Who is Simon and Garfunkel?

I'm.... I'm speechless.

I've just been exposed to something in our culture I was unaware existed. I just met someone who has never heard of the name "Simon and Garfunkel."

"How's your night going?"

"Oh pretty well. I've been listening to Simon and Garfunkel all night so it's pretty hard to be in a bad mood."

"Who?"

"Simon and... Simon and Garfunkel..."

"Oh I've never heard of them."

"You... what? No."

She smiles uncomfortably for a moment.

"Ok you're joshing now."

"No really. I've never heard of them."

"Wait... umm... Okay I'm just having a hard time with this. Really?"

"Yeah"

"No."

"Yeah."

"You've heard of the Beatles?"

"Yeah."

"Pink Floyd? Bruce Springsteen?"

"Yep."

"But never... but Simon and Garfunkel are like on the same level as them. Part of our culture. Here..."

I play Sound of Silence.

No dice.

I got it! I play Mrs. Robinson. Success! She recognizes that song. She also recognizes Cecilia. Not Scarborough Fair though. But at least she has heard their music before.

"You've seen the movie, 'The Graduate'... with Dustin Hoffman?"

Here eyes tell all. She's not even heard of that movie.

I just... I'm just astounded. I really didn't think people like that existed. Should I be this confused? Granted there are a lot of modern hip things I know little of. My knowledge of "Jersey Shore" is only what I've seen on South Park. I know the name "The Kardashians" but I have no idea who or what they are or how many of them currently exist.

But here's the thing. Simon and Garfunkel have been part of our culture for over 40 years, helping shape this country. I don't expect everyone to love the same music I love, not by a long shot. But I don't understand how you can make it into your mid twenties and not have even heard the name "Simon and Garfunkel."

I've been told by multiple people during different stages of my life and for different reasons, that I should have grown up in the 70s. Some really amazing things happened then and I definitely connect with that music better than with Justin Bieber.

I'm having an identity crisis right now. What was that? You don't know who Simon and Garfunkel are.

Bullshit.

This isn't even something I can pin on this new generation of kids always causing trouble. This is someone born in the 80s and raised in America.

With absolutely no knowledge of...


I'm... I'm honestly, very genuinely.. just out of words. I can't express what I'm feeling right now because I've never in my life felt it before. It's a 100% new feeling.

Maybe the problem is with me. Maybe I'm expecting too much from my generation. You know, having a sliver of understanding of the evolution of music throughout possibly the greatest few decades.

C'mon! That's not even fair!

Simon and Garfunkel is as American as apple pie, Walter Cronkite, and the polka.

Now. For those of you who might be in the same boat as this girl. Best not speak up. Better to just educate yourself. Here is your first lesson:

Also, for those of you mathematicians out there who saw that I intended to goto bed a few hours ago, let me just tell you that sometimes things happen in life that are so out of left field that you can't sleep and instead must write a blog post about them. 

Spoiler alert. This is one of those times.

Bleeker Street

Greetings all on this beautiful rainy morning!

I must say, there are few better ways to wake up to a raining morning than with Simon and Garfunkel's Bleeker Street playing on a nearby set of speakers. I'm listening to a compilation album of their hits, of which they have many. When I was living and working in NYC, I would wear these huge white headphones called HN-7506s. They have the same driver as the professional-favorite Sony MDR-7506s, but these are made by Remote Audio and the place the drive into helicopter cups to market them as "High Noise" (HN) headphones.

Let me tell you, they rock. I knew a few people who used them before I did, one of which was a former employer, Shoefly. He highly recommended them, and then I got a chance to use them on set a few months later and that solidified my decision.

It was a pretty solid decision. And the best part was that I could now ride the subways hither and thither while listening to soft music, not plugging my ears in annoyance any time a train came, or someone started talking loudly or asking for money. I wouldn't even have to turn up my volume when I got onto the 14th street L platform to block out the hacks banging some old pieces of garbage loudly thinking that it's ironic. In their stupid hats and their striped pants.

I'm a hipster hater. So there. I don't think any reasonable person can live in Williamsburg for 2 years and not begin to loathe the people who walk the streets below.

But my point is that listening to Simon and Garfunkel while commuting to and from work is the best way to keep one relaxed. It's hard to imagine something going wrong on a day when you listen to The 59th Street Bridge Song walking in the door.

And that's how today feels.

It's my last last day of cytarabim, the 168 hours of Chemotherapy. I have my appetite back and ate corn flakes for breakfast. This afternoon I'm meeting my medical team and hopefully talking about a plan for the next 5 months of treatment.

And the best part?

Once I'm disconnected from this mobile IV tower, I'm allowed to take my first shower in a week.

The answer to your next question is "Yes. I do smell like old feet wrapped in rubbery burnt bacon, but I won't after tonight around 8:00!"

I just popped on the 59th Street Bridge Song and I'm feelin' pretty groovy about today.