Earlier this year, an interesting meme went through Facebook universe, a note entitled “25 Random Things.” You must have seen it even if you didn’t participate. Time magazine estimated that five million Facebookers shared some 125 million personal facts. Several other mainstream media outlets also reported on the meme.
Like it or not, those notes produced some interesting thoughts and declarations, and there were a few times I wanted to know more. So for this blog entry, I’m going to expand on the first five of my 25 things.
1. Despite my statements to the contrary, I still love music, and wish I could play at a higher level.
It’s been a rough marriage between me and music. After 25 years of playing anything and anywhere (I could play five instruments at one point), I decided to give it up fully about five years ago. My music career officially ended last summer when I retired from the National Guard Band. Since then I haven’t touched a flute, piccolo, or saxophone. My beef wasn’t so much with the music business, but the fact that I couldn’t find higher level groups to perform with. I considered myself a good player, I often performed in what I considered average groups.
Even though I don’t play now, I still like to listen, and thanks to YouTube and iTunes, I’ve spent countless late night hours searching for, and listening to almost anything. From Bizet, to Basie, to Baltsa, I’ll search for something, and watch it again and again till I fall over asleep in my chair. My current YouTube musical crush object? A 1988 clip from the Broadway musical revival “Anything Goes.” Patty LuPone sings and dances in a million-watt performance of the title song. The tap-dancing chorus provides worthy accompaniment, and the music emanating from the New York pit band is to die for.
2. I’m comfortable wearing pink.
Chicks dig pink, what more can I say? Pink doesn’t necessarily compliment my skin tone, but anytime I wear pink, someone usually compliments me. Go figure!
3. I like opera.
How can you be a trained musician and not like opera? Well, it’s actually more of an acquired taste than anything, as I really did not become a fan till my late thirties. My interest in opera also stokes my love of history, as most operas have a story behind them that links their creation to an interesting meme of its own era. Need an example? Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio has a distinct Persian theme, thanks to western Europe’s fascination with fashion and culture of the Ottoman Empire at the time.
4. I often use a man-bag.
Honestly, who doesn’t these days? Anyone who needs to carry a laptop or other gadget needs some sort of bag. I’ve done the urban commuting thing, the public transportation thing, the student thing. Each different “thing” required a bag full of stuff. Now I have a quick commute and don’t need to carry my computer, but since I work in retail, I do need access to hygiene items through the day. Hence, the man-bag. Toothpaste, breath mints, deodorant, a pen and note pad for those thoughtful and “creative” moments, eye and contact lens gear, spare change and dollar bills, not to mention my cell phone and sometimes, my wallet. All in a convenient spot, hanging around my shoulders, none of it filling my pockets and jingling every time I take a step.
5. I’m the gayest straight guy I know.
Yes, I play the flute, love the opera, wear pink, and carry a man-bag. In my formative years, my favorite form of entertainment was Broadway musicals, and I consider Bette Midler one of the most talented performers alive today. For most mindsets, all of that would equal “gay.” But, no. I’m totally heterosexual, though at times my girlfriend says I’m a bit metro-sexual.
The revealing of “things” behind the “25 things” will be an occasional theme for my blog over the next few weeks. If you would like to share some thoughts behind your 25 things, please leave a note or link in the comments to your posts.
As the new year approaches, you are sure to see several “what-to-expect-in-2012″ posts across the blogosphere. I will contribute to that meme as I always do, but prior to that, I must sum-up the year now concluding. This year, I review my thoughts and actions in the form of an awards show, the first annual “Ed Awards.” The categories will be random, but they signify important actions and events occurring in 2011.
