Robert Manners

Try to Remember...

...the kind of September, something-something ya-da-dum-de-dum-dah...I hate when I can't remember song lyrics. They're the only things I really ever do remember, so when I forget them I get very upset...the way most people get when they can't remember why they came into the room, or can't remember people's names, or can't remember their own phone numbers (all things I routinely forget). In fact, the best way for me to remember anything is to set it to music. Like Schoolhouse Rock...I remember the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America word for word, just because it was set to music:

We the People [of the United States of America (omitted for rhythm)], in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility (yeah, yeah), provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, ah-and secure the blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our posterity do ordain and esta-a-ablish this Constitution oh-oh-of the United Sta-a-ates of America-ah-ah.

Well, anyway, Memorial Day is sneaking up on us. And I don't remember what it's about. I mean, I know we're supposed to honor the memory of those who died in the defense (or offense, as the case may be) of the United States via the Armed Services. I have not been personally acquainted with any such persons, and the last person in my known family to die in battle was my Great-great-great-(etc.)-grandfather, Zadock Woods, who was killed in Texas (but not the Alamo) during the Mexican-American war. Several family members were in the Armed Services...in fact, my own father was in the Army during the Vietnam Conflict (though he was stationed in Germany and Fort Ord, where I was born, the entire time)...but all us Mannerses contrived to survive the various wars of our time.



So we celebrate by having big-Big-BIG sales, huge barbecues, plenty of drunkenness and death on the roads, and taking the day off from work. And we get to wear white shoes and pants again (though I wear them all the time...or at least shoes and pants which used to be white). Somehow I don't get the connection there. But then, there are so many things I don't understand. Like sports. And SUVs. And ambient music. And heterosexuality.



Oh, well. Here's something I do understand: the above doesn't make any sense at all. I think I may just be losing my mind.

The sun comes up, I think about you...

The coffee cup, I think about you...

I want you so, it's like I'm losing my mind...

The morning ends, I think about you,

I talk to friends, and think about you;

And do they know, it's like I'm losing my mind?

All afternoon, doing every little chore,

The thought of you stays bright...

Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor,

Not going left,

Not going right...

I dim the lights, and think about you;

Spend sleepless nights to think about you.

You said you loved me...

Or were you just being kind?

Or am I losing my mind?