Hi, moon gardeners.
Mahailia, I really want to hear your story about gremlins.
As you all know, I really love and care about the Moon Garden. And also just so you know, I really love and care about Adam, and the positive influence he is in my life. So when I found myself looking at my Adam stuff a couple evenings ago, and instead of feeling free and happy, I got a stomach ache because my thoughts went to Atop ... I admit I have more questions than answers about this kind of fan activity and my own level of exposure and vulnerability.
However, several people I really respect have asked me not to run away with Dark Adam at this time. Damn, and I already bought a new sleeping bag.
It's true that many cool people have left Atop in the last several months. I'm touched that even one person would consider me anywhere near their league.
So I'm going to give it another shot. Thanks to those who reached out to me.
***
The other night I told you guys about my friend Rex. For anyone who cares to read any further, here is the rest of the story.
In the '90s I was involved in a fun group similar to the ones mentioned here by some of you -- chorus, parrotheads, red hats, whatever, doesn't matter. A very nice group of people from all walks of life, both sexes, all ages, did some good work together, had fun, and really bonded with some great parties.
Rex was a cool older guy. He had grown up in the Texas Hill Country, gone to a one-room school house, and he worked as a private investigator. He even packed heat! He was very down home and had some great stories.
Rex also loved music, as I soon learned at the annual summer party. Another member had a place out in the country. Everyone chipped in for BBQ brisket, which the host smoked for us, and brought their best side dishes. There was a pool for the kids and plenty of shade for the adults to sit around and shoot the sh*t.
It turned out that the annual piece de resistance was Rex's concert. Rex would bring out his guitar, sit up on a stool, and sing for about an hour, great old country and folk novelty songs, old Johnny Cash and Elvis tunes, a whole backlog of Americana.
Now ... Rex wasn't some undiscovered superstar. His guitar playing and voice were only average. He was a fat old guy who looked like a potato and wore those tiny shorts like Bill Clinton used to wear when he jogged. What he was sharing was his love for music and fun. I later learned that together with another guy, he even went and entertained at old folks' homes as "The Metamucil Mountain Boys."
Rex would always pretend to be reluctant to play his final encore, which was this song:
So, anyway. Some years went by and every year I looked forward to Rex's concert and the warmth and good times established by the tradition and fun. Of course members of the group came and went as always happens.
Then, one year ... someone took issue. A woman -- so nice and well-meaning -- complained to the president of our group about Rex's encore. The song, she said, was about prostitution. It encouraged and made light of sexual promiscuity.
This matter was brought to Rex's attention. Rex eventually decided to leave the group altogether. The world went on in its ragged way.
Back then I was a lot younger and I wondered why Rex moved on from a group of friends he had enjoyed so much. I always remembered how he used to say that life's too short to drink bad wine.
***
"I'll be your mirror," Adam sings, sharing his love. In Adam we can see our best selves. And we're his mirror. In us, Adam can see his best self. Have you ever noticed how he looks at us? I know you have.
Rex was sharing his best self. In our eyes he was a troubadour for a day!
Until the day he was just a dirty old man.
***
So you guys. All I have to offer here is my "way with words" and my ability to find weird crap on the Internet that some people like.
It's OK if you don't like it, seriously. My words aren't sacred. I don't post anything as the final word on anything. I don't know squat about music or fashion or the record industry or gay life. I suck at seeding the conversation with topics. I am overjoyed when I can riff off someone else's ideas.
I'm just trying to further the conversation. To keep alive this place where we can still talk a little.
It's fun to get messages that someone liked what I wrote, or thought something about it, or even disagreed with it in some cool or interesting way.
It's not fun to have someone hold up the mirror to my face and see a pretentious asshole reflected back.
***
And that's all I'm ever going to say, about that.
***
I'll be back later to post something fun. Carry on.