I *dare* you not to start singing that song, right about now.
David Sedaris is always searingly funny, until he pushes those pointy little thoughts in there that make you wince. It's been wonderful growing up alongside him; his work is wonderful because his pain is so true.
Here's his take on Australia (his visit to Daylesford - 'if Dodge City had been founded and maintained by homosexuals'), and the understanding of his father, who had little for him. I will always marvel at a writer who can use the word 'underpants' with a straight face, especially when describing his father.
Lovely read; and start singing now.
EDIT: FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR CHILDHOODS...
Listen here.
Challenge accepted. I don't even know what the hell song you're talking about. So, I win.
ReplyDeletewhat kookabura song? We didn't go to Australia you know. The only good Australian music is by AC DC anyway...
ReplyDeleteWERE YOU PEOPLE NEVER IN GRADE TWO???
ReplyDelete"Kookabburra sits in the old gum tree-eee, eating all the gumdrops, he can see-eee"
Are you kidding me?
I've been singing it all afternoon!
Nope. I had never heard that song before today either.
ReplyDeletebbg
I weep for all of you.
ReplyDeleteYou have missed a tangential part of childhood that can never be replaced. I clearly remember Mrs. Steinenger at Lakeshore Public School teaching me that song. She had beautiful blonde hair and a rabbit fur jacket.
I think all of you should play that link over and over...
Is it really just us freaks who store these kinds of memories???
That would be rhetorical and yet I too remember that ditty all too well. And my best before date exceeds Lorraine's...
ReplyDeleteMe, I prefer Tico Tico, great song done by Roy Clark...
ReplyDeleteAnyone who fondly remembers a teacher with a rabbit fur jacket can't be entirely right in the head. Oh wait, that was so long ago that she was probably hunting and trapping the fur herself. She was the one that founded the Hudson Bay Trading Company, right?
ReplyDeleteBesides, I skipped grade two... mentally, if not physically.
I find Sedaris' article hauntingly sad. I could easily turn burner 4 off and abandon work altogether. But friends, family, and health pretty much define success for me. So I will do my bit for the world and turn off one burner. No defecator of the world, I will do my national duty. But please, please, please, don't ask me to give up family, friends, or health. I guess I'm just a three burner guy. That's as successful as I want to be. Does that make me an underachiever?
PS (and this is important,)
ReplyDeleteI just got back from shopping at Oakville's No Frills and couldn't stop myself from singing and dancing as American Woman was blasting away. I was glad my girls weren't there as they would have been alarmed and called 911.
And I missed his performance at the Canadian Open this year which is only a block and a half from our house. I cheated and sat in the back yard drinking margaritas and reminiscing. And NOT in my underpants.
PPS
ReplyDeleteLorraine, the lease on my Chrysler 300 ("gangsta-mobile" as my youngest likes to call it) is up shortly and I'm looking at a Mazda 3 hatchback. Have you tested one? and if so what'd ja think?
Oh... and can you get me a free one? Puhhhhhhhhleazzzze?