I don’t have a bucket list. Luckily my life has been full of things better than what I would have dreamed up. But if I ever had a list….there is one thing….one fantasy I’ve had for years, that would be at the top.
I’m not sure how it started. Maybe when I was Daisy Mae in the summer camp production of L’il Abner. Or maybe when I missed going to Woodstock. But somehow this fantasy took shape: I wanted to sing with a rock band and play the tambourine.
Way in the back of my mind, all these years later, I still have the same fantasy—which I recently confided to my friend Myra. And it turns out that she’s been living a secret life— where she’s not the queen of organic produce or the cookbook author— where she is Eric Clapton— in the privacy of her own home.
So thanks to Myra, tonight I got one step closer to the only item on my bucket list: she just got the Beatles Rock Band game and she invited me over to play.
I’ve never played a video game in my life. But I had a blast; I’m hooked.
Though there’s no tambourine, I got a little practice at percussion. As soon as we come up with a name ( The Mamas without the Papas? ) I figure we can take the act on the road.
Before I can cross it off my list, my fantasy is missing just one little detail: an audience. Tonight we played for Myra’s 16- year-old son. He lasted for half a song.
Loved what you wrote about today! I’ve been challenging myself to lots of things like writing music and performing comedy. Most of the things I went after happened after I hit my 40’s and raised 4 children. I started a chocolate business, became a professional writer and a radio talk show host.And I have lots more I want to do.Though I’ve had a few physical setbacks, I refuse to quit! Life is too short to waste one precious moment!!
“Play, [Ms. Tambourine Lady], play a song for me . . .”
(Dylan would be rolling his eyes about now.)
Rock on!
On a very sad note, just read that Mary Travers (Mary, of Peter Paul & Mary) died today at the age of 72. This has definitely been a year of great loss in terms of those we have admired and loved. I guess it probably goes hand in hand with getting older but not any easier to take.
I read about that just as I saw your comment. No one represented more to me than Peter, Paul and Mary—whose music I’ve loved and played from my own childhood through my children’s—I feel like part of me is gone.
Love your attitude, Debi. You go, girl!