Fun Day

The place where I've worked for the past 18 years usually has a once per year event called "Fun Day" whereby the entire office gets the afternoon off from working and we do something together that is "fun." Last Wednesday was the latest iteration of this event. Our office party planner, Aimee, created a scavenger type event, whereby the city was divided into four zones and each of the teams were to go to various places in these zones in order to win points. The highest total points leader at the end of the day would be the "winner" and get additional prizes. There were separate prizes for best team name and for the team that spent their $20 to acquire the most items of a toiletry nature. Our team won both of those, accumulating 40 items from a One Dollar store, and the neutral judges at the bar/restaurant where we ended up chose our "Pickpocket Posse" as most imaginative team name. The total point competition was close, with only 12 points separating the four teams. We all received commemorative tee shirts that day too, with the Golden Gate Bridge on the front and the saying "Work hard + Play Harder" on the front (the name of our company is Harder+Company Community Research), so it was a play on words based on the company name.

Our team started from the office, heading towards Twin Peaks. One of the clues in our booklet was to go to the second highest peak in the city and according to Google, it is Twin Peaks. Mt. Davidson is the highest point in the city. On the way, we passed a food truck (another item on the list) on Harrison, so we stopped and bought an item and took the photo with the team members. After that, we saw a Dollar Store on Mission so we stopped and bought our toiletries. We swung through the Castro District, went to a "parklet" at 17th & Market and took a team photo. We also convinced a stranger to hold our flyer so we could take a picture (it was worth extra points to get as many strangers as you could to hold the flyer and take their photo). We swung by Harvey Milk's old camera store (now occupied by the Human Rights Commission office) and picked up their flyer and took our team photo in front of the store. Above the store is a painting of Harvey Milk as if he's looking out a window.

We reached Twin Peaks, took more photos, and then headed to the tile steps at 16th Avenue and Moraga. These 163 steps have ceramic tiles on the riser part of the stairs. We had to locate two tiles in particular and have a group photo taken with all of us at the top. Next up was to see how many bison were in the haddock in Golden Gate Park. We then headed to the old Sutra Baths at Land's End. Next we went to Hayes Valley and got ice cream (made while you wait) by a machine called "Kelvin" (one of the items on our list).

So as you can see, while we were going all over the city visiting the various destinations, the event was really fun. For me, the hard part came when it was winding down at the bar/restaurant. Dennis had always been a part of our Fun Day, and this time, of course, he was not in attendance. He had been the only "spouse" in the company who had been allowed to participate in these events. Once I had the time to just sit and start thinking, it got to me and I had tears rolling down my face because I was missing him so much. I had a lot of support from my co-workers, but eventually, I left earlier than I may have if he had been around. I didn't want to bring everyone down with my feelings starting to change from happy to sad.

Unfortunately, this is the first of numerous "pit days" that are on the horizon for me. Foremost in my mind at the moment is Thanksgiving. I plan to attend by going to Jim and Greg's, but I also know it's going to be an emotional day. And of course, in December we'll be having our office's holiday party, another event that Dennis was always a part of, followed by the Christmas holidays. I know all this "stuff" is just more things I have to go through in this first year of him not being around, but it's difficult. In fact, this whole year has been difficult, but I guess if you've been reading this blog, you've figured that one out already.

Feeling blue

Yesterday represented 10 months since Dennis died. It was also the one-year anniversary when we got together with our friend Tom Wade as he celebrated being in San Francisco for 25 years. He took a photo of us at that time while we were waiting outside the restaurant for our friends Donna & Nancy and their son Joshua to join us. He uses the photo as identification when I call his cell phone; that picture pops up so he knows I'm call before he answers his phone.

No matter how much time has elapsed, I still feel depressed a lot of the time. The pain of his loss just refuses to let go. I just can't find a purpose to my life any longer. I'm still going through the motions, no matter how hard I try to get past this whole ordeal. I do not know what the next step is supposed to be. How long does this malaise last? While I may be getting used to the fact that he's not here any longer, looking into the future just reinforces how alone I am (no slight intended to all my friends; I'm sure you know what I mean). Having him by my side for over 30 years is still too fresh. I'm constantly turning to his chair to say something to him, but of course, he's not there.

