I Can’t Tell You Why? Thoughts on Glenn Frey’s untimely passing.
Still perserving away on the novel.
Averaging 454 words for six days.
Last week, I blogged about fog.
This week, what stayed with me . . .
The surprising and sad death of Glenn Frey.
Like this text from my husband, this morning.
I can’t tell you why it affected me so.
His text was a reference to earlier a conversation we had this morning. Having watched the History of the Eagles documentary last night, both of us tried to remember the name of a song from a point in the show.
When it came to him, he sent me this text.
It took me a while to figure out his cryptic message.
I can’t tell you why
I wondered: had something happened with the children? Had he had enough? Was he hitting the open road and not return till mid-March?
Then I remembered our discussion, the documentary, the song and Glenn Frey had died.
I admit never going to an Eagles concert.
I admit only buying their music, other than a few 45s, after I was adult and probably doing so because hot-tub time machines only exist in movies.
There’s no quicker way to transport back to another place in history than through a taste or smell — or sound.
Sunshine. Eagles on AM radio. A towel on the sand. Some of my best Sundays memories. Thank you Glenn Frey.
— Jamie Miles (@SouthMainMuse) January 18, 2016
In the 70s, Eagles’ music stood out in all the best ways.
It was always on the radio when all there was was radio.
A line in the documentary that echoed that point. It went something like — You just didn’t listen to the Eagles. You did things to the Eagles.
They were the songs on the radio leaving the high school parking lot with the windows rolled down thinking Thank you Jesus school is over for today. Eagles songs on the Top 40. The countdown played on Sundays as I lay with eyes closed, warm, on a gritty towel at the beach. Life in the Fast Lane played at a junior high school dance. It was a rare outside dance held in the courtyard off the cafeteria.
I can’t tell you why Frey’s death sat in my thoughts this week rudely kicking grocery lists and afterschool appointments out of the way.
Maybe it’s the shadow of time running out?
Still in the distance, a specter gaining with a speed and stealth I never gave much thought to.
Until now.
Thank you for writing this.
Time passes so fast. It was a treat to watch that documentary when they were so young. Made me remember being young enjoying their music.
I got the text reference right away, but I also knew it was an Eagle’s reference which you didn’t!
t have always loved the Eagles. Like you, they were part of my formative years. I also had the opportunity to see them in concert as a teen, and again as a full-fledged adult. Both times they felt like threads weaving through my life. Glen Frey’s death shocked so many people and he will be missed. As a side note: I dated his cousin who looked quite a bit like him, unfortunately he was married, which he of course knew and I did NOT! Didn’t end well!!!
That sounds like a great jumping off point for a novel. “He was married, which of course he knew. I, on the other hand, did not.” Xo
I remember munching on orange cheese, saltine crackers and dill pickles with Heartache Tonight playing in the background on repeat. My friend had just broken up with her boyfriend and I was helping her through it on a dreary, wet January Sunday. Seems like just last year. How could it be a couple of decades ago?
Learned an annoying (because it won’t let me forget!) fact on the news which I’ll share. Sorry! Apparently the band was called simply: Eagles. Isn’t that a kick? I always add in the The.
Nice, Jamie, really really nice. Reminds me why I’m always glad to see one of your posts in my mailbox.
Thank you Jane.
I love that image Kelly. It was kind of disheartening to learn in the movie how they struggled and labored over The Long Run. And it was their last album of that amazing 70s period. Some of my favorite songs are on there like Heartache Tonight. Maybe it was because I was in high school and my interest in music — and everything that sniffed of emancipation — was heightened. And share away re music trivia. I think I read the same thing once about the Beetles. Not The Beetles. But don’t quote me without a google. 🙂
I have so many good memories tied up in The Eagles. When I heard about Glen Frey I actually took a moment to try and count them and realized I couldn’t.
So surreal.
You hit the nail on the head about how music functions as a time machine. Hearing just about any Eagles song puts me in a specific moment, with someone I love (or used to), so when we lose the people who made that music, it leaves a mark. Thanks for writing this, and for choosing such a perfect title.
It’s funny how the things/moments that are so clear in my memory are such random trival things from decades ago.