Oldies

Some people like to go out dancing
And other people, (like us) they gotta work
And there's always some evil mothers
They'll tell you life is full of dirt.

         “Sweet Jane,” Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground

 Velvet Underground in 1993: Sterling Morrison, Moe Taylor, John Cale, Lou Reed

In a single set on WXRT’s Saturday morning flashback show about the year 1970 I heard “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot,” “Green-Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf, “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, “Sweet Jane” by the Velvet Underground, and Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” (about Vikings).  Though pretty much typecast initially as Andy Warhol’s house band, Velvet Underground were pioneers of punk rock at a time when the Hippie ideal was becoming a casualty of late Sixties violence and disillusionment.  I once asked Dave if he ever got tired of singing a particular song. “Green-Eyed Lady,”he replied. On the other hand, Voodoo Chili’s rendition of “Sympathy for the Devil” remained a crowd favorite and one he loved to invite friends (even me) on stage to sing the chorus.  When the Stones performed the song at Altamont just months after Woodstock, a fight broke out, forcing the band to stop and then restart it. Later, during “Under My Thumb” (not “Sympathy for the Devil” as first reported) Hell’s Angels hired to provide security killed unruly fan Meredith Hunter.

 Harry Hamlin as Big Dog

Due to the year-long IUN library heat and air conditioning project, I had to move once again, this time to an Emeritus office that I share with DeeDee Ige in the new Arts and Sciences Building.  Spreading out, I thought of the Curb Your Enthusiasmepisode where Larry has to share his office kitchen with a bully played by Harry Hamlin who calls himself “Big Dog” and hogs most of the cabinet space.  Accompanying Jeff Gilmore and my computer across campus, I noticed a huge courtyard project under way, evidently intended to convert the area into a green space. Later, at Moraine Student Union, a bunch of seventh graders from a Hobart middle school were having lunch.  A guide, probably mistaking me for a visitor, gave me an IU lanyard.  A kid explained that it also can be used to charge one’s cellphone.

Chesterton library’s “New Books” display contained a paperback by journalist Robert Strauss titled “Worst President Ever.”  On the cover (who else?) was James Buchanan, my “Uncle Jimmy,” as Upper Dublin teacher H.M. Jones dubbed him.  Historian Kai Bird claimed it to be the “funniest Presidential biography ever.”  We’ll see.  Upstairs I found a greatest hits CD by Night Ranger and Weezer’s Teal album.  The check-out guy’s dad had seen the band in Grand Rapids, same as I.  He’d gone to see the Pixies but was very impressed with Weezer.

 Heath Carter

This NWI Timesheadline got my attention: “Valparaiso Democrat announces he is leaving region after winning election.” I recognized the photo of history professor Heath Carter, who accepted a tenured position at Princeton Theological Seminary.  I spoke in Heath’s class several times and am sorry to see him leave.  Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Durnell, Carter’s next-door neighbor, told reporter Bob Kasarda:

  Valpo will miss not just one, but two, great community leaders when Heath and Thais Carter move. I trace nearly all of my civic engagements in Valpo, from becoming involved in Central Neighborhood Association, to buying a local business, and now running for mayor, back to a conversation with Heath Carter.  His positive community impact is surpassed only by the quality of his friendship.

He’ll be missed, that’s for sure.  Fellow VU professor Liz Wuerffel, also nominated for an at-large council seat, posted a photo taken during a downpour that resembled an impressionist painting.

Dave Seibold reminisced about old high school friends and familiar places, such as Wentz Turkey Farm not far from Upper Dublin High School.  Wally and Pam Illingworth’s father worked there.  Out neighbor, he claimed to hate our playing ball in his side yard because sometimes we’d run into (and through) his hedge, but he never kicked us out.  On mischief night he’d hide in the back yard (or so we heard) to stop teenagers from pulling pranks.  Terry Jenkins told me that while he complained when his collie Taffy came onto his property, he’d be affectionate to the dog when he thought nobody was watching.  One place unfamiliar to me was Hustle Inn, which Seibold described as a teen nightclub near Doylestown.  He wrote: “We used to go with special dates when there were not any parties around.  I thought it was a neat place! It had a topnotch juke box and sound system and played teeny bop music we liked. My wife is 2 years younger than I and in her senior year was not permitted to go. The place turned into a drug haven and was busted several times.  We knew nothing about the drugs but would go into the parking lot to sneak beer we had brought.”

Dave and Nicki Seibold