Memories - JoAnn's Advice

And so, JoAnne advised me,

when you decide to have a pity party,

make sure the volume on the stereo is on mute

after you plug in headphones.

If you don’t, when you crank that puppy up to 10,

you will blast your neighbor’s ears out

And they will hear you singing, at the top of your lungs,

“MEMORY, ALL ALONE IN THE MOONLIGHT”

And you will not hear the pounding on your door

“I CAN DREAM OF THE OLD DAYS; LIFE WAS BEAUTIFUL THEN.”

As you gulp down your Rum-and-Tab,

tears running down your face,

mixing with the mascara leaving black spider trails on your cheeks.

“I REMEMBER, THE TIME I KNEW WHAT HAPPINESS WAS.”

And they will call the manager who will also pound on your door, to no avail.

He will let himself in with the passkey, and there you are,

buck naked, sitting in front of the blasting stereo

with headphones on, a toddy in your swaying hand, and your tears,

Having a wonderful pity party!

“LET THE MEMORY LIVE AGAIN.”

Judi Opager, February 2019