Blogging Friends…. Do you
remember my fictional ‘Bob Dylan Story’—as I affectionately call it—titled ‘Blue Eyes’,
which I posted on here in September? Well…. It did not really have an ending!!
Mary Lou randomly meets Bob, they converse in conversation for twain hours….
And then she leaves?! This has driven my already crazy never-shuts-down head
absolutely crazy!! Mary Lou and Bob connected, they understood each other, he
even liked her for not being a Dylanologist…. And then they just part ways?!
What about the song that Bob wrote, recorded and sort of promised Mary Lou?
Well…. Here is Part Two!! Will these fictional ‘Bob Dylan Stories’ keep on coming?
Maybe…. Maybe not…. Will I start a ‘Bob Dylan Story Series’? I’ll never tell….
Should I start a ‘Bob Dylan Story Series’? Peace out, Mary Lou
Note Number One…. Would
Bob—should he randomly bump into a friend—be the first person to approach
her/him? Is that even his personality? Or would he leave her/him alone? I do
not have the answers to these questions, of course!! And that is alright with
me!! However. What was more important to me than ‘painting’ an accurate
‘picture’ of Bob? Making him ‘normal’…. Whatever ‘normal’ is!! Because if John,
Charlie or Glenn—for example—were to randomly bump into me somewhere, they
would be the first to say, ‘Hi!! How ya doin’?’!! Trust me on that one!! So….
Why wouldn’t Bob be the first person to say, ‘Hi!! How ya doin’?”?!
Note Number Two….
Remember on August 21st, when I posted a fictional story titled
‘Keep On Keepin’ On’ about an aunt, her nieces and their Gran who has breast
cancer? It was inspired by my dear friend who I am in close proximity to….
Remember that fictional story? Well, on October 19th, she underwent
her very last radiation treatment!! As this blessed Thanksgiving season swiftly
approaches us, we all have a lot to be grateful for around here!!
“Kindred Spirits”
I’m just average, common too; I’m just like him, the same as you;
I’m everybody’s brother and son; I ain’t different from anyone; It ain’t no use
a-talkin’ to me; It’s just the same as talkin’ to you…. --Lyrics
to ‘I Shall Be Free—No. 10’, written by Bob Dylan
Unlikely friendships. They obviously happen when you least expect
them to. Such as the unlikely friendship of musicians Stevie Van Zandt and
Darlene Love. Or the unlikely friendship of former Republican United States
president, George H.W. Bush and former Democrat United States President, Bill
Clinton. Or the unlikely friendship of musicians Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.
Such as the unlikely friendship of Disney/Pixar characters, Woody and Buzz
Lightyear. Or the unlikely friendship of Sesame Street characters, Big Bird and
Mr. Snuffleupagus. Or the unlikely friendship of Disney characters
Lilo and Stitch. Because…. Whether they’re real or fictional makes absolutely
no difference none whatsoever!!
Because unlikely friendships are the best and they can last
forever!!
I was standing inside Food For Thought Bookstore & Music’s
entertainment ‘room’. I had been looking, searching—basically thumbing
through—at least twenty or more Bob Dylan albums. I was feeling overwhelmed….
My heart literally raced…. Mild panic attacks conquered me…. My hands were
trembling…. I could hardly breathe…. I was going to drop dead from a heart
attack…. And, yes, it would be all Bob Dylan’s fault…. I felt as excited as a
little girl on Christmas morning or an adult who had just won the jackpot…. With one
complex thought, feeling and emotion soaring through my head….
This is the last time that I ever decide I like or love a prolific
musician whose career started before I was born!!
“Are you sure you understand my song lyrics….?” a
familiar, distinctive, very recognizable voice suddenly said, “Mary Lou….?”
Bob Dylan was standing right behind me!! In his left hand were bags
of books that he had purchased. Under the circumstances that I’d recently
suffered from a mild panic attack, I was initially startled by Bob Dylan’s
deep, raspy, soft-spoken ‘smoker’s voice’!! As resulted, I jumped, I screamed….
And I nearly punched him!! Why? Because I can be very aggressive whenever
people frighten me!! Bob Dylan quickly stepped back in an effort to evade his
face from being hit by my hands. Now, I don’t punch like a girl!! How do I know
this? Because when I was, like, eight years old, my right fist shattered a hard
glass window!! Why? Because my oldest brother, Matt, locked me out, so I
angrily punched it!!