I've got a couple of months in front of me that are going to be tough. Thanksgiving is on the horizon. I plan on going to Jim and Greg's like we've done for the past 7-8 years or so, but I'm dreading it at the same time because it's going to be painful. Not only will he be missing from the festivities, but our good friend Bernie King will also be missing. His partner, Benji, will most likely be there as well, and we'll probably cry on each other's shoulders. Before the food line starts, I plan on asking for a moment of silence for both Dennis and Bernie, as they have been an important part of this day for a long time. Jim always said as long as Bernie and Benji and Rick and Dennis were in attendance, that's all he needed to have a good Thanksgiving. Half those couples will be missing. I'm sure that Benji and I will not be the only ones who experience the loss that day. And of course, the Christmas holiday season will be here before you know it as well. As I've mentioned before, I'm planning on being in Palm Springs for a 4-day weekend at that time, because I really believe that I could not handle being at home—alone—during that time.

I'm still a mess and I don't mind admitting it.

A rock and roll love story, Part 2—the answers

As my follow up to the article I just wrote, here are the artists, along with their song titles, in the order of appearance.

Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Something to Grab For - Ric Ocasek
Don't Turn Around - Ace of Base
Love You Like a Ball and Chain - Eurythmics
Prime Time - The Tubes
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police
I'm So Excited - The Pointer Sisters
Love on Your Side - Thompson Twins
Come Sail Away - Styx
The Fool on the Hill - The Beatles
Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Caught Up in You - .38 Special
Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
Emotion in Motion - Ric Ocasek
Give It 2 Me - Madonna
Bitch - The Rolling Stones
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
Open Invitation - Santana
Golden Years - David Bowie
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Love Me Two Times - The Doors
Love Machine - Wham
When I Think of You - Janet Jackson
Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar
Together Forever - Rick Astley
Starrider - Foreigner
Taking Love Into My Own Hands - Sylvester
Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs
Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) - Styx
More Than This - Roxy Music
When We Make Love - Berlin
Dancing in the Sheets - Shalamar
I Want to Break Free - Queen
Whisper to a Scream - Icicle Works
I Was Born to Love You - Freddie Mercury
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Long, Long Way From Home - Foreigner
Lonely Ol' Night - John Cougar
Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer
Opportunities - Pet Shop Boys
Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon
Bad Case of Loving You - Robert Palmer
You're My Best Friend - Queen
Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix
Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol
When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
The House is Rockin' - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Come Together - The Beatles
It's Been A Long Time - Dead or Alive
Precious Time - Pat Benatar
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
Driven to Tears - The Police
Beaten to the Punch - Elvis Costello
Just My Imagination - The Rolling Stones
All I Need is a Miracle - Mike & the Mechanics
Party Out of Bounds - The B52's
Late in the Evening - Paul Simon
Tush - ZZ Top
We'll Be Together - Sting
One More Chance - Pet Shop Boys
I'm Not Perfect - Grace Jones
Who Needs Love (like that) - Erasure
All of My Love - Led Zeppelin
More Than Physical - Bananarama
Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
Where Do We Go From Here? - The Motels
Remember the Nights - The Motels
Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears
Express Yourself - Madonna
Slave to Love - Brian Ferry
Cool Blue - Eurythmics
Cold as Ice - Foreigner
Tall Cool One - Robert Plant
One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
My Red Joystick - Lou Reed
Time - Pink Floyd
Take the Long Way Home - Supertramp
Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart
You Know I Love You - Howard Jones
Baby Please Don't Go - Van Morrison
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
53 Miles West of Venus - The B52's
Totally Nude - Talking Heads
Space Oddity - David Bowie
You Make My Heart Beat Faster - Kim Carnes
The Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police
One Headlight - Wallflowers
(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Cheap Sunglasses - ZZ Top
Moon Dance - Van Morrison
That's All - Genesis
Too Late for Goodbyes - Julian Lennon
Night in the City - ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)
Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac
Send Me an Angel - Real Life
Love of a Lifetime - Chaka Khan
Got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison
Is It Love? - Bette Midler
Need You Tonight - Inxs
Catch Me, I'm Falling - Real Life
It's All I Can Do - The Cars
Crazy in the Night - Kim Carnes
Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury
Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers
When We Make Love - Berlin

