Me and Jenifer - 22 years ago
Tonight I was looking for a tape. A specific cassette tape from a band called Metro Waste. Metro Waste was an early, southern region punk band. I told a friend that I had a Metro Waste demo. I knew it was somewhere in the house and I told him if I found it and it was in decent condition - I would make him a copy. Nostalgia!
I didn't find that tape, though. What I found was an empty tape case with a business card for Metro Waste tucked inside. I am pretty sure that tape is around here somewhere...I will keep looking.
Another tape I found was an old and dusty Sony. One side was printed with B-52's and the other side with Talking Heads. I was about to toss this in the waste bin when something inside of me said, 'listen to it first! Don't Worry might be on that tape!'
So I did.
The side that was labeled B-52's was NOT the B-52's. It took me a few seconds to place the two chirping, somewhat southern accented, female voices - it was Jenifer and myself laughing and hooting about something going on in a parking lot. I rewound the tape and started it from the beginning and soon realized it was a documentation of a time Jenifer and I had that involved going to a Tav Falco show at the SOB, going to the flea market at Barton Coliseum, stopping by Jef Duncan's house and going to the coin laundry. The whole tape was for the benefit of our friend Susan, who we missed enough to pretend that the tape player was actually her. I guess it was our intention to include Susan in our good times one way or the other. I do not remember making this tape and I have no idea if we ever made a copy and actually sent it to Susan.
The making of this tape may be blurry but I very much remember bleaching my hair blonde - not even bothering to take in to account that I was in a play that was opening soon. I lament to 'Susan the tape recorder' that "I wanted to be blonde but my hair had a different plan entirely". The dye job was indeed horrible, it was more a new born yellow chick color than a specific blonde. I vaguely remember going to hear Tav Falco and visiting the flea market. I talk about seeing an old boyfriend at the TF show and Jenifer and I discuss what we would have liked to have done with the idiot slam dancers who always seemed to screw up the best dance songs. We are laughing and joking and hearing it made me laugh out loud because, hell, we are funny as shit. We sound like we only know how to have a good time.
I sat on the edge of the bed and listened. I played some guitar for Susan then muttered something about getting a job. "Hey, Susan! It is about 36 degrees outside. Every one is going to hear Jubilee Dive, but I think I am going to stay home because the weather looks bad. It is Januarrrrryyyyy 27th...1987".
1987...When the only thing I knew was how to have a good time.