I sincerely hope that I’d be the first woman who ever gave Bob Dylan
a shiner, a bloody nose or a fat lip!! I thought.
“Blue Eyes!!” was all that I could say, with a huge smile
written on my face.
Just like with our first random chance-meet? I observed that Bob
Dylan had on a disguise…. This time, he was wearing blue jeans with his black
jacket. I noticed that its hood was down…. So I could clearly see Bob Dylan’s
apparently trusty, straight, bleached-blond wig!! He looked typical, he looked
ordinary, he looked like an average Joe, he looked common, he looked ‘normal’….
Whatever ‘normal’ is!!
Except for this time, I could see his beautiful blue eyes looking
straight back at me!!
“That’s an interesting choice of records you have
there, Mary Lou!!” Bob Dylan casually said, with a smile written on his face.
In my hands, I held The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, John
Wesley Harding, and Bob Dylan.
I laughed nervously.
“Well, I have all of your albums from the 1960’s….”
I said, “Except for these three that are in my hand…. And Nashville
Skyline!! You know what, Blue Eyes? It was actually Bruce
Springsteen who got me into your earliest albums!!”
“How’s that, Mary Lou?” asked Bob Dylan, his blue eyes
looking curious.
“Because, not only did Bruce practically recommend
that I hear ‘Like A Rolling Stone’….” I said, “I mean, if we were literally
friends, he would have…. Right? But Bruce also practically
recommended that I hear Bringing It All Back Home, Another Side Of
Bob Dylan and, obviously, Highway 61 Revisited!! Those are all totally
awesome albums!! You have released thirty-eight records, Blue Eyes!!
When I’m just starting out collecting them, I could use all the help
and recommendations I can get!! Then I purchased Blonde On
Blonde right here, where we are standing!! Which is also
a totally awesome album!! I ordered The Times They Are A-Changin’
Online, as well!! Now, that is what I call a ‘feeler album’…. It works
my emotions!! Food for thought, that album!! So, I already
have a good fraction of your CDs from the 1960’s…. And to quote
Bruce…. We can’t stop now!!”
“Nope….” agreed Bob Dylan, with a smile written on his face
and a twinkle in his blue eyes, “You certainly can’t stop now, Mary Lou….”
“I love—I dig them, actually—your albums and songs
from the 1960’s, Blue Eyes!!” I exclaimed, “It took me a while
to figure out why…. Is it because I love your harmonica
playing? Yes, I do, so that was explanation enough for
me!! Or is it because I prefer you as a folk artist? Not
necessarily…. Because I love you as a rocker, as well!! Then one
day, I had an epiphany…. The reason why I love—I mean—dig
your albums and songs from the 1960’s is because they
are—mostly—brilliant, witty, ingenious…. And…. Well, they
are kind of far-out!!”
To which Bob Dylan looked at me as his blue eyes were simultaneously
soft and somewhat hard.
“They’re ‘far-out’?” he said, with a slight tone in his
animated voice.
“Yeah!!” I said, “But in the best way possible, Blue
Eyes!! I mean…. Phrases and words are continuously changing….
Like the times. ‘Far-out’ does not necessarily mean ‘cool’,
or ‘funky’, or ‘outta sight’…. You know? If you were to look
up the word ‘far-out’, its definition is…. Marked by a considerable departure from the
conventional or traditional; Very
strange or unusual…. Well, all of that is true—in my
opinion—about your albums and songs from the 1960’s!! In a
good way!! And I love—I mean, I dig—it!!”
To which Bob Dylan laughed quietly.
“So you’re not saying that my records
and songs from the 1960’s are ‘far-out’ because they
were…. You know…. Recorded in the 1960’s, Mary Lou?” he asked, with a
smile written on his face and a mischievous look in his blue eyes.
“No….” I stammered, “And, yes….
But what do I—a thirty-three year old—even know about the
1960’s, anyway, Blue Eyes, aside from watching movies and reading
books about that ‘era’?”
I was suddenly feeling nervous, as though I’d
just said something wrong or out of line. But Bob Dylan came to my rescue!!
