I've been walking a few times a week, and with no iPod of my own, I have commandeered Adrian's. Not just the fact that I usually walk first thing in the morning, but also the fact that this particular iPod houses a very wide array of music ... well the combo has led quite literally to more than a few eye opening experiences.
This iPod, like the man, is a mystery of the highest order, and listening to its quite extensive playlist has been....enlightening, to say the least. Perhaps confounding is a better description.
I am, using the term in its loosest possible translation, working out one day, enjoying a spectacular seasonal morning as I walk, smiling, waving at passers by (you know the queen wave, right...although I must say it doesn't come off quite the same with sweats and sleepy eyes), and listening to the inspiring strains of "Here I Am, Lord " from the Ipod. Truly getting in touch with my inner zen, I breathe deeply. Again in the spirit of full disclosure, more truthfully I pant a little. I travel on, taking in my beautiful neighborhood, thanking God quietly for all my many blessings when suddenly and most unexpectedly, Clarence Carter bursts into my "in touch" moment with his anything but zen "Stroking".... more accurately "Strokin". And, trust me, this was not CC's PG version, if he even had one of this particular blush worthy masterpiece. I was so suddenly and shockingly jolted back to reality from my almost meditational state that I stepped off into a ditch and barely maintained any balance...or propriety...at all. The 'queen wave' became a frantic swat as I simultaneously tried to pull out the ear buds and find the change button all while keeping myself at least semi upright. But, the iPod run amuck had already moved seemlessly on from "Strokin" to ...."Skanking." With the now fascinating change ups between beer and blues country and R if not X rated Tupac rap, between Billy Joel's prolific and poignant piano and Marley's soulful reggae, from the King of Pop to Reba, from "Cover of the Rolling Stone" to "Fat Bottom Girls" (this latter definitely not a favorite backdrop to my walking workout), I find myself wondering what possibly could be next. But then I think...with this man, I often wonder exactly the same thing.
There have been a few golden moments...my discovery of the studio version of "Rainy Nights In Georgia" by Sam Moore and Conway Twitty took my breath away. Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis"....do I detect a bit of a traveling theme in the man's iPod? I definitely identify with that. And I LOVED finding jewels like "Jesus and Momma Always Loved Me....even when the devil took control" I could have written that one myself....ah, yes, not the easiest child was I. You just have to love country music for its uncanny ability to hit the nail on the head, don't you?
Speaking of 'Momma', Pastor Joel rightly compared mine to a prism, but I find myself currently convinced by the iPod that Adrian, at least as go his musical inclinations, is even more a prism. His downloads have both delighted me and mortified me. One note, just please tell me that with volume full on, no one else can hear what I am listening to, for I have discovered.... forgive me, Pastor Joel... that "Strokin" does indeed have a great beat for walking.
I am not sure what the proper iPod etiquette is here.....do I tell Adrian that much of his music is vastly inappropriate? Or do I just 'let it be.' (Yes, the Beatles classic is on the playlist. along with the incredible "Imagine.") This is, after all, Adrian's music. He is, out of some probably delusional support of my half-hearted efforts to shape up, letting me borrow his device because I do not have one of my own. Hmmm. Finally deciding to broach the subject I ask my hubby where on earth he found this eclectic assortment of music and why is it on an iPod that our probably not as naive as I would like to think children can easily access. His answer....short and sweet....."Joseph did it." Ahhhh, another question to ponder....when did it become so easy for a father to sell out his eldest son?
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