Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover
Story by JJ Hill
Shared by JJ Hill
My mom and I left Memory Care to go for a drive last Sunday, which has become a delightful routine for us. Sunroof open, seatbelts on, windows cracked, oldies blasting through the speakers via YouTube from my phone. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “Fly Me to the Moon”, Frank Sinatra, “Piece of my Heart”, Janie Joplin, “Sister Golden Hair”, America, “Feeling Good”, Nine Simone, “Bye Bye Love”, Everly Brothers, “Love Me Do”, the Beatles…and so many other greats.
“Mom, do you remember when you bought me this ‘45?” Silence. She looked at me, eyebrows scrunched.
“I was about five and you and I were running errands in the old station wagon. We lived in St. Louis,” I explained. This was obviously way before car seats and I’m certain I was freewheeling in the front bench seat, staring at the radio.
“What? I lived in St. Louis? How is that possible? How do I not remember that?” she said, genuinely confused. But she wasn’t upset by not remembering this time, thank God. I got to point.
“Anyway, I loved the song, especially the rhymes. Here they are, listen.”
Just slip out the back, Jack.
Make a new plan, Stan.
You don’t need to be coy, Roy.
You just listen to me.
Hop on the bus, Gus.
No need to discuss much.
Just drop of the key, Lee
And get yourself free.
We sang loud and laughed at the end of the chorus.
“Mom, you drove me to a record store after hearing that song because I loved it so much. You bought me the 45!” I said again with a heavy heart, wanting her to remember a moment that was magical for me. I was elated at having my very own record that played the same song that came out of the car speakers. My five-year-old self didn’t get how it was possible to just go and get a song that belonged to the radio. And she didn’t get the irony, of course, of our role reversal now, but she was in good spirits, laughing, and present with me. I am so grateful to have these beautiful moments of lightness and connection with her.