“I’m just kidding you, Mary Lou!!” he said,
with a smile written on his face as his blue eyes twinkled, “They were written
under different circumstances, and circumstances never repeat
themselves. Not exactly. I couldn't get to those kinds of
songs anymore. To do it, you've got to have power and
dominion over the spirits. I had done it once, and once
was enough.”
“Didn’t you write those exact words in your memoir, Chronicles:
Volume One, Blue Eyes?” I said, “Which, I haven’t read…. Not yet,
anyway!! But I think I read somewhere Online that you wrote
those words in Chronicles: Volume One!!”
“Yes, I did!!” exclaimed Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes looked
confident.
“It is sort of too bad that you cannot write
particular songs like your stuff from the 1960’s, anymore!!” I said,
“Because…. Like I said, your albums and songs from the 1960’s
are—mostly—brilliant, witty, ingenious…. And, yes, they’re
kind of far-out!! Those songs—such as ‘I Shall Be Free—No.
10’, ‘Maggie’s Farm’, ‘Motorpsycho Nitemare’, ‘On The Road Again’, ‘Rainy Day
Women #12 & 35’, ‘Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’, ‘Leopard-skin
Pill-box Hat’—they make me laugh, they make me smile, they make
me feel so good inside for a while!! I just went through an emotionally
stressful six months {I was my dear friend’s part-time caretaker, as
she suffered through some Life-changing health problems}, so I have
desperately needed somebody to make me laugh, to make me smile,
to make me feel good inside right now!! And, apparently—tag, you’re
it—Blue Eyes!! So thanks…. For being you!!”
Then I smiled.
“And ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’—what a poetic, whimsical,
imaginative song that is—‘takes me on a trip upon your
magic swirlin’ ship; My senses have been stripped, my hands can’t feel to grip;
My toes too numb to step; Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin’; I’m
ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade; Into my own parade, cast your
dancing spell my way; I promise to go under it….!! ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ is—so
far—the most challenging song that I have ever sung aloud
{even with its words right in front of me} I swear that about halfway
through, you slightly sped up the tempo and wrote as many
words as humanly possible!! I love it!! Your albums and
songs from the 1960’s are—mostly—far-out!! Best. Epiphany. Ever!! I will always
look back on those particular songs from the 1960’s and remember
how they helped me through six very hard months, Blue Eyes!!”
“How’s your friend doing, Mary Lou?” asked Bob Dylan, as his
blue eyes looked sincerely concerned.
“She is officially on the slow road to recovery!!” I
exclaimed, “Because now it is Healing Time!! Thank-you for asking
about her, Blue Eyes!! I appreciate it!!”
“Well, I’m happy that she’s going to be alright, Mary
Lou!!” said Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes looked relieved.
“So am I!!” I said.
“Do you want to hear something kind of funny, Blue Eyes?” I
randomly said, as I held The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in my hand.
“Sure!!” said Bob Dylan.
“I cannot say….” I began.
I paused for a nanosecond to carefully concentrate on the words that
would come out of my mouth next.
Then I laughed self-consciously.
“I cannot say….” I continued, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan!!
Why? Because, no matter how hard I try, it always somehow
comes out of my mouth as ‘The Free Willy Bob Dylan’!! Why is that,
Blue Eyes?”
To which Bob Dylan laughed so hard, I could not see his blue eyes.
“Oh my gosh!!” I suddenly exclaimed, “They have Tempest
here?! I want that album!!”
“Do you have any of The Beatles’ records, Mary Lou?” asked
Bob Dylan.
“Uh, no….” I sheepishly said, with a cringe written on my
face, “I cannot stand The Beatles, Blue Eyes!! Yes, I have heard many
of their songs—I kind of like ‘All You Need Is Love’—but….”
I paused for a nanosecond and I cringed once more, as I awaited Bob
Dylan’s reaction.
“I do not like The Beatles!!” I said, “I have no
idea why, Blue Eyes!! It is a mystery!!”
But Bob Dylan simply smiled, as his blue eyes looked playful.
“What?!” teased Bob Dylan, “You’re not my friend,
anymore!! What’s wrong with you, Mary Lou?!”
“A laundry list of things!!” I exclaimed, “Oh, I am hopelessly
flawed, Blue Eyes!! Let me name a few of my shortcomings,
faults and sins!!”
