First Of May - Holy Communion - 1962

.
First of May reminds me of my 1962 First Holy Communion suit. When you’re a seven year old pig boy, Mom gets rare opportunity to dress you up and keep you dressed up in one piece.

When Mom bought me my blue outfit I didn’t know I’d have to wear it three horrifying times.

Besides the communion event, we wore our monkey suits for the Crowning of the May Queen in St. Stephen of Hungary’s Grotto on the side of the church. Since the second grade class all had new suits and pretty white dresses, the nuns drafted us into the school-wide ceremonial crowning of the Statue of Mary. Some girl was made crowner and every one else in the class were her drones. Most of the Moms showed up for this non-prime time event simply because they couldn’t believe they got their kid to dress up again.

My third appearance in the suit nearly killed me. For some reason, the nuns at St. Stephen’s school and certain mothers were compelled to put on a talent show every year, despite the fact there was no talent in the student body, if you discounted the Reinwald Brothers' dueling accordion act. In second grade, Mrs. Otis, the show's producer, took advantage of our recent clothing purchase by having the boys and girls perform a Viennese waltz in our blue suits and the girls in their white communion dresses. She insisted the boys wear white gloves. Make me vomit! I begged Mom to stay home, faked sick the morning of the show triggering a kick in the ass on my way out the door.

First of May

I have a delicious dichotomy, I crave contact sports and I love the Bee Gees. Played tackle football down Carl Schurz Park at 6 years old, and bought New York Mining Disaster 1941 the week it came out. I'm a sucker for orchestrated rock, brothers or sisters singing harmony, and hitting three guys when they try to tackle me. The secret: hit them first, they think you are going to try to avoid them. Don't.

First of May was the first single off the terrific red velvet felt double album, Odessa (spring, 1969). What a gift, not a thunk on it, every song a keeper. It's one of those records that swiftly moves me from feeling sad to happy then back again to sad. Sweet music, I miss tackle. Please, don't tell my orthopedist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gewTWM6fH0



First of May

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
we used to love while others used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And as I recall the moment of them all,
the day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
do do do do do do do do do ...
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.