Tuesday, May 09, 2006

'Cause I Got a Golden Ticket

"I congratulate you, little boy. Well done. You found the fifth Golden Ticket. May I introduce myself: Arthur Slugworth, President of Slugworth Chocolates, Incorporated. Now listen carefully because I'm going to make you very rich indeed. Mr. Wonka is at this moment working on a fantastic invention: the Everlasting Gobstopper. If he succeeds, he'll ruin me. So all I want you to do is to get hold of just one Everlasting Gobstopper and bring it to me so that I can find the secret formula. Your reward will be ten thousand of these. (he flips through a stack of money) Think it over, will you. A new house for your family, and good food and comfort for the rest of their lives. And don't forget the name: Everlasting Gobstopper."

I've been pondering what to post about this weekend (other than to just say it was splendid and over too soon.) I had a great time with the Sasquatch and Gonzomantis - a repeat of our 48 hours in Los Angeles (with 300% more Dolby content!) Thomas' gigs were tremendous - the first two, incredibly intimate affairs in a club the size of my apartment, I think. It was marvelous to feel very connected to the man in the trenchcoat (to the point of being acknowledged from the stage, mere inches away) and to his music, which has been part of my life for such a long time. What is it - 25 years now? Wow. That's a lot of dog years!

The full image from Sunday at Rams Head - Merujo, Dolby, and the Sasquatch. We took basically this same photo ten years ago in the lobby of the Willard Hotel in DC, the first time we met... And I owe Gonzomantis a huge apology that we didn't get a shot of him with Dolby. Gonzo - maybe you can rectify that in St. Paul??

The Birchmere gig saw Mr. Dolby much more revved up than the previous evening - lots more laughter, energy, and great banter. (I imagine a good night's sleep and not running in from a day on the Bay right before showtime helped with that!) The Annapolis gigs were sold out, and the audiences adored Thomas, but the big, roaring Birchmere crowd must have been a real boost. I was so very, very glad it looked like he was having as good a time as we were.

There are so many little snippets and tidbits I could share, yet, as silly as it might sound, I feel like telling would steal the magic of the moment. Usually, you can't get me to shut up out here, but this time, I'm keeping it to myself.

Let's leave it with this: I had a lovely time. I basked in the music (and I could listen to "Budapest By Blimp" until the cows came home!) It was nice to get hugs and smiles from a friend I rarely get to see and others friends just recently made. I spent a couple of days with two dear friends (to whom I have to apologize - and do here publicly - for being a petulant crank at the conclusion of the Birchmere show. I'm usually not that indecisive or snippy. I just didn't want it to end. I blame the gutbuster of Sprite I sucked down pre-show. Too much sugar for the girl who hasn't consumed a sugared soft drink in a loooong time!)

Mr. Dolby at the Birchmere, in the middle of signing a million autographs.
Notice the fine headgear.


Sometimes, restraint is the better part of valor. It's the firefly you so want to capture, but let fly. Or the love note in your pocket that revealed, would crush a heart. The smile and story told in confidence that would melt the world if told. It's that Everlasting Gobstopper that your personal Wonka has given you.


Well, I can't admit to having any world-melting secrets, but I did have a Golden Ticket this weekend. And a smooth-headed, kind-hearted musical Wonka handed me an Everlasting Gobstopper or two. And Slugworth ain't getting jack from me. I'm keeping those treats tucked in my pocket, along with my old Dolby pins.


"Come on, Charlie! Hold on to that ticket! Run for it, Charlie! Run straight home and don't stop 'til you get there!"

Yeah, like I said before. It was a good weekend.

6 comments:

Washington Cube said...

Sounds like a dream weekend for you.

Merujo said...

It really was great, Cubette. Of course, now, life feels so mundane again!

Mary A Brown said...

If anybody deserved a magical, out of this flat earth weekend, it was you, Merujo! I'm so glad you had a chance to really forget your troubles for awhile. Hey, TMDR didn't slip you the Cube, did he?! Too bad you can't come see the Enz with me...

Washington Cube said...

You want mundane? Come to my world. Comatose City.

Merujo said...

Aoife - no Cubes were passed, but I will have lots of fond memories! And it really did make the challenges of everyday life slip away for a bit. :-)

Cube - as opposed to the Cubes mentioned above - we'll have to get together sometime and compare mundanity. That's the first time in my life, btw, that I've used that word.

Mundanity. Ooooh!

Merujo said...

Ah yes, kudos indeed to that talented photographer!! I managed to not come off looking completely disheveled for once! (Although it would have behooved me to put a brush through my hair, eh?) Thanks, MiniCoop!