“You don’t like The Beatles, Mary Lou….” said Bob
Dylan in a soft-spoken, noncritical voice, with love in his blue eyes, “Well, to
each one their own, I suppose….”
Then Bob Dylan fingered through several albums—somewhat
impulsively—as though he was searching for something.
“Huh,” said Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes looked somewhat
annoyed, “They don’t have a whole lot of The Beatles’ records
here!! That’s weird. But here, start with this record,
Mary Lou!!”
In his right hand, Bob Dylan held The Beatles The Number Ones.
“Blue Eyes!!” I exclaimed, with a smile written on my face,
“I thought I just told you that I cannot stand The
Beatles!!”
“I know!!” said Bob Dylan, with an incredible spark of
brilliance in his blue eyes, “I’m going to make you a believer,
Mary Lou!!”
“In The Beatles, Blue Eyes?” I said.
“Ah, you’ll see, Mary Lou!!” Bob Dylan mysteriously said.
Then he simply smiled, as his blue eyes looked knowingly.
I felt skeptical that I’d ever become a fanatic of The Beatles’, but
Bob Dylan insisted that I would, so I let him purchase me The Number Ones.
“Well, I need to go,” said Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes
looked sorry, “If only I’d known that you and I would chance-meet
each other again today, Mary Lou!! Because…. I would have brought along
your song….”
“Really?!” I said, with excitement in my voice, “You actually
wrote a song about me, Blue Eyes?!”
“Yes, I did….” said Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes twinkled, “I hope
you like it, Mary Lou!!”
“I know I will!!” I said, “I love everything
that you write and record, Blue Eyes!!”
“Would you like to ‘bump into me’ {since we do that a
lot} next Wednesday, so that I can give you your song, Mary Lou?”
asked Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes looked inviting, “We’ll meet at noon…. Inside
De-Café Coffee on 1965 Street!!”
“That was where we met, Blue Eyes!!” I exclaimed.
To which Bob Dylan simply smiled, as his blue eyes sparkled.
“But what if the paparazzi or something sees you
with me at De-Café Coffee, Blue Eyes?” I said, “I am literally two
years older than your youngest daughter!! Won’t the paparazzi think
that we are…. You know…. On a date?”
“Oh, let them all talk!!” said Bob Dylan in a badass fashion,
“I know that we’re not dating, you know that we’re not
dating…. I don’t care what they—or anybody—says about me!!
We know the truth, Mary Lou!!”
Then Bob Dylan smiled, as his blue eyes looked witty.
“If I were taking you out on a date, Mary Lou, I’d hope
that it would be somewhere much nicer than De-Café Coffee!!” said
Bob Dylan.
To which I laughed.
“Alright!!” I said, “It is a who-cares-if-the-paparazzi-catches-you
not date!! I love it!! See you on Wednesday, Blue Eyes!! Do
you want my cell-phone number?”
“That won’t be necessary,” said Bob Dylan, as his blue
eyes looked trusting, “I’ll see you next week, Mary Lou!!”
Then Bob Dylan walked on and we parted ways…. Again. I purchased
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan
and, of course, Tempest. Then, I wandered aimlessly while ‘looking’ at
books. But I never even picked any up. Because all I could think about was that
I’d met my Kindred Spirit, and made an unlikely friend in Bob Dylan. But we had
to part ways…. Again. All I could think about was that I’d found somebody who I
sincerely understand, and who gets me in return. But we had to part ways….
Again. All I could think of was that on next Wednesday, Bob Dylan and I will
meet again…. And this time, it would be planned, not destiny, Life or fate which
brought us together.
I suddenly felt like a teenager who was crushing on somebody…. And I
liked lots of musicians back then!!
“Well, I hate to admit it, Blue Eyes….” I confessed
after driving my ‘old’ 1970’s baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck toward De-Café
Coffee and meeting Bob Dylan inside one week later, “But you have officially
made me a believer!! I cannot stop playing The Beatles!! What is happening
to me?! You have officially turned this girl into a fan!!”
I felt surprised that Bob Dylan was not disguised in his
trusty, straight, bleached-blond wig…. I could actually see natural, curly,
somewhat messy silver hair!!
“Good!!” said Bob Dylan, with a smile written on his face as
his blue eyes looked proud of me, “My work here is done!!”
