I haven't posted for awhile because I think of things and then I don't take time to put them here. Or I just don't make time. Today is one of those days that some nice memories of my past have come back. I bought myself a CD while I was visiting a friend, The Best of Peter, Paul & Mary. It is one of my most favorite CDs ever! I know that Mary is gone and I'm not sure if both of the guys are still alive but they were a big part of my life a long time ago. I don't know if anyone other then someone my age that's into folk music would know what a coffeehouse was. I mean this is way, way before Starbucks. These places were small cozy little (I hate to say it) smoke filled spots where most of the people that gathered there were people who were or wanted to be musicians, writers, painters, poets, philosophers, etc............. They seem to be one step outside the circle of what was considered "normal". The coffeehouse also had some sort of live music or poetry reading from someone who had something to say. The songs and poetry were usually written about how these people saw the world and the sorry situations we had to deal with. I'm sure these people are still writing about the same things, only in the present. Sorry I got a little side tracked. It turns out there was a small coffeehouse in the basement of one of the churches in downtown Harrisburg. I'm getting ahead of myself but my first visit told me I would really love to be in this type of life. My introduction to this place came through the sister of one of my boyfriends. Sue was 2 or 3 years older then me but we enjoyed a lot of the same things. We started talking a lot and spending time together and one day she told me about the coffeehouse in town (Harrisburg) and ask if I wanted to go. I couldn't wait! The place was open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and there was no alcohol allowed. Needless to say, mom and dad were a little apprehensive about us going downtown at night. Sue had her drivers license and we promised to be home by 11:00. It was the best thing I had ever done! There was a single guitarist playing and the music was just wonderful. We really enjoyed it and didn't stop talking about it for a week! It was one of the best times in my life! We ended up going a couple of times a month for about a year then the Beatles happened and Sue went crazy! She wasn't very interested in folk music anymore and we stopped going to the coffeehouse. It didn't take long for me to get into the Beatles but it was never anything like Sue. We did a lot more things together, including going to see the Beatles in Atlantic City and the Rolling Stones in Harrisburg. Then Sue went to college and we (my family) moved away from Marysville and Sue and I lost touch. It's funny how a couple of songs will bring back so many memories. I haven't thought about Sue in a very, very long time. I hope she's healthy and happy and has had a wonderful life. It always amazes me how many people we've known go by the wayside. I guess you never really forget them if they've touched your life in some way.
It's a very dreary day and this is a nice memory. Sometimes it's fun to go back.
