I take many things for granted. People I assume are always going to be around. Situations that are likely to occur over and over again. Movies at the dollar theater. When they're gone, I always feel it must be for the best. Friends have reasons for moving away, movies must change when no one wants to see them anymore. So today, in lieu of actually writing an informative column about the status of Iraq's chemical weapons division or commenting about movies that blatantly distort historical events to present nice and tidy stories for children, I will briefly run through my "Thank You" list for the previous year.
I thank you, the readers of "Shut Up, I'm Talking," for indulging my fingernail gazing for the last year and a half.
My family--Most of whom I saw last February on the occasion of my last Grandfather's death. If you think reading my blathering once a week gets a little banal and self-aggrandizing, be glad you aren't on the other end of the phone during one of my "I think I realized the meaning of life, but I left it under a rock in a remote location on the South end of the Sandias" conversations. Lucky for me, the fam doesn't mind indulging my wackiness.
All those celebrity deaths--Not that I'm wishing the rich and famous were dead, but the endless amounts of speculation and eulogizing is amusing to me. As we watch the larger than life die, we all have to confront our own death, and it's good to get all of our hopes and fears out in the open. And there was the priceless bit of information in all of the Michael Hutchence obituaries (the INXS singer died Saturday from an apparently self-inflicted hanging) stating the name of INXS's upcoming tour: "The Lose Your Head Tour."
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer"--On those off weeks when I couldn't think of much to write about, I always considered writing a column about this lovely and hilariously well-written show about teenagers. Sure there are all of those kick boxing scenes with vampires, mummies and hungry worm creatures, but the show is, at its core, about the perils of being a teenager in an adult world. "Buffy" is one bright spot in a dark sea of dreadful television programming. Oh yeah, "South Park" is pretty cool, too.
Tricky--With all of those "ground breaking" electronic artists releasing glorified dance music, Tricky (and his merry band of co-vocalists) has used the scary new technology to create actual songs. While his last album was released in late 1996, this year saw a greater awareness for an artist who is hopefully one of the trendsetters for the future of music.
Enchiladas--Ever since we moved into a house with a working stove, these delicious staples of Americanized-Mexican food have routinely provided a smile and happy stomach with only an hour or so of preparation.
The mountains--Skiing in the winter, hiking and contemplation the rest of the year. The simple things in life can be rather large on occasion.
Lies Magazine--My non-paying job. While there are times I just want to chuck it all and move to a small shack in the mountains to build bombs (and who hasn't thought of this from time to time), it is a lot of fun to confuse the hell out of a bunch of people. It can't just be for all the free CDs.
My other job--At least someone is paying me for something.
Producers of Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher--I didn't get a job, but it was nice to think for a few weeks that I might. In the end, I'm kinda glad I don't have to write fat/sex jokes about Clinton for days on end.
Kids--Unwashed, but also unshackled by the ugliness of responsibility, they are a constant source of inspiration and untempered idealism. And I'm really thankful I'm not the one who has to raise them--a mostly thankless job indeed.
And finally, the circle of friends. An extended family of musicians, poets, artists and aspiring dreamers. Maybe none of us will be the next anything, but at least we're having fun.
A toast of thanks to all of these people, places and things. And now for an answer to the most important question of all: "Yes, very much so."
Matt Worley will actually write something of consequence next week--hopefully.
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