Bob Dylan handed me a CD. Written on its case—in his own
handwriting—read ‘Beautifully Unique’ {Mary Lou’s song}.
“Well, here it is!!” said Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes
looked simultaneously nervous and confident, “Your song, Mary Lou!!”
“You titled it ‘Beautifully Unique’….?” I said, as emotions
overcame me and happy, positive, touched tears filled my eyes, “That’s….
That’s…. That’s…. My phrase….!! As an artist, I coined
‘Beautifully Unique’…. It was several years ago….!! At first, I referred
to mixed breed dogs as being ‘Beautifully Unique’…. For they are not
purebreds….!! Then, I wholeheartedly called special-needs
children and medically fragile kids ‘Beautifully Unique’….!! If you
are different in any fashion….? You’re Beautifully
Unique….!! If you are eccentric….? You’re Beautifully Unique….!!
If you have learning disabilities….? You’re Beautifully Unique….!!
Did you know that that was my phrase, Blue Eyes….?! Well….? Did
you….?!”
“Nope!!” said Bob Dylan, with a smile written on his face, as
his blue eyes looked sincerely surprised, “I did not know that!! I decided
to call your song ‘Beautifully Unique’, because…. Well…. You are Beautifully
Unique, Mary Lou!! You’re not a Dylanologist like everybody
else!!”
To which I smiled.
“While we’re here, would you like some coffee, Mary
Lou?” asked Bob Dylan, as his blue eyes twinkled, “Like a mocha?”
“You remembered my preference of coffee drinks,
Blue Eyes!!” I said, “And, yes, I would love a mocha!! Thank-you!!”
So—just like he did last time—Bob Dylan ordered me an incredibly
addictive medium-sized mocha…. And a double chunk chocolate chip cookie!!
“I absolutely love your singing voice, Blue Eyes!!” I
said, after Bob Dylan returned, “It is distinctive, very animated, and unique!! Your
singing—in my opinion—has even gotten better with time and
age!! It is softer, yet raspy!! You know what they say…. Like
a fine wine….?”
“Thank-you!!” said Bob Dylan, “Although some would say that
you’re deaf, Mary Lou!!”
“Huh?” I teasingly said, “What did you say,
Blue Eyes? I did not hear you!!”
To which Bob Dylan laughed, as he rolled his blue eyes.
“No, seriously, cross my heart and soul, I love your singing
voice!!” I said, “I do mean that!! Because when I either like
or love somebody, I do it with all my heart and soul!! You
could be the absolute worst singer who ever walked this planet
{which you’re not}, and I would be deaf, just because I love
you!! No offense, Blue Eyes!!”
“People say they love a lot of things, but they
really don't,” said Bob Dylan, “It's just a word that's
been overused, Mary Lou. When you put your Life on the
line for somebody, that's love. But you'll never know it
until you're in the moment. When someone will die for you, that's
love, too.”
Then Bob Dylan smiled, as his blue eyes looked understanding.
“And, don’t worry, you did not offend me!!” he said, “I’ve heard
it all from my critics, Mary Lou!!”
“So have I!!” I said, in an angry fashion, “Oh, your critics
can be so judgmental, so mean, so hardhearted, Blue Eyes!!
They think the worst of you all the time!! Or so it seems!!
But I think that your critics all hate you just because you’re you!!
They are no different than the bullies who made fun of and
called me nasty names as a girl growing up!! Am I right?”
To which Bob Dylan nodded his head ‘yes’, as his blue eyes looked
like they agreed with what I just said.
“Critics have always been on my tail since day one,
Mary Lou,” said Bob Dylan, “Seems like they’ve always given me special
treatment. Some of the music critics say I can't sing. I croak.
Sound like a frog. They say my voice is shot. That I have no
voice. Critics say I can't carry a tune and I talk my way through
a song. No vocal range. Slur my words, got no
diction. Critics say I mangle my melodies, render my songs
unrecognizable.”
“You cannot sing?!” I protested, as my voice still sounded
angry, “Yeah, I have heard that one before, Blue Eyes. Somebody
once told me that you cannot sing, but the only reason why
you’re famous is because you are only a talented songwriter and musician.
Whatever. You do not ‘croak’ or ‘sound like a frog’!! Your voice isn’t
shot!! I think that you kind of sound like a
white-skinned Louis Armstrong nowadays!!”
