"Who is Brenda Lee?" she said.....

Anyone who knows me well, know that I have this obsession (okay huge obsession) with legendary songtress Brenda Lee.

One of my co-workers recently asked me what kind of music I like. I responded: "anything from Brenda Lee to Maroon 5." "Who is Brenda Lee?" she said. OH MY GOD! "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree?" "Oh she sang that? Isn't she dead?" I suddenly realized this was lost cause.

Lee herself quiped in a concert back in 1998 in Gulfport, Mississippi attended by me and brother David and our respective partners, that she overhead some folks outside of the theatre upon looking at the marquis remark: "I thought she was dead."

My brother David and I were in heaven as we were front row center, our partners quaked in fear as David and I were as giddy as two teenage girls at a Backstreet Boys concert. You see our wonderful mother Rose in her younger years always had the HI-FI spinning with that unmistakable Decca labeled Brenda Lee LP. We all grew to love the small woman with the big voice. To this day, the holidays to me are defined by Lee's remarkable Christmas album. I am still guilty at the age of 43 of answering our telephone during the holidays with the greeting: "Casa de Brenda Lee where we're always Rockin' around the Christmas tree."

Back at the concert David and I sat sang our asses off not missing a word. I know our partners were ready to hide under their chairs. Even Lee took notice of the two men in the front row singing such BL greats like "I'm Sorry", "Sweet Nothins', "All Alone Am I" and "As Usual." At one point Lee and crew member with an Instamatic came into the audience singing "You Ought to be in Pictures" She sat in the laps of audience members and took pictures with them.

She sat in the lap of my brother David first. I was a little miffed, feeling like first runner-up in a Southern Festival Beauty Pagent. Trust me, you NEVER want to know how that feels. I looked at David with a "Nellie Olson" (that bitch in "Little House on the Prairie") kind of envy saying: "Oh, that's gonna be so cute." As Lee made her rounds and headed back to the stage passing me up, she suddenly whipped around and jumped in my lap and I had my photo. This of course saved an embarassing after concert "slap down" between me and my brother. NEVER! David thank you for being the glue that holds us all together. For being more than a brother but a best friend. I LOVE YOU!

In 2001 I worked as events coordinator for an AIDS non-profit. The annual holiday gala offered a diverse collection of silent auction items. That year I would get to meet Brenda Lee in person to have her sign a mint copy of her Christmas album. I first arranged this with her management as Brenda would be performing locally. The Monday before her appearance, our receptionist called me and said: "There's someone named Brenda Lee on the line." I immediately thought it was my bitch brother Mark playing a joke. I picked up the phone and there was no mistaking the voice of the one time spokeswoman for "Frey Weinees."

I met Brenda Lee on her tour bus and she signed several items for me. We even had time to chat and I mentioned that I just bought a CD of one my favorite albums that could not be found in the United States. Lee's husband quickly remarked: "Brenda doesn't see dime from all that pirated, overseas stuff. I suddenly felt bad until Brenda snapped back: "Ronnie, shut-up and let the man buy his music" she said with a smile.

So here's to "Little Miss Dynamite", my mother for bringing this amazing voice into our lives, the great people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and finally the man I know misses the little bit of zaniness I bought to his life and never complained when I played "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in June.

Ipods, the el, and Miss Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

My office is just steps away from my el stop at Chicago Ave. It never fails, as I exit our building there's always a train leaving. I made my way to the platform today and there no seats as it was rush hour. Well there WAS one seat left and as I started to pass it I noticed why. There was a slightly disheveled woman with an arm brace, one tooth and an empty cup. I almost went with crowd and passed, but something told me to sit next to her. She kindly offered: "I don't bite." I quickly came back with: "Hey, it's okay if you do. I've had my shots" The woman smiled and seemed surprised that I was engaing her in conversation.

Anyone who has ridden Chicago's elevated train know it's Ipods, books or just attitude, no one really talks. On a good day the train is a buffet of male eye snack of "Loop" professionals. Those are the guys sure to exit at Belmont headed to North Halsted. Anyway, my new friend Nancy asked: "so are you Brown Line or Purple Line?" I explained that I could take either which made me Burple. She laughed again saying: "I like you." A part of me suddenly became very frightened yet curious to see how this was going to play out. "How do I get to Fullerton?" she asked. "Well, you can take purple or brown which makes you burple. "Like you" she said. "Yes, like me.

Anyway, a train arrived and I boarded with my new friend. She started to explain she had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and was recently in the hospital. She also had acute arthritis. She threw in the occasional expletive and started to talk louder. The other riders started to stare at her and roll their eyes. They seemed even more unnerved at the fact that I was answering her. She went on to explain when the train was full, people are rude and never offer her a seat as she can't hold onto the rail beacuse of her brace. I suddenly realized this had become her "Norma Rae" moment, but instead of holding up a sign that said "Union," it was "Seat."

Nancy said "If you've noticed, I'm a little crazy." I responded: "That's okay, I've ridden the crazy train before. And besides, aren't we all a little crazy." The riders became increasing annoyed, but Nancy's stop was near as the ever ubiquitous announcer blared: "Fullerton is next. Doors open on the left at Fullerton. Transfer to Red Line trains at Fullerton." "It was nice to meet you." she said standing up. "You're pretty. Be safe." She waved and exited. "Pretty" I thought. That's my brother Mark (yes David you can laugh here.) Suddenly the woman next to me said; "You shouldn't talk to them." I coldly replied: Yes, and that's exactly why I wasn't talking to you.