Damn, Cecilia, you are totally breaking my heart

Last night I attended the Senior Prom at the Jewish Home and Hospital on the Upper West Side, an annual dance for the seniors residing there. There was a live band, decoration, those little pigs-in-blankets hors d'oeuvres that everyone loves, professional dancers, corsages, and more. It was the event of the season. (You can read about last year’s prom here.) It was seriously cute, with great enthusiasm all around. My friend Jocelyn, a regular at my Bingo game and totally lovely elegant lady, was crowned Prom Queen. The highlight of the evening was when the band played the Beatles’ hit “When I’m 64” to an audience for whom 64 is but a memory. When I was 12 I thought this song was cheesy, but I sang my heart out last night. I must be getting old(er), too? I like the harmonies now. Also, Paul McCartney, 64 just isn’t old.

Bonus anecdote: I went to a restaurant called “Speedo’s” in Tel Aviv, and it was indeed a Speedo’s-brand restaurant, with menu categories named after sports, and assorted weirdness. Waiters/waitresses did not actually wear speedos, in a bizarre inversion of expectations.

Summer Anthem: Ignoring for a moment the wave of teen pop dreck that it ushered in, Britney Spears’ first ever hit …Baby One More Time in the summer of 1999 was nothing less than genius. Remember when our society was shocked by her school girl outfit in this video? Who knew how much more collective obsession we had in store for watching the exploitation and fall of this one? Honestly, I am always longing for a time machine so that I can go back to 1999 and tell everyone what happens to Britney in the future. No one would ever believe me! Think of how our world has changed in the subsequent years, and tell me I haven’t blown your minds with nostalgia this afternoon. I could write dissertations on the gal, but I’d rather let her fade into obscurity and quiet domestic happiness wherever she is in Louisiana (with any luck). Anyway, sorry, but this song is great. The swedish (producers of pop songs) can do anything.

Summer Anthem: I listened to this during the summer of 1999 just as much as Britney; Simon & Garfunkel’s Cecilia. I got up to wash my face, when I come back to bed someone’s taken my place? Damn, Cecilia, you are totally breaking my heart.