This Shirt

[judecorp]

Wow. That was such a beautiful concert. I'd never really heard much Mary Chapin Carpenter before, and I'd never even heard of Patty Griffin, but they were all so wonderful. The place was packed and I think everyone was in awe. They were all having such a good time with each other. That's what really makes a concert for me - when the performers are really enjoying themselves.

The only thing that would have been better is if we'd been able to have dinner with Dar before the show. But we /did/ get to eat in the presence of elspazz0. (p.s. Sarah, we got that CAPA program for you, and "Fame" is showing October 31st and November 1st.) Watching Dar on stage has got to be one of my most favorite things in the whole entire world (the way she tells little stories is just so adorable). If only khaosworks had been able to see her for her birthday. (But at least he got a phone call from me!)

This shirt is old and faded
All the color's washed away
I've had it now for more damn years
Than I can count anyway
I wear it beneath my jacket
With the collar turned up high
So old I should replace it
But I'm not about to try

This shirt's got silver buttons
And a place upon the sleeve
Where I used to set my heart up
Right where anyone could see
This shirt is the one I wore to every boring high school dance
Where the boys ignored the girls
And we all pretended to like the bands

This shirt was a pillow for my head
On a train through Italy
This shirt was a blanket beneath the love
We made in Argeles
This shirt was lost for three whole days
In a town near Buffalo
'Till I found the locker key
In a downtown Trailways bus depot

This shirt was the one I lent you
And when you gave it back
There was a rip inside the sleeve
Where you rolled your cigarettes
It was the place I put my heart
Now look at where you put a tear
I forgave your thoughtlessness
But not the boy who put it there

This shirt was the place your cat
Decided to give birth to five
And we stayed up all night watching
And we wept when the last one died
This shirt is just an old faded piece of cotton
Shining like the memories
Inside those silver buttons

This shirt is a grand old relic
With a grand old history
I wear it now for Sunday chores
Cleaning house and raking leaves
I wear it beneath my jacket
With the collar turned up high
So old I should replace it
But I'm not about to try

Mary Chapin Carpenter played a song of hers called "This Shirt" as her second selection. I'd never heard it before (actually, I can't think of a single Chapin song) but I was completely captivated by it. The idea of a treasured piece of cloth has long been my favorite analogy for successful love, and as I was drawn into the song, my mind began drifting to future times, to future fond rememberances of the song. One of the techniques I tried to hone while learning how to do successful therapy is to free my mind while I'm listening to someone and pay close attention to the images that pop into my head. My mind wandered to a place where Chapin's old shirt was synonymous with Jennifer, and by the end of the song, I realized my eyes were damp behind my glasses. It's so rare that my eyes water that I was a bit taken aback. Now, though, I think I need an mp3 of that song. Do any of you folkies happen to have it (or know someone who does)?

In other folkish news, I can't wait to put Karrie's mix CDs in my car tomorrow. It will make the drive to work so much better!

Right this minute, my sentimental mind misses Jodie, and that "take care of my fiddle, son" song that she used to really love. Play every day just like your playing days are through.

I think my next Columbus goal is to sing with the Columbus Women's Chorus.