Monsters …
Stepping over the threshold, Dassa is luring me in pursuit of her morning pup-cup as I am bathing in sentimentality. ‘Monsters’ is blaring from my air pods in both ears for the third time this morning and I’m only a few strides from the front door.
‘Monsters’ was written and originally sung by James Blunt tragically after learning of his father’s stage 4 chronic kidney disease. Blunt was inspired hearing the life threatening news while also being a young father himself, crafting lyrics –a eulogy really– as a heartfelt message to his dad, Charles Blount – his lifetime hero. Providentially, Charles received a new kidney extending his life, able to listen to his son singing about his final farewell.
Ironically, Charles Blount received his transplant from a distant cousin, also named Charles Blount. That is where things got a little tricky, nervous for James. He was concerned their names could get confused as to who is who, so James wrote ‘Giver’ on cousins forehead and ‘Taker’ on his fathers. A saintly kidney donor, gifted doctors, and a marking pen is all it took to save a life.
Side note: James chose to donate all profits from ‘Monsters’ to ‘Help for Heroes’ and ‘British Legion’ charities. Talk about a ‘Giver’.
About one week ago on YouTube I came across the 2023 American Idol winner. Iam Tongi was performing ‘Monsters’ to Lionel Ritchie, Katie Perry, and Luke Bryan in his first audition. I never heard of him. In fact, I never heard of the song. Well, Tongi expressed his own father’s passing just months ago, dedicating ‘Monsters’ in his memory. He became physically, emotionally moved to the point of being speechless. Composing himself, he sang an awe-inspiring tribute affectionately wrecking the judges, emotionally. Such raw, tangible human chemistry; a gift to behold.
Curiously, I later played Blunt’s original ‘Monsters’ music video, a single continuous camera shot of his face up close, tears welling in his eyes singing with every fiber of his being expressing deep love for his father, such as the lines “… I’m not your son, your not my father, we’re just two grown men saying good-bye. No need to forgive, no need to forget, I know your mistakes and you know mine.”
Three quarters of the way through the song, the camera angel expands, widening the periphery revealing James’ father sitting to his right. I was glued to the cadence and authenticity of the message, not knowing his father had survived until then, involuntarily weeping like a rain drenched willow. I was thinking of my own father who had Colon Cancer, passing away when I was 12, about fifty years ago.
What a beautiful fucking morning.
Dennis Quaid
After pouring the best cup of coffee (the first cup is always the best), I sat on the cat scratched leather chair in my little office, man cave, writing room tuning into YouTube with Piers Morgan’s guest, Dennis Quaid. I’m not an avid movie fan like my wife, but one of the few movies I could watch again and again is 1979’s ‘Breaking Away’ which I first knew existed about 2010. Dennis played a support character named Mike, the local blue collar small town tough guy, friend of the main character Dave played by Dennis Christopher who was awkwardly hilarious. Well, Dennis Quaid in this movie, ‘Frequency’, and his cameo in Bonnie Raitt’s 1989 music video ‘Thing Called Love’ stuck with me over the years.
Thus the interview, Quaid being 70 year’s old now, sober from his 1980’s cocaine addiction, and happily married for the past four years to his adoring wife, Laura Savoie. What I valued most throughout the interview was his genuine interest and transparency about addiction, acting, golf, music, state of the world/our country, and love of family.
I’ve not seen the recent Ronald Reagan movie, though its on my list. Quaid plays Reagan which is a role he initially feared because he grew up in the era and idolized the man, the legend. Through all his research he reflected on the willingness of politicians back then, in the 80’s, to argue, fuss, and fight in their day jobs and still have civil discourse (and maybe a drink) at the end of the day with their adversaries. Democrats could be conservative and Conservatives could be democrat. It was ok to have differing views. Dennis was emphasizing how we need to bring that back, having civil conversations. He voted for Carter in Reagan’s first term, then for Reagan in the second term. He changed his mind, no laws were broken.
Yet, of all the things he shared with some hesitation was the most potentially polarizing, “I think I’m going to vote for him … Yes, I am.” It leaked out from under his tongue when asked, “What do you think of Trump?” He went on to say Trump is probably the most investigated person in the history of the world and they haven’t got him on anything. Asked, “Do you have to like Trump to vote for him?” Dennis said, ‘No’.
I love his wit. For example, when he recollected thoughts during the 2016 and 2020 campaigns listening to Trump, saying to himself, “Oh, please don’t do that, don’t say that … but, as president the only thing I liked about Trump was everything he did … Some people may call him an asshole, but he’s my asshole.” Truer words are rarely spoken. My kids sometimes feel the same way saying, ‘Ya, he’s our dad. Sure, he can be an asshole, but he’s our asshole.” That brings a tear 🥲to their old man’s eye.
I went down the rabbit hole about Dennis Quaid, the man, not necessarily the actor or musician. I’m glad to pry open my mind’s meddlesome ways, thoroughly enjoying the contentment, joy, and liveliness I learned of this man who I have enjoyed so much on screen. I came to appreciate him even more in real life.
I suppose Quaid would submit to being more at liberty to speak freely as an older, wiser man. I know I do. No hatred. No disdain. Just being true to ourselves in our own heads. That is freedom. I hope we can all come to this point in our lives and simply let go of tribal narratives whether they be blue, red, or otherwise. Let’s take time to have a laugh, share some thoughts together, and maybe even enjoy a meaningful song or two.
Take care, my friend.
