Slow turning

This evening, for the first time in months, I'm chilly enough to pull my cozy robe on. 

In a slow turn and tilt - actually mind-boggling fast in terms of miles-per-hour - the globe is leaning into the equinox, just a few weeks away. 

Different kind of chill this morning. 

The news came of the death of Charlie Watts, and millions of boomers felt their youth fall further into the wake. 

I'm not any kind of expert in drumming, but you'd have to be absolutely numb to escape the unmistakeable rhythm of a Rolling Stones classic. For me, it's the WHOMP-WHOMP/WHOMP-WHOMP at the end of each chorus of "Gimme Shelter". 

Social media has been sharing this remarkable collection of Watts' isolated drum-tracks. They're mesmerizing. 

However, I've had this song on the brain today, which contains my favourite reference to Mr Watts, 80 years old, but associated with youth forever. When I was a boy, 

I thought it just came to ya' 

But I never could tell what's mine 

So it didn't matter anyway 

My only pride and joy 

Was this racket down here 

Bangin' on an old guitar 

And singin' what I had to say 

I always thought our house was haunted 

'Cause nobody said boo to me 

I never did get what I wanted 

Now I get what I need 

It's been a slow turnin' 

From the inside out 

A slow turnin' 

But you come about 

Slow learnin' 

But you learn to sway 

A slow turnin' baby 

Not fade away 

Now I'm in my car 

I got the radio on 

I'm yellin' at the kids in the back seat

'Cause they're bangin' like Charlie Watts 

You think you've come so far

In this one horse town 

Then she's laughin' that crazy laugh 

'Cause you haven't left the parkin' lot 

Time is short and here's the damn thing about it 

You're gonna die, gonna die for sure 

And you can learn to live with love or without it 

But there ain't no cure