when the Summer Solstice sets in. But for all practical purposes, summer as we know it here on the mountain has arrived, just in time for the Memorial Day revelers to go home.

Gone are the hordes of lost tourists – “How do I get to Big Bear?” Gone are the yard sales – “Haven’t they sold that yard yet?” And gone are the bikini-clad babes – “What do you mean we can’t swim in your lake?” Can’t say I’ll miss them…except for the bikini-clad babes. For me, it’s a return to solitude, a return to the sound of the wind rustling gently through the pines…ah, yes, the sound of silence.

“Hello darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.” (“The Sound of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel – 1966)

It seems the original concept of Memorial Day has lost its meaning. It used to be a day set aside to honor America’s war dead. This year, they were honored at a drive-in Memorial Day ceremony on the South Shore of Lake Gregory. Other than that, it has been turned into a three-day weekend focused on squeezing in the first camping trip to the mountains, backyard barbecues and an excuse to get rip-roaring drunk.

I don’t know about you, but I spent my Memorial Day weekend dodging rattlesnakes while using my weed-eater to make my yard fire safe. OK, so I also enjoyed knocking back a few brewskis while I lit up my backyard grill. Always on the lookout for classic rock and folk-rock vinyl albums, I did stop at a few yard sales, searching for some rarities and other LPs I don’t already own.

One album I used to own but can’t seem to locate is “Something In The Air” by Thunderclap Newman. This song’s lyrics ring true today just as they did back in 1969, when our nation was torn asunder by war and incompetence and corruption at the highest level of our government and we were on the verge of losing our liberties. And add to those disturbing events today’s worldwide pandemic. If anyone knows where I can get a copy of this vinyl LP, please contact me through this newspaper.

“Call out the instigators, because there’s something in the air. We’ve got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution’s here, and you know it’s right. Lock up the streets and houses, because there’s something in the air. We’ve got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution’s here, and you know it’s right…” (“Something In The Air” – Thunderclap Newman – 1969)

Please remember to vote in November.

Keep it flyin’, Uncle Mott