Life is like music: a rock and roll love story—Part 2

I had so much fun creating the last rock and roll love story entry, I thought I'd do another. I went through all my CDs that I made when I transferred old audio tapes onto CDs, wrote down song titles that resonated with me, cut them up into slips of paper, tossed them into a box and drew them out at random. Song titles will be in italics, should you want to try and figure out the artist. From that task comes the following:

I've had the Roadhouse Blues lately and I don't know why. I need Something to Grab For and if I Don't Turn Around, maybe I'll think of something. You know I Love You Like a Ball and Chain and it's Prime Time for a Whole Lotta Love because I've always been Wrapped Around Your Finger. I'm So Excited because there's Love on Your Side, so Come Sail Away with The Fool On the Hill.

Don't Do Me Like That, even though I'm Caught Up in You; you could even say I'm Burnin' For You but let's keep this Emotion in Motion and Give It 2 Me right now, Bitch. What I Like About You is the Higher Ground you tread. It's like Somebody's Watching Me and they've got an Open Invitation to provide for my Golden Years. I was Born to Run but you can't Love Me Two Times with your Love Machine and then walk away. When I Think of You, you're a Heartbreaker because I always thought we'd be Together Forever but you became a Starrider. I tried Taking Love Into My Own Hands so I could Love My Way but it was like Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) and More Than This, When We Make Love it's like Dancing in the Sheets.

I Want to Break Free and I'll say it from a Whisper to a Scream—I Was Born to Love You. But now that you're no longer here, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and I'm a Long, Long Way From Home on this Lonely Ol' Night. It's Simply Irresistible that the Opportunities for Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard is from a Bad Case of Loving You. You're My Best Friend, even though you're not here but the Crosstown Traffic just keeps moving along. There's Always Something There to Remind Me that from this day forward, I'll be Dancing With Myself. When the Levee Breaks I Feel Fine, and even though The House is Rockin', we'll Come Together.

It's Been a Long Time, you could even say Precious Time, but in this Wild Wild Life, I'm Driven to Tears—even Beaten to the Punch. Is it Just My Imagination, I mean All I Need is A Miracle, so I can Party Out of Bounds Late in the Evening because your Tush is fine and We'll Be Together. We've been given One More Chance; I know I'm Not Perfect, but Who Needs Love (like that). With All of My Love, and it's More Than Physical, it's Hot Stuff. Where Do We Go From Here? Well, we could Remember the Nights when we were Head Over Heels and you could Express Yourself because you were a Slave to Love. You may have been Cool Blue, but you were never Cold as Ice, just a Tall Cool One.

People say that One Thing Leads to Another, so let me entertain you with My Red Joystick; given enough Time, we'll Take the Long Way Home, and we can wear Sunglasses at Night. You Know I Love You, so Baby Please Don't Go because you're a Sharp Dressed Man. Even though we're 53 Miles West of Venus, let's get Totally Nude and go on a Space Oddity. You Make My Heart Beat Faster, but now The Bed's Too Big Without You. Watch out for that One Headlight, it's usually a motorcycle, and (Just Like) Starting Over we'll keep going down the road.

You never were my Brown Eyed Girl, but you were my brown eyed boy who liked wearing his Cheap Sunglasses and doing the Moon Dance. That's All you ever did but it's Too Late for Goodbyes. Let's have a Night in the City where you can Say You Love Me. I don't want you to Send Me an Angel because you're my Love of a Lifetime and I've Got My Mind Set on You. Is It Love? Hard to tell, but I Need You Tonight and I want you to Catch Me, I'm Falling. What else can I say—It's All I Can Do, even if it is Crazy in the Night. And now that I'm Living On My Own, there's no way you can Take Me In Your Arms When We Make Love.

