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Like a Rolling Stone, by Jim Bartlett

24/1/2020

 
Outside, the clouds gather in groups of gray, working together to push aside the last of the blue and make good on the promise of rain. Rose watches their threatening march across the sky from the kitchen, though her focus is mostly on the last batch of chocolate-chip cookies. At the moment they’re not quite ready to come out, rather, they seem quite content basking in the warm oven.
“Nana, what did you say this was for?”

​Rose looks across the counter. Her granddaughter, Carmen, 6, stands before the makeshift shelves on the wall opposite the fireplace holding an album she’s pulled from below the stereo.


“It’s how we used to play music. Well, some of us still do.”

Slowly, the tiny girl slips the vinyl record from its sleeve, careful to hold it by the edges. “Let. It. Bleed,” she reads from the blue center label, just loud enough for Rose to hear. “What does that mean? Is that like a boo-boo?”

Rose laughs. “No, not at all. It sort of means let it go. Don’t just hold it in. Like today, there was so much to worry about back then, and people, particularly the younger folks, were looking for peace and hope.” Rose stops, looks into the Carmen’s curious eyes, and smiles. “Never mind me, it’s just the name of the album. The groups were always coming up with really cool names. Hang on and I’ll show you how it works.” Rose pulls the cookie sheet out – perfect – and sets it on the range to cool.

Sliding around the edge of the counter, she moves to the front room next to her granddaughter. “Let me see it.”
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Carmen, still holding the edges by her fingertips, hands over the record. “What now?”

“Watch.” Rose turns on the stereo, lifts the dustcover, and sets the vinyl on the turntable. She holds her breath, then sets the needle on the edge of the record. There’s a crackle, but only for a moment, as the room fills with the sound of Keith Richard’s guitar opening Gimme Shelter.
Carmen smiles and begins to sway with the music, grabbing Nana’s hands and spinning in a quick little dance as the music builds. But after a couple of moments, she stops, pulling her iPhone from her oversized pocket.

She looks down at the phone, then up to the turntable. There’s a pause and she repeats the back and forth again. “But...what else does it do?”

Rose stops her dance, her eyes falling to the phone. With a sigh, she shifts her gaze to the turntable, Mick still singing for peace at 33 1/3 rpms. “Well, I guess it makes you feel old...”

Go on, admit it... how many of you readers let that track run right through to the end? – editor
Mary Wallace
24/1/2020 09:43:04 am

What else does it do? It makes you smile, cry, remember, feel old, feel young...well just feel. Lovely Jim.

Jim link
24/1/2020 03:46:10 pm

It does make you smile, cry, feel young, old, and, as you so aptly point out, just feel. My hope is that one day we all will "feel" and with that our wonderful, dedicated young men and women are no longer called off to some distant war. Gimme Shelter indeed.
Thanks ever so much for the comments, Mary.
And, Gordon, I let that track run right through. ;-)
Thanks
Jim

KathyS
24/1/2020 04:47:22 pm

I agree with Mary Wallace❣️

Jim link
24/1/2020 05:04:49 pm

Thanks, Kathy. So do I
Jim

Carol Garrasi
24/1/2020 04:28:47 pm

Great little story. I can smell the cookies and hear the Stones shakin up some memories. Next we should teach these kids how to dial a phone. Nicely done

Jim link
24/1/2020 05:07:51 pm

I hope that one day the songs they sang, particularly this one, shake up some folks and we find a few more smiles and a lot less of all the bitterness that we see today (and then, sadly)
Thanks much, Carol
Jim

Michael McCarthy
24/1/2020 04:32:57 pm

The innocence of modern youth! Does make you think about these protest songs. Where are they today? Lovely , Jim, great idea with the two generations.
Mike

Jim link
24/1/2020 05:09:37 pm

Ain't it the truth.
Really appreciate the read and the comments, Michael.

Take care
Jim

Marjan sierhuis
24/1/2020 08:44:49 pm

Wonderful story, Jim.
Marjan

Jim link
24/1/2020 09:37:59 pm

Thanks ever so much for the read and the nice comments, Marjan!

Take care
Jim

Mike B
24/1/2020 10:15:45 pm

Jim, that’s nostalgia at its Best!!! The extra added touches were perfect. Yes, I did listen to the song to the end...

Jim link
24/1/2020 10:51:12 pm

Thanks, Mike - and we have Gordon to thank for those wonderful "extra added touches!" I, too, listened all the way. It's a marvelous and relevant song that will be 51years old this year, yet holds true even today.
Take care
Jim

Doug
25/1/2020 12:28:35 am

Nicely done Jim. If the younger generation doesn't get it on their own I'm not sure they will. It reminds me when people ask me why I ride motorcycles. If I have to explain it to them they still won't get it (unfortunately).Again, very well done.

Jim link
25/1/2020 02:50:35 am

With every generation there is a blurry transition, and not everything carries over. The generation that is slowly being "displaced" - though maybe that's not the right word - wants the upcoming one to feel and see the things that made theirs "special." I wax on - maybe this is fodder for another story!
Thanks so much for the read and comments Doug!
Take care
Jim


Comments are closed.

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