To which Bob Dylan’s blue eyes became big.
“You have no voice?!” I continued, as I still sounded angry,
“Really….? Weren’t you ‘the voice of a generation’?! {Not mine!!}
Weren’t you ‘the voice of protest’?! So that can be taken
in more ways than one!! You cannot carry a tune and you talk your
way through songs?! What do these critics think…. You’re tone-deaf?!
I bet a thousand bucks that they all do!! You slur your words
and have no diction?! Yeah, I’ve heard that one before, as well.
And yet, my very first time listening to ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’,
I could clearly hear don’t criticize what you can’t understand!!
My very first time!! What a great line that is, Blue Eyes…. Those
are definitely words to live by!!”
“That’s very impressive, Mary Lou!!” was all Bob Dylan could
say.
“You mangle your melodies and render your songs
unrecognizable?!” I finished, “I do not think so!! Because I understand
you…. In more ways than one!! I do mean that, Blue Eyes!!”
I paused for a split caffeine-fueled nanosecond.
“Blue Eyes?” I said.
“Yes, Mary Lou?” said Bob Dylan.
“This is the last time that you order me a mocha
from De-Café Coffee!!” I exclaimed, “The baristas here must put
an extremely dangerous amount of caffeine—and sugar—in
them, Blue Eyes!!”
To which Bob Dylan laughed.
I paused and I inhaled a deep breath so that I could calm myself
down.
“You know what I love even more than your singing
voice, Blue Eyes?” I asked.
“What, Mary Lou?” asked Bob Dylan.
“Your poetic songwriting!!” I exclaimed, “From one
artist to another, I absolutely love it!! Your singing voice
did not write the lyrics to ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’, ‘I
Shall Be Free—No. 10’, ‘Maggie’s Farm’, ‘Motorpsycho Nitemare’,
‘On The Road Again’, ‘Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35’, ‘Bob
Dylan’s 115th Dream’, ‘Leopard-skin Pill-box Hat’…. I
could keep going…. No, your ‘head full of ideas that are drivin’ you
insane’ {to quote you from ‘Maggie’s Farm’} wrote those songs, your heart
and soul wrote those songs!! ‘The only thing I knew how to do was to
keep on keepin’ on like a bird that flew….’ What wrote that line?
Your singing voice, or your Creative Powers, Blue Eyes?”
I paused for a nanosecond.
“Your broken heart, your bleeding soul—and your resilience—wrote
that line….” I said, “Didn’t they? Your thoughts, feelings
and emotions wrote that line…. Didn’t they? ‘Keep on
keepin’ on like a bird that flew….’ Well, this line served as
my lifeline throughout my dear friend’s journey, during one of the
longest {and hardest} six months of my entire Life!! It kept
me strong, it kept me going, it helped me to ‘keep on
keepin’ on’…. Especially during times when I felt like crashing
and burning!! So, thank-you, Blue Eyes…. I am eternally grateful
for your songwriting, for that line!!”
To which Bob Dylan’s blue eyes filled with tears.
“Now, I am not saying that you should have just been an
unknown songwriter for other artists!!” I said, “Because then
this world would have been deprived of your harmonica,
your guitar, and your piano playing!! That’d be so sad!!
Now, I said that I love your singing voice, and I sincerely
meant it!! Ah, do not mind me… I am just, you know, feeling way
too much!! I know, I know…. You told me that I cannot ever ‘feel too
much’, Blue Eyes!! Well…. I am just feeling a lot!!”
“I….” said Bob Dylan as he brushed tears away from his blue eyes, “I
need to walk outside toward my car for a minute…. I’ll be right
back, Mary Lou!!”
“Alright, Blue Eyes!!” I said.
Ah, I made Bob Dylan cry!! I thought, as I drank my
mocha, Why did I have to go and do that?
Shortly thereafter? Bob Dylan returned while carefully holding
something large and square-shaped in his hands.
“What is that, Blue Eyes?” I asked out of curiosity.
“It’s….” said Bob Dylan, as he slowly turned the mysterious item
around for my eyes to see, “….A painting that I created…. Of you,
Mary Lou!!”
“Oh my gosh….!!” I exclaimed, “Blue Eyes…. You painted a
picture of me?!”