Ten trips to paradise

Waikiki from helicopter ride with Tom

Beginning in 1986, Dennis and I made 10 trips to Hawaii, eight of them to Waikiki on the island of Oahu and two trips to Kauai. The first time I personally went was in 1985, when Mom and Dad went for a three-week stay with Mom’s sister, my Aunt Betty. It was a last minute thing; I was able to get time off from work, Dennis was not able to do so. My best friend Tom Wade was able to get time off, so the two of us went for a week in Waikiki during the time Mom and Dad were going to be there. Tom and I did a lot of tourist stuff, from going to the Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor, to enjoying a quick helicopter tour that went over Diamond Head crater to Hanauma Bay, a popular snorkeling spot. This trip inspired me to make Hawaii our vacation area of choice for the rest of the time we were together, and once Dennis went, he wholeheartedly agreed with me.

During 20th anniversary trip

Dennis truly fell in love with Hawaii. He always used to say, “Don’t you feel the energy?” And of course with me being the typical Taurean, I’d always reply, “No. I feel the sun on me and I feel the trade winds, but I don’t really ‘feel’ the energy. Sorry, dear.” We always got a laugh out of it. We even managed a trip to Waikiki while he was going through chemotherapy after his colon cancer surgery in April of 1994. His routine had been one week of chemotherapy, followed by three weeks without any. The doctor told him he could go an extra week before his next session, so we scheduled a week in Waikiki in June. That trip, the Honolulu Aquarium had reopened after its remodel and Dennis was in seventh heaven while studying the exhibits. Being an Aquarian (the water bearer of the cosmos), water was his element. Though to be honest about it, even I enjoyed looking at all the colorful fish and coral exhibits.

25th Anniversary trip

It’s kind of difficult trying to remember what we did on each trip, but after our first trip when we did a lot of tourist stuff, we mostly would go for relaxation. I do recall on one of our two trips to Kauai, I read seven books in nine days (I’m a voracious reader). But that’s what we were there for: to relax and do nothing. The islands are very romantic and needless to say, our sex life was richly rewarded every time we went. We always had a wonderful physical relationship, but it was enhanced each time we went to the islands.

The one thing we also did each time we were in Hawaii was go to the beach—every single day. Even last year, when he was struggling with his walking due to his ALS, we still went to the beach every day. From our hotel to the area where we would go (the gay area is just past what’s called Queen Surf Beach—ironic, huh?), it was approximately one-quarter mile, so it took us a while to get there. He would tire easily, but along the walkway there were benches, and he’d say, “Bench coming up.” We’d stop until he had enough energy to complete the trip. He was a real trooper.

One of our more memorable trips was our first time in Kauai. I had received approximately half of the money that our friend Victor left me when he died. I had been his power of attorney and had helped him a lot during his last months of life, and he wanted to make sure we had enough money for a down payment on a house (a dream of ours). Victor left me just under $50,000. On this trip, we stayed at a gay owned Bed & Breakfast. We had our own “unit” in the lower part of the main house (the separate cottage was already rented out when we made our reservations). There was a large backyard with an eight-foot tall privacy hedge made of hibiscus, a good size pool with Jacuzzi, and the gardens were in full bloom. We treated ourselves royally that trip, going out to eat at a nice restaurant each night; we took an hour-long helicopter ride around the entire island, and just had a grand time. If it hadn’t been as expensive as it was to travel to Kauai, we would probably have visited this island more often, but Waikiki fit our budget better, and once we discovered the Cabana at Waikiki (the gay resort hotel), we really did enjoy staying in a gay environment.

Waiting for shuttle after 30th anniversary

Eventually, I’d like to go back for a visit, but I’m not ready yet. It would be too painful. And I’d also like to scatter some of his ashes there, which I know he’d appreciate. I’m sure I can convince Tom to accompany me and we’ll have a ceremony; I’m not sure yet where I’ll scatter them, but I’m leaning toward Hanauma Bay, because he loved going into the water to see all the fish and coral that make it such a spectacular place.

