Easy Come, Easy Go

1929: The Great Depression of 1929 began on ‘Black Tuesday’ with the Wall Street crash in October 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The basic cause was a sudden loss of confidence in the economic future. Sound familiar?

Some of the 1929 Depression era explanations include high consumer debt, ill-regulated markets that were permitted by banks and investors, cutbacks in foreign trade, lack of high-growth new industries, and growing wealth inequality, all interacting to create a downward economic spiral of reduced spending, falling confidence, and lowered production.

1969: Fast forward 40 years to 1969…What was going on? Personally, I started 4th grade in September 1969 at a parochial school (St. Anthony’s) in Oakland, CA. My girlfriend from 1st through 3rd grades (Diane Laschatz) broke up with me for one of The Monkees (Mickey Dolenz). I was heartbroken.
My new teacher/nun (Sister Mary Gemma) made an announcement in front of the class around the same time of my break-up with Diane.
“Michael Armijo…you put on some weight over the summer, didn’t you?” Sister Mary Gemma questioned.
How embarrassing is that? I don’t know if anyone laughed because I chose to block out the incident. It’s funny the things we remember. It’s often a cruel or sensitive moment. What else was going on in 1969?

February 17, 1969: Golda Meir sworn in as Israel's 1st female prime minister
February 25, 1969: Beatles begin recording Abbey Road album
March 1, 1969: After 88 weeks Sgt Pepper drops off the charts
March 1, 1969: New York Yankees' Mickey Mantle retires
March 3, 1969: Apollo 9 launched for 151 Earth orbits (10 days)
March 5, 1969: Gold reaches then record high ($47 per ounce) in Paris
March 10, 1969: James Earl Ray pleads guilty in murder of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last night I was swept away when I watched the 1969 film ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’, starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin and Gig Young.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Shoot_Horses,_Don't_They%3F
I had never seen it and actually thought it was a western. As it turned out it was a timely film for today (given the current financial crisis). It was a 1929 Depression era drama about a dance marathon with a $1500 cash prize to the winning couple. It brought out the worst in its desperate contestants: jealousy, mental illness, hallucinations, desperation, anxiety, heart failure, suicidal tendencies, murder… It was quite intense as I felt the pain and agony, watching this film directed by Sidney Pollack. It made me think twice to hear this dialogue:

“Why do you like California?” Michael Sarrazin asked.
“You don’t freeze while you’re starving,” Jane Fonda answered.

So that’s why homeless people like Santa Monica!

I liked two songs I heard in this 1969 film.
‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ was sung by Gig Young at the piano. 'The Best Things In Life Are Free' was memorable, too.

'Easy Come, Easy Go' lyrics
Easy come, easy go, that's the way,
If love must have it's day, then
As it came, let it go.

No, no remorse, no regrets
We should part exactly as we met
Just easy come, easy go.

We never dreamt of romantic dangers
But now that it ends, let's be friends
And not two strangers

Easy come, easy go, here we are,
So darling au revoir
It's easy come, easy go.


2009: Fast forward another 40 years to 2009 where I was reading the Wall Street Journal at 'Uncle Bill's' in Manhattan Beach, CA this morning. I was reading two editorials "The Obama Revolution" & "An Inconvenient Tax".
In a nutshell, "The Obama Revolution" explains yesterday's 2010 budget proposal via a 'new light'. The sheer magnitude of federal spending will soar in 2009 to $4 trillion. The budget has great assumptions. I did vote for Obama and I am 'crossing my fingers' that things will pan out well. The next two years will prove to be a major adjustment for Americans.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123569611695588763.html
The 'Inconvenient Tax' article explains how Obama promised again that '95% of working families" would not see their taxes rise by "a single dime". Yet his own budget reveals that taxes will rise for 100% of everyone for the sake of 'global warming'. The article reveals a 'not so pretty picture' with much uncertainty.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123569802712289113.html
"I'm sitting it out"...
as I listen to this other version of 'Easy Come, Easy Go' that I just found by Bobby Sherman from 1970.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz285B4sleQ

Twenty-five years ago today:

Monday, February 27, 1984

I read an article in the 'Oakland Tribune' about 'Women In Need' today. I decided to call The Sperm Bank of Northern California. They are located in North Oakland, near Merritt Hospital. I called them this morning and made an appointment for Wednesday at 6pm. I wonder? Will I be able to say '20 years from now' that I have a child somewhere? I am curious. Will I ever know this child? It's interesting. I want to look into it further.

I took a bike rid after work, riding until 6:30pm. I ate dinner with 'pops' again.

I was thinking about how I received a single rose from a customer today. My good deed was simple. I made a special arrangement for the payment of her telephone bill.

I saw Nici Maurino. She 'sort of' smiled at me, asking what I was up to these days.
She is too 'red neck' or 'something' for me.

Paloma telephoned with a 'Thank You' for the card I sent her. We may go out or simply get-together this Thursday night. I explained that I was going to 'Echo Beach' in San Francisco with my friend, Chris. It would be cool if I had her to dance with while we're there. Chris and I don't have a problem dancing 'solo' though. I thought it interesting when Paloma told me that a bisexual model friend she knows had invited her to Utah. Does that mean she's going to accept the invitation?

Doug Siu called. He is that little Asian guy who works at the Phone Center store. We made tentative arrangements to get-together. He wants to show me his new desk. He is so persistent and it's hard for me to say "no".

Chris Cordellos telephone just before I was about to watch the 1984 continuing TV-mini series, LACE (Phoebe Cates). He just wanted to share the scoop of the rowdy folks that were at his party last Saturday night. I told him about my 'soggy time' visit to Wolfgang's in San Francisco, my new scheduled days off (hint hint) and verified our 'Echo Beach' outing this Thursday night.
"We'll do an early celebration for your 21st birthday, Chris," I said.
I have to find him a gift. His actual birthday is March 4th.