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Theresa Kereakes's avatar

Alice, when you wrote: "I have been feeling the world increasingly slipping away. I have been feeling alone in respecting the rules simply because it is the right thing to do," that resonated so much for me. I spent just about all of my professional life feeling that way. I played by the rules, but no one else did and it is infuriating to see them advance and "succeed" as a result of their disrespect. And while I'm the first one to embrace my own iconoclast leanings and behavior, I've always worked within the boundaries in order to expand them. I don't need a reward for that but I really do have a problem with the hypocrisy of rewarding (and consistently rewarding) flagrant flouting of the rules. I realize I sound like a stick-in-the-mud, but people who know me in real life know the extent of the risks I take in pushing boundaries. I try not to f^ck it up for people who are on the train behind me.

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Chris Opperman's avatar

After reading this, I feel like I shouldn't be whining about anything. Alice and I both got sick from all the weird weather we had last week and we missed Benmont's concert. It was a really big bummer. I still feel a little heartbroken about it. However, at least no one bombed our town or anything like that. But I'm going to feel sad about missing that concert every time I think about it. It was a big thing to miss. Time with people you care about is really precious, especially dear friends you rarely get to see, and I was sad to lose that time and not get to hear that music. I hope that doesn't make me sound ungrateful.

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Susan M Turnbull's avatar

It truly has been tough these days to not have strikingly high and low emotions. To not feel raw and exposed, or completely numb. I remind myself that there are those who may struggle more than I do.

Music has this universal quality of eternal soul healing. At least it does for me.

It pulls forth our happiest memories and reminds us of sorrowful moments in time.

One such album that always lifts my spirits is Joni Mitchell’s Blue album. I have loved it for five decades now, and it never disappoints.

Alice, I loved your concise analysis of The Spice girls. It reminded me of how silly some things can reveal themselves to be, whether music related or not.

Your past memories of a cocaine fueled experience in the park; I’ve had my own personal regrets, I was a total wild child in my youth. For some reason my parents were clueless as to how to reel me in.

I try to put it in perspective by thinking this: what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and more resilient. It definitely makes us wiser!

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Liz Bergt's avatar

It’s hard to look at the world these days and not feel confused, alone, and sometimes resentful about what other people get away with. But as you so eloquently write, we can find beauty, meaning and happiness in all the chaos, evil and sadness. Personally, I try to find that beauty, mostly in relationships, and then do something that I hope counters all the negative energy. It’s all we can do, I think.

You are one of the people that brings the beauty, Alice, and I am so glad to know you.

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Christina Willoughby's avatar

I don’t have the eloquence of your beautiful writing, but these are very crazy times where everything and feelings can change moment to moment. We need to celebrate absolutely everything. BTW: Do you have access to Alanis’s performance at Glastonbury? She was absolutely amazing. Better at 51 than before! 🫂

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Eileen Allen's avatar

🩷

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