This was excellent. When you wrote, "But after a while it became clear that he was falling for me and the words of the songs started to have a new meaning," I had to reflect on the moments this occurred in my own life.
I, too, had a deeply committed Stouffer's fettuccine Alfredo phase, mostly because that's all I could afford at the time. Every time I made and then ate it, I'd play one half of The Clash's 'London Calling'. There is no connection to what I said before; I only mention it to underscore the resonance of rebellious music and cheap food.
It is great, it really sings. Looking forward very much to reading this new memoir. So much subtlety and understated attitude. And your voice, without losing any consistency, can twist on a dime. You are full of surprises!
Loved this, felt like going on a trip, not sure which kind, but something like traversing the river of your mind. I had no desire for the ride to end :)
Damn. Feels like 1992 through 1994 of my life... sleeping in big old American Four Squares that needed paint, but were inhabited by we who lacked money and motive to paint, always planning on making it in Austin as musicians, always working in restaurants, grabbing love where we could, feeling guilty later, or simply not good enough to stay around love.
What an amazing read, Anna. I smiled and laughed multiple times. I love the little asides like the pinning up the Stouffer's recipe, starting a club, and jumping out and shouting Fettucine AlFREdo at people. The Black Sabbath moment is so great, too—those times back then with that right amount of buzz and attention, where you suddenly think, how GOOD is this?! It's really so rich, this whole backdrop of the town and this house, the peppers and the goats (!), the music, these mysterious characters floating around with the undercurrent of having to be their landlord... ah, so good, all of it! Looking forward to more.
Another great one. I love how it's punctuated by food and music, brings the whole thing to life, makes it real. I was going to ask if you'd ever put together a playlist and then there at the end of the piece are the songs :)
Am I right in detecting a kind of different, stream of consciousness, prose style in this piece vs your other ones? I like it. Full of interesting details. Like "Italian folk music": what was that? And of course fettuccine Alfredo, the one dish that's more popular outside of Italy than it is here. Hilarious. :)
Yes it's definitely stream of consciousness, very fun to do, not at all sure I can successfully combine it with the other kind of writing into a cohesive memoir. Might just do this style for a while... appreciate you reading and your comment/s! There's a link at the bottom of essay to some Italian folk music... and if you have any recommendations for good Italian music folk or otherwise please tell me!
Listening to the Italian folk music song at the bottom of your piece. Not really my cup of tea. It sounds like some ancient dialect song from the deep south, like Sicily or Calabria. If that's what you're looking for, I'm afraid I can't help. As for Italian "normal" music, contemporary stuff is terrible, to me. But I know kids love it. One of the cantautori (singer-songwriters) I used to listen to some time ago is Pino Daniele. He's gone, but I really liked him. He was a great artist from Naples; great musician. His early music is real good and his bands always had great lineups. Here's a link to one of the early tracks (1980). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_TqX9U2-sg
This was excellent. When you wrote, "But after a while it became clear that he was falling for me and the words of the songs started to have a new meaning," I had to reflect on the moments this occurred in my own life.
I, too, had a deeply committed Stouffer's fettuccine Alfredo phase, mostly because that's all I could afford at the time. Every time I made and then ate it, I'd play one half of The Clash's 'London Calling'. There is no connection to what I said before; I only mention it to underscore the resonance of rebellious music and cheap food.
Fettuccine Alfredo and The Clash, what could be better?
It is great, it really sings. Looking forward very much to reading this new memoir. So much subtlety and understated attitude. And your voice, without losing any consistency, can twist on a dime. You are full of surprises!
Ha! Thanks Julian! No one is more surprised than me as I have no idea what I'm doing.
Always love these memoir entries. So vivid and pleasantly whisks me from scene to scene
Thanks, Will
Loved this, felt like going on a trip, not sure which kind, but something like traversing the river of your mind. I had no desire for the ride to end :)
Thanks for coming along on the ride, Ally!
Delightful read. Has that dreamy quality of memories of happy times.
Thank you!
Immersive and ekphrastic. Loved it.
Thanks Caroline!
Damn. Feels like 1992 through 1994 of my life... sleeping in big old American Four Squares that needed paint, but were inhabited by we who lacked money and motive to paint, always planning on making it in Austin as musicians, always working in restaurants, grabbing love where we could, feeling guilty later, or simply not good enough to stay around love.
Fettuccine Alfredo. How a simple substory in a bigger one can make me smile. This was a truly lovely read.
Thanks again, Ana, I'm glad you liked it
What an amazing read, Anna. I smiled and laughed multiple times. I love the little asides like the pinning up the Stouffer's recipe, starting a club, and jumping out and shouting Fettucine AlFREdo at people. The Black Sabbath moment is so great, too—those times back then with that right amount of buzz and attention, where you suddenly think, how GOOD is this?! It's really so rich, this whole backdrop of the town and this house, the peppers and the goats (!), the music, these mysterious characters floating around with the undercurrent of having to be their landlord... ah, so good, all of it! Looking forward to more.
Thanks Rob! It was fun to write
lovin this.. a ton 🦎🏴☠️🎬
Thanks!
Another great one. I love how it's punctuated by food and music, brings the whole thing to life, makes it real. I was going to ask if you'd ever put together a playlist and then there at the end of the piece are the songs :)
Thank you Tom!
Am I right in detecting a kind of different, stream of consciousness, prose style in this piece vs your other ones? I like it. Full of interesting details. Like "Italian folk music": what was that? And of course fettuccine Alfredo, the one dish that's more popular outside of Italy than it is here. Hilarious. :)
Yes it's definitely stream of consciousness, very fun to do, not at all sure I can successfully combine it with the other kind of writing into a cohesive memoir. Might just do this style for a while... appreciate you reading and your comment/s! There's a link at the bottom of essay to some Italian folk music... and if you have any recommendations for good Italian music folk or otherwise please tell me!
Listening to the Italian folk music song at the bottom of your piece. Not really my cup of tea. It sounds like some ancient dialect song from the deep south, like Sicily or Calabria. If that's what you're looking for, I'm afraid I can't help. As for Italian "normal" music, contemporary stuff is terrible, to me. But I know kids love it. One of the cantautori (singer-songwriters) I used to listen to some time ago is Pino Daniele. He's gone, but I really liked him. He was a great artist from Naples; great musician. His early music is real good and his bands always had great lineups. Here's a link to one of the early tracks (1980). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_TqX9U2-sg
Omg that was great, reminds me a lot of Rupert Holmes, thanks
Interesting. I can see that. (I'm impressed by your musical culture btw)
Bach and Maggot Brain!
Loved the playfulness of this. The Fettuccini Alfredo Club, the "Flood Plain" and all the rest.
Thanks! Was fun to write.
very engaging, thanks!
Thanks!
The first time I got drunk was in High School, drinking Mickey’s Big Mouth malt liquor. We were listening to Black Sabbath too!
Ewwww, and yeahhhh!
What great stories! Reminded me a little of my time in America. All those pot heads!
Haha. Yeah.