Hitting you when you least expect it

I'm currently reading The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren, her trail-blazing novel from 1974 about a gay track coach and the three gay members of his track team, who transferred to his school after being kicked out of the University of Oregon because they were gay. It goes on from there, weaving her tale of love and gay rights activism, leading up the the 1976 Olympic Games being held in Montreal. I won't spoil it by giving away the ending; if you want to know, you'll have to read it. I recently read an article about Ms. Warren and it mentioned two sequels to this novel, which I was not aware of, so I ordered them from Amazon and figured I'd re-read The Front Runner again, because I have not read it since it came out way back when. Much to my surprise, while I was flipping the pages looking for my bookmark, I noticed a folded piece of paper towards the back of the book. When I opened it, it was Dennis's handwriting, detailing a couple of temp work assignments he had scheduled back in August of the late 1980s. The note did not have a year date on it, just 8/22 and 8/23. Just seeing this note in his handwriting led to a major crying spell as I sat in the car. I was already missing him a lot, and out of nowhere, this old piece of paper shows up. I don't know what to make of it. I'm probably going to be finding things like this for years, and my reaction will most likely vary depending on what I find. It was just a strange experience and I wanted to write about it, albeit briefly.

Life without him just sucks

A year ago at this time, we had been back from our visit with his family in Michigan. I was beginning to notice how difficult it was getting for him to do just about anything, especially walk. Hospice did an intake and immediately ordered him a walker, mostly due to the fact that he almost fell twice while she was doing the intake. I know I'm getting used to him being gone, but it doesn't make it any easier just getting through each day. I was under the impression that it was supposed to get easier, but that's just not happening. I miss him more now than I ever have; the sadness factor just keeps hanging around like a visitor that won't leave after an extended stay. I usually read for about an hour in my car each morning when I arrive at the office. (I get in early to get the free parking that is available on some of the streets.) I opened my book this morning, like usual, but I just couldn't bring myself to read any of it. So I decided to come into the office and blog for a while. It probably won't make it an easier day, but all these thoughts just keep rolling around in my head. I have to do something to get it out.

I keep thinking of the five stages of grief, based on the five stages of death that was coined by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross years ago. I've read about the five stages—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—but I'm not sure I've actually experienced all five of them. I was never in denial that he died; I don't remember doing any bargaining—bargain for what? I've fully accepted the fact that he is gone and is not coming back, which leaves anger and depression—two of my favorite friends lately, or so it seems. Every once in a while, usually while at home, I just shout "Shit" or "Dammit" when I'm thinking about him (which of course is all the time). I can't go 60 seconds without thinking of him. I'm driving myself crazy. Maybe I should get a chauffeur—then he can drive me crazy. I've started getting angry again at just the least little annoyance. And of course, depression is never too far from my doorstep. Is that all my life is going to be the remainder of the time I'm on this planet? I'm doing the best I can, but the loss has cut me so deeply that the light at the end of the tunnel has been reduced to a flickering candle—hardly visible at all.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn. Thought that might help—it didn't.

A rock & roll love story: the answers

After last week's fun entry, I thought I'd give you the artists to the referenced songs, in the order of appearance in the article:

Sweet Dreams (are made of this) - Eurythmics
Can't Stand Losing You - The Police
Take It Easy - The Eagles
Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Love Shack - the B52s
Living in the Past - Jethro Tull
Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Let's Spend the Night Together - The Rolling Stones
Gypsy Eyes - Jimi Hendrix
Piece of My Heart - Janis Joplin
Brand New Lover - Dead or Alive
Down on Me - Janis Joplin
Victim of Love - The Eagles
Since You're Gone - The Cars
Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
Pump It Up - Elvis Costello
The Longest Time - Billy Joel
Urgent - Foreigner
Private Life - Grace Jones
The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
You are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ Top
Imagine - John Lennon
Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner
The Tide is High - Blondie
Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
You Spin Me Round (like a record) - Dead or Alive
Changes - David Bowie
What's Love Got to Do With It? - Tina Turner
Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
You Promised Me - In-Grid
Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix
Always on My Mind - Pet Shop Boys
Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon
You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
Touch Me - The Doors
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Shake It Up - The Cars
Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan
I Want a New Drug - Huey Lewis & the News
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Walking in the Rain - Grace Jones
Miss You - The Rolling Stones
Waiting for the Sun - The Doors
19th Nervous Breakdown - The Rolling Stones
Every Breath You Take - The Police
I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down - Elvis Costello
One Way or Another - Blondie
Bye Bye Love - The Cars
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester
Life Without You - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Can't Get it Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Walking on the Moon - The Police
Hurts So Good - John Cougar Mellencamp
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Dirty White Boy - Foreigner
Same Old Song & Dance - Aerosmith
Fame - David Bowie
Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
Reeling in the Years - Doobie Brothers
It's More Than a Feeling - Boston
Bye, Bye Baby - Janis Joplin
You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac
Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
Going to California - Led Zeppelin
Dream On - Aerosmith
Turn to Stone - ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)
Love is the Drug - Grace Jones
Listen to the Music - Doobie Brothers
One More Time - Joe Jackson
Black Friday - Steely Dan
Move Over - Janis Joplin
A Day in the Life - The Beatles
The Grand Illusion - Styx
Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
Life in the Fast Lane - The Eagles
Already Gone - The Eagles
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
Hello, I Love You - The Doors
Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads
Whatever Gets You Through the Night - John Lennon
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Just What I Needed - The Cars
Break on Through - The Doors
Movin' Out - Billy Joel
Modern Love - David Bowie
Quiche Lorraine - The B52s
Love is a Stranger - Eurythmics

