In which the Music Dies on a different Day than I’d always thought

Yesterday, as I’m sure you know, was Groundhog Day.  (Did he see his shadow in Punxsutawney?  He must have seen his shadow in Vienna, because it was very sunny yesterday.)

But it was also the Day that I thought the Music had Died.  I always used to have trouble remembering when it was.  But a few years ago I remarked to myself, “Oh, it was on Groundhog Day.  I can remember that.”  And so it stuck in my head that it was on February 2^nd.

I’m sure you know, of course, that it was in fact not on February 2^nd but on the 3^rd.  Which means that for the past couple of years, I’ve been driving my Chevy to the levee and drinking my whiskey and rye on the wrong day.

It's the truth, Ruth

Why observe it at all?  This has to do with my friend S.D.  See, you hear that song on Austrian radio fairly often (don’t get me started on Austrian radio – it’s not pretty), and my friend S.D. likes to tell people all about the stories behind the song.  Only she can never remember who was in the plane crash.  And she loves that I know who was in the plane.  (I don’t understand how people might not know.  Didn’t they see La Bamba?)  So whenever she’s out and about and she hears that song (which I’m telling you, is often, thanks to Austrian radio), she gives me a call to find out who was in the plane. 

Oh Boy

So a couple of years ago, we decided to observe the day with an evening of music from the three (and their contemporaries), poker (because she likes any excuse to play poker), a little 50s-inspired clothing (because I like any excuse to wear a costume) and whiskey and rye.  Except that we didn’t know where to get rye in Vienna.  And isn’t rye just another kind of whiskey?  Drinking two different whiskeys together just sounds horrible.  So we drank margaritas. 

You probably know that S.D. doesn’t bluff in cards or drinks, so you learn not to chase her bets.  I lost ten Euros last year.  Still, it’s a nice tradition.

Come on, let's go

Except this year I had plans on the 2^nd (remember, I still thought it was on the 2^nd), so we didn’t do anything yesterday.  But now that I’ve realized my error – and in time too – I’m going to give her a call and see if we can get together to honor the music.

“That’ll be the day” indeed, Buddy.  If only I can remember which day it is.