Beach bumming with A Diamond

The chairs were around the roaring fire, the jeep had its big battery charged all morning and afternoon so it could blast out tunes most of the late night and early morning. We were all fired up. Some favorite songs for us kids were picked out while true memory-igniting songs for the host were made a decadent side of this shindig (event) part of our family looked forward too. The brides-maid and one of the groomsman to a future bride and groom watched their host, spin tales of romantic wrongdoings and regrets along the way. But in every experience a certain time of his existence made up for the lack of sunlight . . . and he seemed so proud of his accomplishments then.

Neil begins singing this tune and you could see the anticipation of what 'night-time' brings out in people. A beer in his lap, a smile on his face, thought on his brain of thanking the lord for the nighttime, he embraced solitude. Talik, the Ukranian version of his real name (withheld for privacy), used music to keep his soul well-tuned. He enjoyed an array of lyrical and instrumental diversion by  performers who were genuinely talented and liked; therefore his cassette collection was eclectic, as was my tastes in music. He knew this, nurtured it and later appreciated when a song came on that I addressed a particular message or directive from. He was proud music taught me so well about life. In his own way he was pleased I picked up on it the way he did.

The night-time is alive in many of the larger cities Talik visited throughout his ife. The hustle and bustle and up-beat personalities of most of the clubbers and artistes he hung around with gave him a deep appreciation for the musical harmony that chaos and turbulence could never discourage within his soul. In his life some people treated him like coal, but he was a 'diamond' for sure and I thank the lord or whoever is out there changing night/day cycles, for that lively time when the ego can meet the challenge of the spirit and merge ethereally. I discovered a part of this man I will always cherish.

The song echoes with a pang for leaving behind the worries of pressure our culture places on us. A first and foremost pleasure, sitting back and listening to music, to one who struggled with self-acceptance in his artwork, financial exploration and mind-expansion. He is a strong soul with an ear for the wiser more positively-directed songs of elements taken for granted, he is my uncle who may sometimes feel was treated like a piece of coal but in my eyes was just a very special 'diamond' I always had the pleasure of beach-bumming with.

To the good ole days and Talik . . . I love ya ole' man ! He celebrated a birthday only two days ago as it is now march 23rd, easter sunday and I wish I could of been there to tell him I much I am grateful for him bringing the harmonious into the chaotic and loving his niece enough to even care.