Chapter One: Who Are These People Floating in my Dreams? (2009)

Upon entrance to Summerfest (June 30, 2009) I rolled up to Milwaukee faves “The Championship.” They played a really nice tune actually, with minimalist jam-outs and a lovely build…. they climaxed with a moving crescendo….(subsequently lost momentum with a slow/boring follow up tune…)

(Welcome to Summerfest…)

“The world’s largest music fesitival.”

A few moments ago, a beautiful girl rolled up next to me…..I causally took a glance….Uh huh……(as beautiful as my instincts suggested.)

She stayed next to me for a few minutes, then rolled up to a seat in front of me, allowing her left hand to linger in plain view…..making herself apparent, that she was alone….(and not married)

I could have struck up a conversation with her…(but I didn’t)

I can already tell she’s not, “The One”…..way too normal.

Other observations….

Some are running too hot: (teenage boy, shirt off, walking fast/angry/tough, like he had a score to settle.

Some are running too cold: (Mostly older women, bundled up for the chilly evening lake breeze…..me? My ragged blue cardigan and pants….(call me what you want))

As I walk through the throngs of strangers, I try to make eye contact with as many as possible. I see plenty of smiles….also, plenty of sad eyes….

Groups of boys: someone alwAys leads and, tonight especially, someone feels left out but is too afraid to say anything about it. (Donny, please.)

Groups of girls: leaders, followers, drama circles, fake “happy to see you’s,” and suffering for fashion….doing whatever it takes to look hot! (Wearing heels to the festival?)

(And then there are the couples…)

Some wear matching pain on their faces.

Some (very few) match with happy eyes and happy smiles…..(matching wisdom) in tune and in love….

I see a few young lovers….kind of boring. Falling happens to almost everyone….staying? Staying love?…..a 50 something couple ….still sexy. Still holding hands, still close with back rubs and smiles….That’s rare….let me tell you…very, very rare….

How many 50-year-olds do you see making out in public?

(Bike rallies not included.)

This afternoon, local television newscaster Mike Miller is fronting his band here at the classic rock stage. The are called, Piles of Rhythm. (“Ride Sally Ride” covers and shit…)

Mike Miller can sing, but when he talks to the crowd, he sounds more like a southern blues man “in a hurry,” rather than the ultra-serious, professional newscaster he plays on T.V.

Just so you know, there is a Cheap Trick tribute act named Cheap Rick. (Yes, I thought this was worthy of being noted.)

Next band….cover band…..middle aged men.

Drummer is playing on a full electric kit because he is old and his back probably hurts.

Keys……..jean shorts…..Arthur Gee is the man’s name….old collared shirt, untucked, with faded purple/white stripes. (It’s his gig shirt….)

Bass and guitar (lead)…..they look like brothers….(siblings)…..both wearing Harley shirts….this is, after all, the Harley Davidson stage.

Front man? Large dude….black beater with a brown vest…..(the gun show is pasty white.)

They covered the Tom Petty tune about rolling a joint…..this next tune?…..Supertramp?

*Crazy Ray is sitting in the front row.

Sometimes I see other couples and I crave to be with a girlfriend (or something like that). Other times, I see couples and I’m thankful to be alone. (Very thankful….)

(Have you ever seen anyone wearing a Tom Petty shirt? He’s playing tonight and I have yet to see one.)

A man in a hurry just dropped his cellphone as he walked past me. I feigned a pained look of sympathy.

In frowns and look downs….stare at the ground….(because you should be ashamed of yourself….)

In shared laughs, harmonies, and “this band sucks”…..(why would you possibly cover a Phil Collins tune?)

In fried food and fried dreams….we have now completed the first part of summer!

I’m sorry, but…..(suffering will ensue…suffering will ensue)

With arms locked in teenage love, and never too fat to be exposing mid-riffs.

(Oh, you’re so quiet tonight…)

(Keep walking, children….we keep walking.)

The older I get, the more I know who you are….(or who you might be.)

(Oh, hell no! You don’t know me!)

Oh yes I do, child….oh yes I do.

Trust me….

Trust them…. (the aged)

Enjoy it…..(for as long as it lasts.)

“20 is the worst…..being 20 sucks…” (Overheard some kid saying this.)

This is true…..with hopping and yelling and the spirit of dumb youth. (Scream child….scream.) while you can…..while you can.

Just paid $3.00 for a handwriting analysis….the Russian lady took one look at Joe and said I was optimistic because the general sway of my signature goes up, and that I’m good at math, because the “J” looks like a two….

She also asked if I was a musician and if I was going on stage…. “in a dream” I said….

And as I fall asleep, the faces flash.

How many faces did I see today?

Thousands?

Thousands.

Who are these people floating in my dreams?