http://standubin.stumbleupon.com/review/27510412/

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:44:58 -0800

One of the songs in my music player (which you can launch above) is Diamonds and Rust. It took me awhile before I found out Joan Baez wrote that song about her relationship with Bob Dylan. It's quite compelling when you listen to the song from that point of view.

Anyway, I envisioned what a conversation might be like if Bob were to call Joan today and he hadn't spoken to her since that song was written. It might go like this:

Bob Dylan: "Hi Joan! It's Bob. How's it going?"

Joan Baez: "I know a lot of Bobs."

Bob: "Well, we had a pretty intense thing going once."

Joan: "Okay, that narrows it down some."

Bob: (a bit flustered): "Well, you told the world I went straight into your heart."

Joan: "Hmm. I'm still not getting a clear picture."

Bob: (now somewhat peeved): "Come on, Joan! I offered you diamonds and when that didn't work, I threw a bit of rust your way! You said no to both. You gotta remember me!"

Joan: "Okay, that's bringing something back. Is this Bob Moscowitz from junior high?"

Bob: (beginning to fume): "No, Joan. It's Bobby D! Bob Dylan!! Tell me you don't remember me!"

Joan: (grinning ear to ear): "It's okay, Bob. You had me at 'hi.'"

Bob: "Dang! I knew I still had it!"

http://standubin.stumbleupon.com/review/24744290/

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:36:01 -0700

The review I just did of a site filled with wonderful images of horses reminded me of something my dad used to do. When I or my brother or sisters came running up to him asking him to get (or do) something for us, he'd pause and then say with a completely straight face, "I won't say no to that." I remember we'd go away feeling pretty good about this.

As it turned out: nine times out of ten we eventually forgot the thing we wanted.

I didn't realize until many years later that his answer was a superbly crafted "no-answer." We always thought there was a chance of getting whatever it was, so we didn't stick around to whine about how important it was. He obviously knew we'd move on to wanting a million other things, so his answer managed to keep a certain level of harmony in the household.

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