Conversations with C: "Our New Crib"

I have *so* much I want to write about... but duty dictates that I instead offer you the latest in what is turning into the long-running series "Conversations with C," featuring the current ruminations of my 19-year-old nephew C. So pop the popcorn, call the kids over, and gather 'round the ol' computer screen. :c) 

I first shared his insights on women's tonsorial preferences, followed by his musings on the social habits of the mysterious creatures known as co-eds.

Today's conversation is actually courtesy of my sister C (who is C's mother), who related the details of her Thursday evening conversation with him.

(My sister, again, is the only member of my family who knows as of now.)

As he is prone to do, he waited to call her until moments before she left for her 12-hour shift at the emergency room, where she is a nurse. 

He started by telling her he would be coming home from school the following afternoon.

"What for?" I asked.

"He wants me to buy him something," she said matter-of-factly. "You don't think he's actually coming to spend time with any of us, do you?"

I conceded the likelihood of this was nil.

"Actually, he also had an announcement," she said. "And it involves you."

"Oh really?" I asked.

She nodded.

"It went like this," she said.

Him: "I'm moving in with uncle next summer."

Her: "Is that so? Have you informed uncle of this yet?"

Him: "Well... no."

Her: "Do you think maybe you should?"

Him: "I guess. But he'll be cool with it."

Her: "He will, eh? And you know this how?"

Him: "'Cause he's my boy."

Her (after a pause): "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Him: "Nah. Me and uncle are tight."

Her: "So let me see if I have this straight. You have a room here, all the food you can eat, three cars you can use pretty much any time you want - all of which cost you nothing... and now you expect me to pay rent, on top of tuition and room and board, so you can live with Uncle for three months?"

Him: "Right. But you could visit anytime. It's my crib, after all."

Her: "YOUR crib?"

Him: "Well, OUR crib. I mean, uncle's paying too."

Her: "And do you expect uncle to cook a full meal for you on a moment's notice the five or six times a day you decide you're famished? To say nothing of supplying the trailer full of food that takes? Or to clean up the trail of trash and dirty laundry you leave behind you twenty-four hours a day?"

Him (completely serious): "No, you can still do that. I know girls like that kind of stuff."

Her: "Uh-huh. Listen, I have to go."

Him: OK. Hey, Mom?"

Her (resigned): "What, C?"

Him: "Uncle is probably totally bored with his iPad, right? I mean, it's almost a year old by now..."

Her: "Goodbye, C."

***

So, there you have it. Hey, at least he was nice enough to give me nine months notice, right? 

I suppose it would have its upside; the wealth of material such an arrangement would clearly produce for my blog is almost enough to make me consider it.

Almost. ;c)

***

The 25th Anniversary edition of Peter Gabriel's 1986 masterpiece, So, was released this week. So is one of my favorite albums, so I sprang for the deluxe edition, which features  all sorts of goodies for obsessives such as yours truly. :c)

I was digging around online last night and came across the official video for the leadoff track, "Red Rain." I couldn't believe I had never known of its existence until now:

As I watched it, I was struck by the following thought: "Cass, you saw him on tour in 1986; how on earth did you *not* notice how handsome he was?!?" lol

Oh, well. At least I have the videos, I suppose.

That same summer, he took part in Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope tour, which included artists like U2 (then recording *their* masterpiece - well, one of their masterpieces - The Joshua Tree), Lou Reed, and the Neville Brothers, to name a few. It culminated in an all-day show at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, which MTV broadcast live.

While there were a number of fine performances that day, NO ONE shone brighter than Gabriel. He played what is commonly considered the finest performance of his career. It is one of the greatest live performances I have ever seen. Full stop. Here's a stunning, deeply moving version of his haunting allegory "San Jacinto."

 

Look at his eyes at the 2:10 mark; he is absolutely *possessed* at that moment. You can find his entire set on YouTube; it will be a well-spent 40 minutes.