#52: Best Birthday Ever & Tooth Pulled

My birthday last Saturday was the best day of my life. First, I did the laundry, then we saw a Broadway show, “Death Becomes Her,” then a quick visit with old friends at the Greek restaurant downstairs, where I scarfed down all their crudo, then the C train to Strawberry Fields. Because we were starting at 6, I knew there was not much time left in the day.

But I declared it “Beatles Birthday Bash” celebrating my 72nd birthday, and I went full throttle on roping the people in, getting them to sing along, making jokes. I’m beginning to realize that I’m basically doing an impromptu stand-up act between songs. And that the more I do it, the better I get.


But it’s the part at the end, when we join together in a circle to sing “Imagine” that it turns really serious. It occurred to me that I’m not doing this in my backyard. This is sacred ground to people who feel very deep feelings about John and his death.


So, after all the jokes and the songs and the singalongs and the dancing and the kids, dogs and babies, I have the awesome privilege of conducting a mini-memorial service that not only mourns the death of a beloved figure but uses that moment to encourage them to live out the dream. To watch it happen in front of their eyes as they join in song with “the world.”


One woman approached me afterward, tears in her eyes, “I guess I needed that more than I realized.” We hugged a long hug. Her husband was beaming, eyes also glistening. Another lady said she had heard us before and dragged her husband along. He was also smiling. I remember seeing him sing along a lot.


And that was my birthday. I never in a million years dreamed that my life would take this course, intersecting John Lennon, especially. First, playing his Imagine piano for Bill Clayton and now this.


That for those people who visit the park, Gavin and I have become a part of The Beatles story. It's an awesome and beautiful burden to bear.


TOOTH STORY

Had my tooth pulled. One of my molars. It was killing me last July so I tried to get an appointment, but the only dental clinic that would take my insurance was one up in Harlem three months later. Easy to get there. 2 train express up to 125th street, then walk a block to 124th.


The office was bright and clean. I and another guy were the first patients and were early so I sat in the waiting room playing a Tetris-like video game, listening to a book about someone collecting miniature Japanese statues in France in the 19th century. I can’t tell if it’s a memoir or a novel. But it does name drop Proust a lot.


When the office opened, we were told to go to the 9th floor. Then we were told there would be a delay because “the interns went to the wrong clinic.” An elderly doctor with a vague East European accent and warm smile did apologize and reassure us it was all fine. The technician took x-rays. Always feels so odd, biting down on that plastic stick that holds the film in place.


More waiting and then escorted into a dental chair which was facing away from the door onto a room-wide floor-to-ceiling window with the whole of Manhattan before me, looking South. The tallest buildings were the pencil skyscrapers now lining Central Park South. Couldn’t see the park, though. Not high enough.


Soon, a younger woman entered, introduced herself as the doctor. I didn’t see her since I was facing away but when she showed her face, she was the image of warmth and confidence. I told that my tooth was very loose and it doesn’t hurt anymore but it makes eating uncomfortable. She took a quick look.


(Before, when I needed a tooth extracted, the dental clinic had to send me to a dental surgery center, which meant more months of waiting.) I asked if she could pull it herself.


The older doctor asked if she could do, if it was loose enough.


She didn’t even hesitate. No problem. Of course, that meant I had to prepare myself for the dreaded novocain shots. I took a deep breath as the needle went in and escorted my brain out of the room, though I did jump once in pain.


After a moment, she tested the numbing, then reached in, I felt some uncomfortable tugging, but it was over in a flash. Not even a minute long procedure. And also, the numbing was extremely localized, so I didn’t have a frozen face or a numb tongue as usual afterward. That made me very happy.


Ah, but old age. And apparently, this bone loss is due to the side effects of one or more of my AIDS meds. The same issue I’m having with my right arm. I’ll be seeing that doctor soon, too, to decide if there is anything we can do about the implant.


UPCOMING:
October 28: I'll be singing some songs and accompanying others at a terrific literary event here in NYC called "The Power of Women's Voices" at the Triad Theatre. I'll be singing two of the songs I composed based on essays/lyrics by women in this group. Link here: https://www.thethreetomatoes.com/power.


December 9th, Tuesday at 9pm: Steve Schalchlin and Friends at Urban Stages with Blake Zolfo, our old pal Bill Goffi and new pal Brian Krinsky, plus the Rebel Nerds! It's gonna be great.





You are free to stream the songs below but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.


And please share this with friends!


[This is the hand-crafted, no-AI, non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round







Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd

#51: You Don't Want To See That

This past Saturday night, I did something brand new for me: Side man musician in a band playing the Latin-influenced music of a Billboard All-Time Top 27 dance pop star from The Bronx named Corina.


And I had a slight costume failure.


It was a great experience because I met three new musicians, one of whom is an outstanding artist/performer on his own, Edwin Vasquez +E. He has a featured song in a new indie movie called Brownsville Bred, which is playing in a limited run here on 42nd Street. And his friend, Ben, a violinist who plays with him and his band.


Corina proudly announced several weeks ago that she had found some costumes for us to wear. They were double-breasted, black. Kind of looked like the Monkees or a chauffeur. Fine. I'll wear a costume. But when I put it on just before the show, I realized it was midriff cut. Not cut way high, but definitely...


My belly was kinda hanging out there and it, unnaturally distended by AIDS meds, is not pretty. I try to stay as trim as I can but it is what it is.


The shirt, however, was just long enough that if I pulled my black jeans up high enough and snuck up the aisles fast enough when the lights were off, no one would see anything. I'd be sitting almost in the corner, mostly hidden. And Corina is so beautiful, all eyes would be directed to her. The other guys did not wear the outfit. Bastards.


The love that came across in the room at Don't Tell Mama was rare and beautiful. At times, they were singing along with her. She revealed that, like me, she had endured a health crisis which she hid from the public because of Covid. It was a life or death situation, and somehow, perhaps sheer personal stubbornness, but also because of Jaochin, who stood by her just like Jim stood by me when I was on my "deathbed," survived.


Perhaps this is the connection that the two of us share, why she would want me in her band. At one point, out of the blue during the show, they said, "Steve! Take the solo!"


SOLO?? I'm barely hanging on here! Play a solo?? With my damaged right arm. But in the moment, what can you do? I played a solo. Kept it very spare. Fools them every time. Makes them think you have taste!


Afterwards, a light misty rain began to fall, giving the many lighted up places here on Restaurant Row a dreamy haze. I walked quickly home without a big goodbye. She was surrounded by fans and friends. I had a Jim and a cat to come home to, and the memory of an impossible-to-imagine night of music.


I love New York.


THANKS
To you who wrote telling me how much you love people's reactions to The Beatles songs, especially the part about not participating in the war mindset the media and politicians are trying to keep active. Non-violent resistance is a difficult and specific way of life. I can mention more if you wish, but once you make that commitment, there's no turning back. :)


Also thanks to those of you asking about Jim. He recovered from his mystery fatigue disease but it keeps popping up every once in a while and he takes a day to recover. So he's still a little weak but he's eating well and is as obnoxious as ever.