Lately, there has been on the bar scene the life and death of Riley, several times over.
I have noticed on the last few Wednesdays and their karaoke at The Nutty Squirrel in River Falls, this person has been eulogized like THEIR life depended on it, on a sign behind the karaoke-meister. Better then even tribute band could do to many other rockers. So much so that if I spelled the name wrong, I’m sure they’d boo me off the stage. And please take that route if you can’t find in in your heart to forgive me for being glib, rather take to heart “Remembered and not forgotten.”
Also of note in that vein, there was the talented musician who died too soon, now that social distancing rules are being eased or completely revoked. If only this orchestra type out in New York could have hung out too very much longer, as he and his wife, who I met at a class reunion for my wife (the former was the only one who could make it, as she was batching it, for a reason). They had made their relationship work, despite her being home in Minnesota, which has to be the ultimate victory despite the odds, over social distancing. “I hear you calling but I can’t come home right now. Me and the boys are playing, and we just can’t find the sound. Just a few more hours and I’ll be back home to you … what can I do?”
Sometimes not that much, unfortunately, as was  seen by a friend recently as characterizing the passing of Luther Vandrous and a bit over five years ago, Prince, not to mention Bill Withers. None them were being greatly eulogized on the radio, he said despite their differing styles while aptly cranking the car stereo and then … that song came on, you know the one … And a lullaby by Luther too.
<<And now lets get political, political>>
The afterdeath of this post just has to include the passing of a politician, since the time ago it takes to navigate the length of the river he loved, and get the St. Croix on National Wild And Scenic Rivers protection, although it only goes so far, for so long.
Sen. Walter Mondale was much more than halfway in his efforts at such conservation, although his beloved Minnesota could only claim half-frontage of the in some places wide and in some places narrow stream. (I wonder what he would think, after its salvage for future generations to use or abuse, the ongoing erosion of the Apple River tributary from tubing. Further north resort rivers have held out their pristine nature longer). So the connection of his Deeds Definitely Not Done Dirt Cheap makes his passing applicable for a nightlife post, especially since the tubing now has finally, fully opened up again, basically becoming official in this time, the agreed-upon first week of summer, where everyone is now being said to hit the outdoors again like demons, like the fans at an Ozzy concert).
So the fit with politics today is thus appropo in this statement attributed to Mondale: Â We did what was right, followed the rules, and were fair. Mondale 101, or is it 470?
Last on the list of statements made, at the turn of the year, that could turn the world on its ear if taken out on context. “The year 2020 also saw the deaths of the pope and the queen …” Oh, it continued to say, “praying for those who died.”