The title

I'm growing older but not up

My metabolic rate is painfully stuck

Let the winds of time roll over my head

I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead

Jimmy Buffett, "Growing older but not up"

I discovered Jimmy Buffett in high school. Like some clever secret, I listened to "Songs You Know By Heart" on tape. Some of it was familiar. Likely my dad listened to songs on the radio while digging the pool or building an engine. The stuff dads do. And yearning to rebel in some small way, I found the songs quite naughty. "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw." Well, why not? Jimmy said in an interview he wrote this song when Conway Twitty wrote "Why Don't You Spend The Night," alluding to but not directly saying...Jimmy figured he'd be a touch more blunt.

Then mom and I went on vacation the summer after my freshman year of high school. A real vacation, white-water rafting in Hell's Canyon. Just us. Driving our first Subaru through Oregon, we took turns picking the music to play on the tape deck. Because I was 15, her music was incredibly dorky. Then I put in Jimmy. She seemed to like it. Then she seemed to remember it. At first I was upset, Jimmy was MY discovery and she was claiming prior knowledge. But we were bonding, so I let it slide.

But the naughty song was coming up. I waited for her to comment, or just shoot me the MOM LOOK that says, "I know what you're thinking about, and you aren't allowed to do that until you are thirty."

The distinctive guitar licks started. I watched Mom.

"I used to sing this song at Jimmy Buffett drinking parties," Mom chirped.

What?

"Look, I still remember the hand motions," Mom proudly proclaimed. And demonstrated.

WHAT?

For those unfamiliar with the hand motions, pretend for a moment you are a 14 year old boy. What hand motions would you do to "Get Drunk and Screw?" Those are the hand motions. And my mom was doing them. In front of me. Could be a learning opportunity.

"What else did you do at Jimmy Buffett drinking parties?"

Guess Mom wasn't so dorky. (Hi Mom!)

kisses
Jenny