(Piacenza) Take 6: The Seventh Seal

Take 6: The Seventh Seal (dedicated to Paolo Bossalini)

Its getting on for 2 years now since the close of the American chapter of my life...which I have spent in European travel, recording new songs and, on & off, shooting a miscellany of music video footage that, to date, has NOT added up to a "Pythagorean Hill of Beans!"
Or maybe? JUST that! -namely? -this blog/book: "Our man in Europe/Piacenza"...

These past THREE MONTHS - as U., dear blog/book reader are aware - has found me happily located/living IN Piacenza, Italy, fortunate to be surrounded by/amongst a most wonderful community of new, good friends and a whole new generation of music fans.

At my modest, local, weekly concerts...they collectively bounce/dance around, pass the "tip jar" and "en que", sing WORD for WORD, at the TOP of their voices ALL and any of my songs I get to strumming!

"Fire Exit!", "This Train", "Eleanora from Cremona", etc.

It IS at once, for this particular "Old Dog" an honor & a delight!

(See photos on theirs/my Facebook websites, why dont-cha?)

Alas, however, during these past 2 reasonably turbulent and extremely active years...a shadow in the sun has appeared all too frequently...in the form of the Grim Reaper...to cull the flock of several of my old American friends.
In point? Whilst they have NOT been dropping like flies, their number, nevertheless, has decreased significantly.

The great TOM WAITS is "on record" as saying: "most of my pals are either dead or not feeling very well.", whilst MINE? --those who continue to thrive? -there is growing alarm....And whilst it IS inevitable, should U. be blessed with a long life, you WILL witness many friends & familys demise...and it DOES leave you  (actually? Me) to ask: Why Megan? (36 yrs old), why Darren? (50). Robin? (32) Evo? (25), Screaming Jack? (40) Jackie? (37), many, leaving young children behind; and, of course, ones OLDER friends who still had a decade or 2 of life expectancy?.... Janet; mother of Robin (60), Kenny Ortega (Jazz bassist-genius, 59), Everet (Comedian, Actor, & stunt man for Rodney Danerfield: 58)...the latter, who once impressed upon me, re. Acting & Comedy: "TIMING is EVERYTHING, Dave!"

As FOR my "Time", I have - and hopefully will continue - to spend it traveling AND celebrating this journey through words & music.
Fact is? Ive never really stayed in one place long enough to gather roots... Or when I did, the Grim Reaper, hovering un-seen, and later? -after my departure? His Scythe descended!

Clearly, I have been dodging the proverbial "bullet" (or Scythe) with uncanny good fortune!...

And whilst (and DO "stay" with me, folks) I am no more or less superstitious than the next man? -when I get to know just about every bar-tenders name in the region...the notion to "move on" becomes a factor.

Like the Knight in Ingmar Bergmans movie, The Seventh Seal, a Chessboard trick was deftly played... And, perhaps? JUST perhaps, like Bergmans - neverthless doomed - Knight....one of my now deceased,  much loved/and loving friends... clung to Life for just a few seconds EXTRA to distract the Reaper from gathering THIS "Old Dogs" Soul unto him, too?

OK! SHOWTIME!!!!

"Im looking for the Fire Exit!"

c 2011/nov/davedelacroix/Lord Borgo/Piacenza/Italia.