Now it was time for my eyes to fill with tears. I slowly observed
Bob Dylan’s painting of me. It was incredibly beautiful…. I was smiling,
sitting inside De-Café Coffee, and holding a mocha. Just like with his
songwriting? Bob Dylan’s painting of me was incredibly detailed…. Yet, at the
same time? It was also simple!! From the steam rising out of my mocha cup’s
tiny hole…. To De-Café Coffee’s baristas…. From the world-famous label on my
mocha cup…. To our table and chairs where we were sitting…. From the walls
inside of De-Café Coffee…. To other paying customers enjoying their drinks.
But, perhaps the very best part about this painting?
Bob Dylan actually made me pretty!!
Mary-Lou is definitely a kid or teenager of the 1990s because of Free Willy Dylan.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, friends do bump into each other like John and Glenn and Charlie.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the comment, Friend!!
‘Mary-Lou is definitely a kid or teenager of the 1990s because of Free Willy Dylan.’ Well, let’s see…. When did Free Willy come out….? {I just Google-searched it!!} Mary Lou was definitely a kid when the first Free Willy film came out…. Same as me!! {Wink, wink!!} ;)
‘And, yes, friends do bump into each other like John and Glenn and Charlie.’ I know, right?! Mary Lou and Bob Dylan—I mean Blue Eyes—seemingly have a knack for bumping into each other, don’t they? ;-D
Caught the wink, Mary-Lou.
DeleteI remember when Free Willy came out. 1992. Then 1995 and the third or fourth Free Willy in 1997.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
‘Caught the wink, Mary Lou.’ Good!! Because Mary Lou is me, and I am Mary Lou!! Is that confusing? Or…. Is it ‘brilliant’? Who would have ever thought that when I changed my alias in September that Mary Lou would be a reoccurring character?! ;)
Fun fact…. Mary Lou was actually a character in twain Bruce Springsteen-related fictional stories which I wrote sometime during my one year/three month-long disappearance!! But I have not posted them yet on ‘Minuscule is good!’!! So…. Bruce got Mary Lou first—before Bob—back when I was still Raelyn!! ;-D
Mary Lou:
DeleteMade me think of something I read in Lyndall Gordon.
She said something about "madness being creative and vicious" as the difference between Charlotte Bronte and other writers and between the character Bertha Mason - I don't know if you've read JANE EYRE.
Of course Bruce got Mary Lou first with the song and everything.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
Note…. I am writing this reply with a cold, and I’m currently not feeling great…. So, if my words are as foggy as my head, that is why!! :-p
‘Madness being creative and vicious’. I love that!! ;)
‘Of course Bruce got Mary Lou first with the song and everything.’ Yeah…. Before I was ever into Bob Dylan, I created Mary Lou as a character, not an alias of mine!! Who would have ever thought that she’d be both?! I sure didn’t!! ;-D
And I did not know Dylan had a painting talent. Or maybe his great friendship for Mary-Lou made the portrait pretty.
ReplyDeleteAdelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the comment, Friend!!
‘And I did not know Dylan had a painting talent.’ Oh, yeah!! Bob is—in my opinion—a really good painter!! Bob’s artwork is simple, yet just as detailed as his songwriting!! You can Google-search some of Bob’s paintings…. I absolutely love his artwork of an old-fashioned looking diner—although I cannot seem to find it anymore—which is {was?} actually being sold on his Website, bobdylan.com!! He has been painting for several decades…. You can find an image of him Online, a paintbrush in hand, surrounded by his artwork…. From, like, the mid 1980’s!! Bob is also a welder…. He builds elaborate, detailed fence gates from scrap metal!! Those hands of his…. They do a lot more than just strum guitars, write songs, and play piano, you know? Bob is an artist in every single sense of the word!! ;)
‘Maybe his great friendship for Mary Lou made the portrait pretty.’ Aw…. That is sweet, Friend!! ;-D
Are you ready for Part Three of my ‘Bob Dylan Book Series’?! But first, I just need to write it…. ;)
I so am.
