Faux Beatles, But Good Enough for Me

Yesterday my daughter-in-law found the perfect treat for me, a Jerusalem performance of The Magical Mystery Tour Band. The performance was geared for the "entire family," and my three year old grandson was as enchanted as I was. Three generations sang and danced along to the timeless Beatles songs.

The Beatles had filled my adolescence. Yes, I'm of the '60s. Way back when, over half a century ago, nobody could have confidently predicted that the Beatles' music would be so popular today. It has more life than modern music for sure. We certainly didn't need the beer and chaser to enjoy ourselves, but toasting a l'chaim, to life, never does any real harm. We weren't driving. 

Most of the audience seemed much younger than me; it was an afternoon show. I got a kick observing the enthusiasm of the audience, who had been encouraged to get up, dance, jump and play with balloons. In addition we were invited to sing along, thank Gd. I couldn't have stayed quiet even if I had tried. I still remember all the lyrics.

So, if you have the opportunity to attend a performance of the Magical Mystery Tour band, don't delay. Get your tickets before they're sold out.

Beatles, Memories of My Youth

I'm not shy about admitting my age, recently 70, so you shouldn't be surprised that I loved the Beatles' music. I sang it and danced to it. And I still do.

My first "introduction" was a letter from a British "penpal," who sent an article about them. And then their music began to be heard in New York. I think that one of the reasons the Beatles was so much fun to dance to, in contrast to today's music is because of the live drumming of Ringo Starr. For me the mechanical drumming you hear today is a total turnoff. It's so artificial.

I'm happy that there was a mini-reunion performance with Ringo and Paul McCartney. They're older than me, so I find it inspiring and encouraging that they can still perform.

Birthday Time!

We've had a custom to stretch out birthdays.  We celebrate from the Jewish date to the goyish date, or vice versa, whichever is first to whichever is last. Sometimes that gives a couple of days, but other years it can be a few weeks.   For instance, my Jewish Birthday was today, from last night until dusk today, the 26th of Iyyar.  But my goyish birthday is May 25.  That gives me a nice long birthday time.

I'm sure many of you also have birthdays this season.  So let's celebrate together!



And just in case you're wondering how old I am, here's a hint.

At the Starting Gate

In a sense, that's how you can describe where I'm holding now, concerning Pesach. The training/cleaning is finished. The meat/fish/poultry's all thawing on the counter, and I have to psyche myself up for the final race. The problem is that I feel like a tired, past-my-prime race horse.

This year, I did something very different. I bought heavy reusable oil cloth to cover the counters. I spent the same, or less, as I usually spend on contac paper, and if I had walked one more minute on Agripas Street, I would have spent less than half that much. The first store I priced wanted ns25 a meter (1.4 width), and I bought some for ns10. I got two patterns, two meters each. Then I passed a store offering the same basic material for ns3.99. At that price even the ugliest would have been gorgeous, but that's life.

All I really needed was one two meter piece, but I'm so used to the much, much narrower contact paper, that I misjudged the amount.

I used left over contac paper for our eating "peninsula." It's neither an "island," nor a table.

The stove is shiny, and I hope the aluminum foil coating lasts the week.

This should give you an idea of what I meant when I described my upper closet set up. The two stacked rows of kitchen cabinets, making Passover relatively easy.


I'm exhausted. I wonder how Ringo and Paul manage to perform so youthfully. I guess I'd do better, too, if I had such an enthusiastic audience.

Clap and cheer for me, please.

No, I Won't Be There Either...

...unless... I get a free ticket to the Paul McCartney concert in Tel Aviv.

Even for free, I don't think it would be a musical thrill, just something to brag about. Imagine being in a crowd of thousands and thousands, loud-speakers blaring... The object of everyone's adulation so far away, he could be a lip-syncing double...

I didn't ask my neighbor, who played for/with McCartney as the Beatles were breaking up, if he'd be attending. Considering that the neighbor is in the year of mourning for his mother, a musical event isn't in the cards.

Another Israeli, who had played with the Beatles when they were first starting, got publicity in his quest for a free ticket.

I wonder who's getting complimentary tickets. Well, we're not on that list, but if there's any change, you'll be among the first to know.

Makes me feel young!

I'm one of those highly kinesthetic people who react very instinctively to music, a strange variation on Pavlov's dogs.

When I hear the music of my youth, I feel the energy I enjoyed all those decades ago. So when I read a great interview with Paul McCartney, I feel like an innocent high school student. When I hear the old Beatles music, I sing and dance like I did in the mid-'60's. Talking about Paul McCartney, would you believe that he's 65? Naw! Can't be! At least he says:

'Truth Is, I'm the Same Guy I Always Was'

I can agree with that feeling. The old me is buried in the present fat and disguised by my present costumes and posture.

My first awareness that there was a group called the Beatles was when I got a letter with a news clipping from my English penpal. I think her name was something like "Mair Courtney." She wrote that it was her favorite band, and I think that she circled John, explaining that he was her favorite. They looked so peculiar. I thought she was crazy. She had also sent me a photo of a strange-looking car, which she said was the queen's. The queen had passed near their home, and they had photographed the "grand event."

Within a few months, we began hearing the Beatles on the radio, and they became popular.... of course the rest is history!

I don't think anyone can deny that there's a special energy in their music. If I need to get things done, like cleaning for Pesach, I get some help from my friends.