I like Bar X in a conceptual and cognitive sense but don’t truly feel it as my place for unquantifiable reasons. I still get there randomly because my friend K, one of my favorite people on this planet and my favorite bartender, keeps one shift a week there.
I had just found a stool at the mostly crowded bar when K found me with a beer and a “So get this!” “A few months ago I did something I never do, answered a call from a number I didn’t recognize” she continued. “It was around the time that I was looking for a new gig, so I thought that it might be from a job. It wasn’t! It was from some guy that I dated long ago and now he won’t leave me alone. He keeps texting and calling me and just sent me one right before you came in.”
“K, have you had the blunt conversation with him yet?”
“No, I guess I have to now.”
Other people needed K’s attention, but as she set my second beer before me, I told my slightly related story.
“So… I had finally forgotten the number of a woman whose number I used to know by heart and haven’t had a reason to call in a long time. I had deleted her from the phone, and my number changed so she didn’t have mine either. A month or so ago, I was drinking at a bar near her house. I had just enough booze to mistake calling her for a good idea. I got a wrong number and I was delighted to have been saved from myself.”
“Go on” K said warily.
“Two weeks later she runs into an old mutual friend who GIVES HER MY NUMBER.”
“Oh, that’s a major party foul” K said, her empathy showing.
It became a needed foul as I recently needed to ask this woman for help (for a friend) regarding an area of her professional expertise; but I still don’t need the temptation.
As my third beer arrived, I heard the familiar “Dooo, doo, do, do, dooo” that opens Stevie Wonder’s As from his legendary double album “Songs in the Key of Life.” Bar X has a nice jukebox; and As is not a terribly obscure song. However, I doubt that many people in the room where born when it was released, 1976, suspect even fewer knew the song, and was just shocked that someone would play it.
As around the sun the earth knows she’s revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just has hate knows love’s the cure
You can rest your mind assured
That I’ll be loving you always
“K, I need to know who played this” I almost demanded.
“It wasn’t me. Maybe it was T [the other half of one of the city’s best bartending tandems]”
“T, did you play this” I asked him with the same level of urgency.
“Nope” T answered with a hint of curiosity about the origin too.
As now can’t reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I’ll be loving you always
I turned to face the bar looking for someone who displayed an indication of ownership of the GOAT* of love songs. Surely someone would be bopping a head, dancing a little but nothing.
“K, I really want to know who played this” I almost pleaded.
“I wish I could help you, Refugee, but do you really think that she’s in here?”
“Probably not; but I am so I can’t rule it out” I replied repeating one of my long held beliefs and turned to scan again.
Did you know that true love asks for nothing
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day
Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I’ll be loving you always
As today I know I’m living but tomorrow
Could make me the past but that I mustn’t fear
For I’ll know deep in my mind
The love of me I’ve left behind Cause I’ll be loving you always**
No one offered a clue. I got my tab resigned but hopeful simply because someone played a song.
“Thank you, K. Love you lots; and if you find out who played that song you can give them my number and I won’t be any part of upset.”
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What obscure to slightly obscure song do you love so much that you would cross a room to talk to the person who played it on a jukebox?
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* Greatest Of All Time*** for those who don’t know, and yes it is the GOAT in my mind, if only my mind.
** For a full reading of the lyrics, click me.
*** Yes, I know that the acronym doesn’t hew to grammatical standards, but I dig it anyway.
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If you haven’t checked my new blog – dedicated to recipes that I make for my clients and friends – go here.
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For anyone who notices and likes the slightly changed look of the place, the pictures are courtesy of LiLu
Posted by restaurant refugee 