DeleteAnd Leonard Cohen is a wonderful painter too.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
‘I so am.’ Good!! I look forward to writing Part Three of my ‘Bob Dylan Book Series’!! ;)
Leonard Cohen is a painter, as well? I did not know that!! I will have to check out his artwork!! By the way? You talked about Leonard Cohen in present tense!! I love how I am not the only person who does that about musicians that have passed away!! Because, after all, their legacy lives on forever whenever we listen to them…. Like Clarence Clemons…. Elvis Presley…. Frank Sinatra…. I could keep going!! ;-D
And of course it was less than a year since he died, Mary Lou...
DeleteThe time I was thinking of was probably 2007-2009 in particular.
They do keep going don't they now?
Sinatra I clearly remember his 1990s death.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
‘And of course it was less than a year since he died, Mary Lou...’ True. I do not know whether I’ve heard very many of Leonard Cohen’s songs—except for ‘Hallelujah’—which they frequently played on our local Christmas soft rock radio station last year!! ;)
‘They do keep going don't they now?’ Yes!! Just yesterday, my Dad was listening to Jimi Hendrix while we as a family played Mexican Train with dominoes!! I never did hear his cover of ‘All Along The Watchtower’, which was apparently on that particular album!! Oh well!! The day before that, while we were driving in Dad’s ‘brand new used {truck}’—to quote Bruce from his song, ‘Used Cars’—we played BB King in its CD player!! I liked him!! And today, I washed a sink full of dirty dishes—by hand—with Elvis Presley’s holiday album It’s Christmas Time!! Yeah, a musician’s legacy lives on forever!! ;-D
‘Sinatra I clearly remember his 1990s death.’ You must be a little bit older than me…. I do not remember when Frank Sinatra—or ‘Frankie’, as my brother Michael and I call him—died. However. I have recently discovered Frank Sinatra…. And I like him!! ;)
Well, I am off to work on my next fictional story!! Yes, I do write while I’m battling colds…. With a foggy head!! It will be my third ‘Bob Dylan Story’!! Wish me luck…. :-p
Sorry, long reply!! I so cannot do Twitter!! Ha!! ;-D
Mexican Train is a wonderful game. The Andersons [ adventureswithbeth.blogspot.com ] play it when they're all together. I thought it was a bit complicated for me. I still love ordinary dominoes and all the new rules I've picked up since last year. There is also a Mancala game.
DeleteAnd Elf Radio - viva la Christmas / Noel.
And Jimi Hendrix. The trucks are real and the struggle is real.
And BB King - remember being first exposed to him in 1996 or perhaps 1993.
Yay for Elvis and Christmas and dish-washing.
And you and Michael must have felt very familiar to call him Frankie. David Helfgott used to call his mentor Frankie-boy because of his Sinatrian qualities.
Do you now feel you can do Twitter because it has 280 characters?
Hallelujah to you Mary Lou!
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
‘Mexican Train is a wonderful game. I thought it was a bit complicated for me.’ I neglected to mention that we play Mexican Train by ‘Family Rules’!! Translation? We most likely break the game’s original rules!! I have been playing Mexican Train for several years now with my family!! ;)
‘Yay for Elvis and Christmas and dish-washing.’ Oh, yeah…. Elvis makes washing dishes by hand so much fun!! He keeps me simultaneously entertained and focused on my job!! I often joke that Elvis will not let me get ‘all shook up’ while I’m washing the dishes…. Very little dancing, no distractions!! Why? Because ‘he is a taskmaster’!! Ha!! Something crazy always happens while I’m washing the dishes/working in our kitchen with Elvis…. My favorite story? One day, I somehow managed to fling Hershey’s chocolate syrup across our tiny kitchen while refilling its smaller bottle!! ;-D
Come Saturday—hopefully—a ‘dishwasher mechanic’ will come over here and repair our dead dishwasher…. But until then? At least I have Elvis…. And whatever Christmas music that I am in the mood for!! Yay!! ;)
‘You and Michael must have felt very familiar to call him Frankie.’ Nah…. Me and Michael simply like giving people nicknames!! He started it, by the way!! Somehow, I do not think that Sinatra would have minded being called ‘Frankie’…. I hope he didn’t!! ;-D
‘Do you now feel you can do Twitter because it has 280 characters?’ Nope!! Have you not read my looooong fictional stories, Friend?! I am very verbose!! I often tease myself that I’m trying to keep up with Bob’s lengthy songwriting!! ;)