SHAKE IT

If I told you that I could sing along to almost any Cole Porter song, and ALSO recite the lyrics to Eazy E's "Give Me that Nut," would you believe me?

It's true. I grew up listening and singing to the same music as my grandparents grew up listening and singing to. Not sure why, but from a young age, I was drawn to standards... songs that evoked romance and hope. While at 16 I could be seen/heard blasting "I've Got a Crush on You" or "Fly Me to the Moon" from the borrowed 1980 Camarro (Nerd alert!), I could also be heard rolling through the streets of Beverly Hills with my girls listening to DJ Quick and Eazy E. We were gangsta like that, me and my little Jewish girlfriends. ;) I mean, seriously. We absolutely knew all the words to "Sweet Black P*ssy" (and to this day, I can still sing it for you).

Anyway, the point is, when it comes to music taste, I'm seriously all over the place... (though I can, with certainty, say that Christian Rock is not for me). But every now and again, we all hear a song that gets us going.... It might not be the kind of music you'd typically go for... but it's a song that invigorates or motivates you... or... strikes a chord on an emotional level... Maybe it's a song that makes you want to dance... or evokes some memories...

The other day, I discovered that song. I'll spare you the details on how/ why I decided I needed to have a singer (or is he a rapper?... Hello, aging myself) named Pitbull in my life. But thank god I found this song. Not only does it make me want to workout hard and run my ass off, but it drums up such memories.... Bahamas. College. Spring Break. Conch shells. Red Hurricanes. Red vomit. Lots of cigarettes. More vomit. Me having sex with another girl's boyfriend. Getting confronted by the girlfriend--10 years later-- at a bar. In New York. While visiting with my ex-husband. ANNNNNNYWAAAAAAY, the point is THIS SONG, this song-- it stirs all that up and more. And discovering this song RIGHT NOW, at a time in my life when my taste in music isn't the only thing all over the map, is just too perfect.

The only thing missing with it is a cold Red Stripe. Enjoy.

COLLEGE

Over breakfast…

Me: (Holding up a grapefruit) Have you ever tried a grapefruit?

Jonah: Yes. Ash-a-lee (his old babysitter) shared a grapefruit with me one time.

Me: Did you like it?

J: I did. (Pause). Mommy, how come Ash-a-lee doesn’t pick me up anymore?

Me: Because she moved and is going to college.

J: College????

Me: College. Yes, it’s a school for older kids. You go there to learn about the things you love. You study interesting things in college.

J: Study??

Me: Yes, if you love numbers then you study math... If you love books and reading you study English. Or art… You could study art and about painting and drawing. (Pause). What do you want to study at college?

J: Doctor.

Me: (Beaming) You want to study to be a doctor?!

He nods.

Me: Okay! Great, well, then at college you’ll have to study about health.

J: Health-Y?

Me: Health. Doctors make sure we’re healthy. Doctors study people’s bodies. In college (I start pointing), they study bones, and organs, and skin and-

J: Fingers?

Me: Yep, fingers...

J: (Pointing) And arms and toes and eyes and mouth and hair and place mats?

Me: Um (smiling), not place mats. But they study your nose… and your teeth… and your tummy… and..

J: And poo poo, and pee pee and fro-up?

Me: Yep. Definitely pee pee and poo poo and throw up.

He takes a bite of oatmeal.

Me: You know, I went to college.

J: Where, mommy?

Me: New York University. In New York. And Daddy went to UC Santa Barbara. Where do you want to go?

J: Um, O. K. J. V. U. I . T. C...

Me: Oh, really?

J: Yeah.

Me: I think you should go to a place called Harvard. Or Yale.

He thinks about it.

J: Um, mommy… But... Do mommy’s go to college with their children?

Me: Aw. Well, no. Not usually. Because college is for big kids. You're almost an adult when you go to college. So usually, no. You don’t go with your mommy.

J: (his eyes widen) But mommy, I don’t know how to get to college. I will need the directions.

Me: (Melting) Oh, well I will absolutely make sure you have the directions to college. I will help you get there. Don’t you worry.

J: All done! (he pushes his breakfast away).

I want to scream, "No. Never. Stay at this table like this forever." Instead:

Me: Me too! Let’s go to school!