Last Sunday I was driving home from San Luis Obispo. An extraordinarily beautiful drive at this time of year. The hills are velvety green and wildflowers are starting their brilliant show. I was happily lost in my own thoughts. Who can retrace the bizarre pattern of thoughts that lead us to some sort of personal "aha" moment? I can't tell you what I was thinking about, why I was thinking it, or if I was even consciously on this planet... but, I started thinking about individual personalities, quirks, faults, and traits. We are, at a minimum, two sided. No matter how great we are on one side, we all have a flip side.
45 rpm records. Childhood's version of iTunes. How much did a 45 cost? $.50? $1.00? No more than that, I'm pretty sure. When you bought a 45 single, you acquired your favorite song, plus there was always "the flip side." The record had two recordable sides; Side A and Side B. Sometimes you lucked out, and both sides were equally playable.
All of us have our popular hit side. Side A is the reason for the purchase. Side B comes with the deal. Side A attracts your interest. You want to own it, play it over and over again, learn all the lyrics, sing along. Sooner or later, you'll hear Side B, the flip side.
What then?? Will you listen to it and wonder,
"Is this by the same artist!?"
"How could THIS song be matched with my beloved hit song?"
Will you listen patiently and give it a chance? Maybe this flip side will grow on you? Is it possible you might even find yourself singing along to this less popular song? Will you minimally tolerate it, quietly thinking:
"Ugh, I hope I don't have to listen to this too often!"
I did a little research.
The Beatles' single, "Yesterday"
Side B---------Ringo singing "Act Naturally"
Not horrible, but kind of a kooky flip to a beautiful song. I think I want to be this 45 record.
What's on your flip side?
2 comments:
You've probably seen this, but on my blog header is this quote: "I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." — Marilyn Monroe
I agree with this whole-heartedly. I am very lucky to have a partner that "gets" this about me. He says I am just passionate. What that means is that I love hard and deeply and with commitment, but my flipside is that I get "passionately" upset and have a B-side that stands for a true B-word. Something I need to work on, but I'll take that side of me since it comes part and parcel with the "loving-with-fierceness" side.
Are you going to tell us about your flip side???
I love this post! You suggested my flip side and I agree. First of all, my Side A, Hey Jude, gentle, loving , peaceful and it's Side B, Revolution. Yep, sometimes the peaceful me gets riled up, makes a noise about making change. I can be annoying that way. You rock, G.
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