Here’s to ’21

Maybe I should write. Maybe I should have coffee first. Maybe I should write first, and then reward myself with coffee.

I always remembered that line from some Nicolas Cage movie. I can’t remember anything else about the film, but I remember that line.

I had a good time venturing out to a few stores that were deemed “non-essential”, but are now open for business.

I purchased a remaster of The Who’s “Tommy” album for a mere $7.

Some of you may remember the story of the deaf dumb blind kid, who sure played a mean pinball.

I was eight years old in the spring of 1970 at an arcade in Panama City Beach, Florida when I first heard “Pinball Wizard” screaming over the speaker system.

I remember the film version of “Tommy” from 1975 with Ann Margret getting covered in that flash flood of baked beans.

I still get the creeps thinking of Tina Turner’s Academy Award worthy performance as the acid queen and that coffin lined with hypodermic needles closing on Roger Daltrey.

Elton John in those four foot platform shoes was one of my favorite moments. Cousin Kevin’s toilet seat lined with nails was my least favorite moment.

They don’t make films like that anymore, or albums.

Quantity has replaced quality, individuality and unbridled creativity are now shunned, while the utter sameness of everyone and everything is being beaten into our collective consciousness.

Listening to this Who album, a line from the third track has me optimistic:

“I’ve got a feeling ’21 is gonna be a good year. Especially if you and me see it in together.”

Mitchell Seyfer

Palmdale