2 minute read
SAN FRANCISCO
- MARLENE FRIIS
MUCH LOVE
SOMEWHERE – Sound of mind and Succinct of thought, Marlene Friis dispenses sage advice to those who make themselves available to it. To receive Friis Wisdom one must be open to its genius and be fortunate enough to be in the appropriate spot at the opportune moment. For me, the “receiving moment” of this particularly erudite bit of Friis Wisdom is vivid. Brilliant even. The loud voice in my ear, the accent, the darkness and the bright lights, the concussive base. Perhaps she even followed the advice with a patented “Oh M’Gahd.” But outside the immediate specifics of this moment, the context is lost to history. The past twenty-four years have presented myriad opportunities for such a profound teaching moment. Where did it occur? It could have been in my college apartment when you came for a visit and I had a very awkward house-party. But the party wasn’t that kinda party and we listened to Moby on repeat. Welcome to the new Millennium! While still in college, you welcomed me to SF to welcome the new millennium. Between the Y2K fears, the broadening of my mind and the excellent company, this trip is a strong candidate. But the specifics are awfully fuzzy, so I will disqualify it circumstantially. Perhaps it was at the 2001 Roni Size concert. The show was in that really echoey and empty venue on Brannan street. The sound quality was bad, the beats were epic. Ooh, or maybe it was in Miami, where we felt really really good. and then really really bad. We also ate a lot of sushi boats. I kinda wish it was the South of France, circa 1995, but I don’t think we rolled that way back then. As an aside, I am amazed that a week in France with my parents and I didn’t scare you away. On second thought, maybe that’s why I didn’t see much of you. I think the winner is the 2001 Roni Size show (I also think that was the night we tried to watch the sunrise on the west coast, but that’s a different story). But this may all be a postrationalization. I’m not sure it matters, as the journey has been epic and the advice rings true. Put your Hands in the air.
- DAVID HECHT NEW ORLEANS
