I was just listening to my iPod. As I am wont to do. And, "Ever Get Around To It" by Carter Wood came on. And, like it does every time I hear it, it made me think of Bruce and Marge. They both worked in the department when I started. Marge got sick a few years after I started and passed away a short time later. It feels like I knew her for years and years but I really didn't. Bruce worked 'til he retired 3 or 4 years ago and then he stayed on part-time until he died unexpectedly a couple of years ago. Marge always played surrogate mom to the grad students. And, to some of us on staff. I'd complain that my bangs needed cutting and she'd grab her scissors...those horrible dull things that were purchased on State Contract...and threaten to chop them off herself. She was from South Dakota and smoked like a chimney. As they say. Bruce was from Canada and loved to dance. And, he loved folks music he hosted one of the most successful (if not the most successful) house concert series ever. And, I didn't know any of that for years and years. He never talked about that stuff at work. Bruce and Marge were great friends. One of their jokes revolved around the "Round Tuits" that one of them bought. I think it was Marge...on one of her trips back home. If either of them ever heard the phrase "when I can get around to it" out would come the wooden coin with the words "Round Tuit" burned on 'em and they'd hand it over: "Here you go...now do it!" Hilarity. It makes me smile. And, every time I hear that Carter Wood song, it makes me think of them. And, it makes me smile. But, it also makes me a little sad.
. . . .
Aside #1. Here's a link to a company that sells round tuits...just in case you need some.
Aside #2. That "Carter Wood" link up there is a link to a CD Baby page where you can buy her CD. I tried to link to Carter's web page (www.carterwood.com) but it's just a blank page now. I have no idea if she's left the business or what. Anyway, if you have RealAudio installed, you can hear a clip of the song I'm writing about on a Puremusic page. By the way, I'm pretty sure the first time I heard the song was after Bruce had that fatal heart attack.
Posted on by