In the movies they always seem to play the perfect song at the right time. Like at the end of Pretty in Pink when Blaine kisses Andie, you hear OMD’s “If You Leave.” Or in Rush Hour 3 when Carter and Lee have a fight and go their separate ways, cue Elton John’s “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.” Or anytime in any movie when there’s a double-speed montage of people doing fun things, it’s time for Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine.” The guy who puts the soundtracks together is a genius. I’m probably not the guy for that job.
When I was getting married, I found a song that I thought would be perfect to be played at the ceremony. After talking to the singer/songwriter, he declined to take the gig because the song was actually about his dying grandmother. I don’t know how I could have gotten that so wrong.
It’s been almost three weeks since my dog Coffeebean passed away and it still hurts. Something, anything, sets me off again. I was cutting onions the other day, and I remembered that Coffee wasn’t ever supposed to eat onions. I cried. Well, maybe it was the onions.
The latest thing to set me off was a song by Makana, who is a brilliant musician from Hawaii. I’ll quote the last verse from Goodnite Friend, although the lyrics here are wildly out of context. At least this time I know the song has nothing to do with this occasion. But these are the words that I wish I could have told my boy as he lay dying in my arms.
There is only one true flame,
One candle with many names
All appearing in a dream as you lay awake
Close your eyes, let it be
I am you and you are me
May our reality drift into a dream
Goodnight friend, see you on the other side
Yes, Coffeebean, see you on the other side.
