Aaah! Dr John.
1972 and a copy of “Dr John’s Gumbo” from a record shop in Notting Hill. Dancin’ around to “Iko Iko”… “Big Chief”… “Let the Good Times Roll”… “Junko Partner”… “Mess Around”. Thank you so much Dr John.
Dr John: 1941-2019
Tag: memory
“When I’m short tempered I realise how much I’m just like you.”
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Me, short tempered? I should coco. Wherever did you get that idea?
“Let me think. Where did I get that idea from?”
“I remember you doing that.” Doing what, dear?
“Taking my drum away… I never saw it again.”
I don’t remember, dear.
Why do you like tiny things. Why don’t you make big, colourful things? … I would. “I do make big, colourful things! My necklaces were very big and colourful. Until everyone wanted tiny, delicate ones. “
“Perhaps liking tiny things is to do with shyness. When I was an art student, one time we each had to make a musical instrument from any stuff we could find.”
“Everyone was rushing around, banging on corrugated iron with bits of wood. Banging and clanging. I sat in a corner dropping pins into a glass of water. The tutors thought that was going too far. Or too quiet.”
(ting!)
What did you mean when you said you’d got the watercolours out?
“What do you mean by being kitted out with a crayon and a fancy headscarf!”
What you do … I do. I’ll have you know that I was quite artistic too. I met your father at art evening classes, remember.
“I know. But I’m sorry Mum, I never thought to ask you what took you there.”
syb & me 