Things I Learned This Week

Superfreak, Barrymore, Springsteen, Naipaul, and Sappho

Big week at school. Lots of stuff due and not a lot of time to get it done. I’m spending some time with family, licking my wounds, and trying to dig myself out of a not very deep hole, so it’s survivable. The sad thing is, this new neighborhood is NOT a Halloween neighborhood, so two bags of candy was way overkill for the six children who showed up at our door. Oh, well.

Halloween disappointments aside, here are some of the bits of info I learned over the last few weeks.

Like, did you know The Temptations provided back-up vocals on Rick James’ Superfreak? Ever since the advent of Alexa and OK Google, whenever I am in a conversation with my son or husband and a song comes up, we immediately ask the bubbly Google Assistant or the aptly accented Australian Alexa to play that song. Now, 90% of the time, the two interrupt me and confuse the AI assistant into not playing. Why they do this, I have no idea. But this past morning, I shouted “Play Super Freak” so quickly he couldn’t stop me. Soon, Rick was serenading us to the catchy beat of the 80s funk classic. And there, in the middle, is a call-out… “Temptations sing” followed by the famed Motown quintet singing the ubiquitous line “Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh… Super freak, super freak.” Now you know.

My son has recently discovered the joy that is Drew Barrymore. More than Winona Ryder, she has always been, to me, the ultimate ‘80s/’90s it girl. From her early years of Firestarter and ET fame to her bestselling memoir Little Girl Lost, to her myriad divorces, her romcom career, motherhood, her Walmart collabs, and her pinnacle talk show, she’s always fascinated me. Three years younger, she’s the actress I grew up with, and to see my son enamored with her lisp, crooked smile, and bubbly persona makes me smile. Last night, we watched The Wedding Singer, which doesn’t hold up as well as some of the films of the era. The 80s spoofed 80s theme is good for a few chuckles, but the chemistry between Drew and Adam Sandler is the real show. It is undeniable and still an absolute joy to watch.

Speaking of the 80/90s, if you haven’t had a chance to watch the John Candy documentary I Like Me by Colin Hanks, do. What a treasure that man was, and seeing the sorrow behind the silly is always eye-opening.

Reading this week is consumed by V.S. Naipaul’s Half a Life, which is a fascinating look at class and gender through the lens of India in the 20s, London in the 50s, and onto Africa and Germany. It’s a heartbreaking tale of people—especially one man, Willie—searching for a post-colonial identity in a world that promises exploitative uplift without real support. Though Naipaul was a bit of a real-life jerk, this semi-autobiographical story does cut him a break when you become a fly on the wall of the shapeshifting jujitsu people have to go through to acclimate in this world that only accepts some of the people part of the time. There is some hard language about child exploitation you are not supposed to love the main character, only see the world through his eyes. Great read.

Also, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere? Just meh. Instead of spending 120 minutes watching the movie, spend 40 minutes listening to the album the film is based on, Nebraska. Or spend 93 minutes watching the amazing Terrence Malick classic that inspired the music, Badlands, about real-life murderers Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. (Or if you’re jonesing for Jeremy Allen White, stream Shameless or The Bear and thank me later.)

I guess I’ve been sleeping on Sappho. Why didn’t anyone tell me!?! Badass lyric poetess from the Greek Island of Lesbos (I didn’t know that was a real place either) who wrote thousands and thousands of poetic lines around 620 BCE about love, most of which are lost in time. Beautiful, erotic, and heartbreaking; a peek into the secret lives of ancient women that we would otherwise never know. Such an important figure in literature, women’s, and LGBTQ+ history, I’ve always been familiar with her, but I was blessed to sit in on my buddy Jaycie’s first attempt at professing today, and she made the original mother come alive. :) God, school is awesome!

Just saw a friend from the MFA come into the office in full mime costume, and had to tell her all about Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime, who also stars in one of my all-time favorite children’s books from the 1970s, The Marcel Marceau Alphabet Book. Sooo good.

Quote of the week?

I tell you

someone will remember us

in the future.

—Sappho

‘Til Tuesday kids.

Burgin

(An MFA grad student at 50+… follow along and read my story here.)