I am so old, & so old school, I had decided in the early 1970s when I came out to myself, being gay was going to be just fine because it meant that I was not obliged to get married, have children, or serve in the military… & that was a just fine by me. I was not portentous, & I could not have known that someday, in my lifetime, my gay brothers & sisters would fight for the right to marry & serve their country. Post Apocalyptic Bohemia is rarely political, but I am always dismayed that some select citizens of this great country think that the majority should & could vote on the civil rights of the minority… now that is truly un-American! Today’s news of the federal court overturning Proposition 8 is one of the major events in my life so far, right up there with desegregation, Watergate, the moon landing & Cher winning an Oscar for Best Actress. A joyful day indeed.
I have been considering of late, that happiness is not a state of being. Happiness is in the moments & that a person needs to be open & present for those moments: a kiss, a smile, a warm summer day, a song that fills your heart & stimulates your intellect, a dog sleeping in the sun, & day marked by a giant step in the freedom of those who are oppressed & denied equal rights. I am playing hooky from work & I am filled with optimism, warmth & I am open to the possibilities of a better world for everyone. &…they may have capped that fucking oil spill!
The husband was singing Happy Days Are Here Again in the car on the way home from the gym the other day. This made me consider “happy” songs & I was compelled to make the Husband this playlist. I think it is a good one. I would be made happy to send it to any reader that should ask.
Happiness- The Blue Nile
Happiness Is An Option- Pet Shop Boys
Happy Days Are Here Again- Barbra Streisand
Happy Ending- Mika
Happy Feet- Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
Happy Heart- Petula Clark
I Want To Be Happy- Ella Fitzgerald
Sunshines Better On The Other Side- John Martyn
Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows- Leslie Gore
Making Flippy Floppy- Talking Heads
Shiny Happy People- R.E.M.
Silver Lining- David Gray
Singin’ In The Rain- Jamie Cullum
Get Happy!- Judy Garland
yay!
ReplyDelete(I often sarcastically sing that Lesley Gore song when one my friends says something really negative or bitter....and we laugh...)
"strate" is my verification word.....
What a lovely post... I think that deserted island production of The Tempest sounds great, though when I played Prospero, it was set in an abandoned subway station, covered in Italian graffiti... Ariel was a Broadway hoofer, Caliban was a homeless person, the Royals were stock-market sharks and the tempest was an earthquake...
ReplyDeleteHappy talk, keep talking happy talk, talk about things you like to do! Juanita Hall and Sarah Vaughan.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe. Jo Stafford
:-)
those major events in your life? how about massachusetts making gay marriage legal? (not that i'm biased or anything, ahem).
ReplyDeleteYippee! Although given the lack of coherence in the pro-prop 8 testimony, it couldn't have come out (see how I did that?) any other way. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful day for everyone. We did it. We all win with this court decision.
ReplyDeleteVery good post! It is a very happy day. A great step forward!
ReplyDeleteWe have gay marriage here in DC as well, but it's CA that really matters as it makes such huge deadlines. Congrats to everyone there and us all for getting a little closer to equality! Happy days indeed!
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