Over the Thanksgiving weekend Disney released in three parts an eight-hour documentary on the Beatles, showing how they worked to create the songs for their album Let It Be. It culminated in the famed roof top concert.
I have liked the Beatles but have not been an ardent fan by any means. So it was a bit of a shock when I wound up enjoying the full eight hours.
I got a kick of how folks in the street were interviewed during the concert. Most thought it was a great thing. But there were a few who did not. One woman claimed she was asleep and was rudely awakened by the noise. The police, who didn’t have a clue on how to handle the situation, complained to the doorkeepers of the building where the concert was held that they had received over 30 complaints in a ten-minute time frame.
This concert, which doubled as a recording session, was not announced in advance. I wish I had been on that English street that day and come across it. Not primarily for the music although that was good. But for the excitement of something going on that was so far from the ordinary. A massive disruption of everyday life.
I am sorry for those who think any interference in their normal routine is an imposition. I feel for that woman whose sleep was disturbed that she couldn’t have realized something very very different was going on and been thrilled by it.
It reminded me of an experience I had a few decades ago. The neighborhood where I lived was a Mecca for movie companies and those filming TV ads, usually at least a couple every year. That in itself was exciting, and I would walk to any activity and watch for a while.
But one such event that occurred on my street had a special added attraction. A giraffe was going to be present! A giraffe! I felt sorry for the animal being in captivity, but l simply couldn’t help but be thrilled by the prospect of it walking up my street.
Not everyone shared my excitement. One of my neighbors hated the inconvenience of the shutdown of our street to traffic. She could not see the delight of this amazing deviation from the norm.
I had no such trouble. I looked forward to the early nighttime event for well over a week, from the moment I heard it was to occur. I was bummed that I had an evening class that day, and it would be tough to get home on time. I told my students what was to happen, and they were as interested as I. Finally, after a productive class and at five minutes before its end I said, “I’m sorry folks, I look out at you all and all I see is a bunch of giraffes. Let’s call it quits.” They laughed and cooperated.
I needn’t have worried about missing anything as I arrived home in plenty of time. And it was all I could have asked for, with the giraffe staring into the second story window of the townhouse owned by the woman who was angry about the disruption to her life.
This same woman objected to a half marathon that passed by our homes every year. Certainly not as exciting as a giraffe, but still an interesting experience.
We are all comfortable in the routines we settle on. They give us a sense of security and confidence. But we can get bogged down in routine so much we don’t know how to revel in the unexpected that can lighten lives too set in routine.
It’s too bad.
I have liked the Beatles but have not been an ardent fan by any means. So it was a bit of a shock when I wound up enjoying the full eight hours.
I got a kick of how folks in the street were interviewed during the concert. Most thought it was a great thing. But there were a few who did not. One woman claimed she was asleep and was rudely awakened by the noise. The police, who didn’t have a clue on how to handle the situation, complained to the doorkeepers of the building where the concert was held that they had received over 30 complaints in a ten-minute time frame.
This concert, which doubled as a recording session, was not announced in advance. I wish I had been on that English street that day and come across it. Not primarily for the music although that was good. But for the excitement of something going on that was so far from the ordinary. A massive disruption of everyday life.
I am sorry for those who think any interference in their normal routine is an imposition. I feel for that woman whose sleep was disturbed that she couldn’t have realized something very very different was going on and been thrilled by it.
It reminded me of an experience I had a few decades ago. The neighborhood where I lived was a Mecca for movie companies and those filming TV ads, usually at least a couple every year. That in itself was exciting, and I would walk to any activity and watch for a while.
But one such event that occurred on my street had a special added attraction. A giraffe was going to be present! A giraffe! I felt sorry for the animal being in captivity, but l simply couldn’t help but be thrilled by the prospect of it walking up my street.
Not everyone shared my excitement. One of my neighbors hated the inconvenience of the shutdown of our street to traffic. She could not see the delight of this amazing deviation from the norm.
I had no such trouble. I looked forward to the early nighttime event for well over a week, from the moment I heard it was to occur. I was bummed that I had an evening class that day, and it would be tough to get home on time. I told my students what was to happen, and they were as interested as I. Finally, after a productive class and at five minutes before its end I said, “I’m sorry folks, I look out at you all and all I see is a bunch of giraffes. Let’s call it quits.” They laughed and cooperated.
I needn’t have worried about missing anything as I arrived home in plenty of time. And it was all I could have asked for, with the giraffe staring into the second story window of the townhouse owned by the woman who was angry about the disruption to her life.
This same woman objected to a half marathon that passed by our homes every year. Certainly not as exciting as a giraffe, but still an interesting experience.
We are all comfortable in the routines we settle on. They give us a sense of security and confidence. But we can get bogged down in routine so much we don’t know how to revel in the unexpected that can lighten lives too set in routine.
It’s too bad.
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