How many did you recognize?

Life is like music: a rock & roll love story

I thought I'd try something different today. As I've mentioned before, if it weren't for rock and roll lyrics and/or song titles, I wouldn't be able to describe my life. This morning I looked through my stack of CDs and wrote down songs that resonated with me while browsing. I then cut them into strips and put them into a small box. I'm going to draw them out at random and see if I can create a story based on what I draw. All song titles will be in italics, in case you want to figure out the artist. This could be fun...here goes:

Sweet Dreams (are made of this) and I Can't Stand Losing You so Take It Easy, the Riders on the Storm are on their way to the rescue. They're going to open their Love Shack because you've been Living in the Past. But Don't Stop, Let's Spend the Night Together, I'll look into your Gypsy Eyes and give you a Piece of My Heart. I don't want a Brand New Lover, so don't be Down on Me, I'm a Victim of Love. Since You're Gone, I'm Still Crazy After All These Years so I'll try to Pump It Up for The Longest Time because it's Urgent for my Private Life to continue on The Long and Winding Road or I'll be Burning Down the House. You are the Sunshine of My Life, so Gimme All Your Lovin' and Imagine that it Feels Like the First Time while The Tide is High. I may not have the Deacon Blues but You Spin Me Round (like a record) and it Changes me. What's Love Got to Do With It? Here Comes the Rain Again and it will be A Hard Day's Night because You Promised Me some Manic Depression because it's Always on My Mind.

He Loves Me Like a Rock he always said, because You Can't Always Get What You Want but you can Touch Me on the Stairway to Heaven and Shake It Up with Pride and Joy. I Want a New Drug that will create a Purple Haze while Walking in the Rain. I Miss You and I'm Waiting for the Sun to prevent my 19th Nervous Breakdown because Every Breath You Take is special to me. There are times I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down because One Way or Another it's Bye Bye Love, but You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) and Life Without You—Can't Get It Out of My Head while you're Walking on the Moon. It Hurts So Good that I Want to Hold Your Hand because you always were my Dirty White Boy. It might be the Same Old Song and Dance but Fame can bring Sympathy for the Devil, so Hit Me With Your Best Shot as I'm Reeling in the Years because it's More Than a Feeling—it's Bye, Bye Baby.

You know dear, You Make Loving Fun, even in Kashmir.  But we're Going to California, so Dream On and don't Turn to Stone because Love is the Drug. Let's Listen to the Music at least One More Time and on Black Friday we'll Move Over for A Day in the Life because in The Grand Illusion, Only the Good Die Young. This Life in the Fast Lane is Already Gone but our Sweet Emotion will make us realize that you have to Go Your Own Way.

Hello, I Love You while I'm on the Road to Nowhere, but like I always say: Whatever Gets You Through the Night. A love like we had is a Once in A Lifetime thing; it was Just What I Needed. You helped me Break on Through even while we were Movin' Out; we had Modern Love as you baked Quiche Lorraine and you could not say Love is a Stranger in our household.