Just a Perfect Day

Do you know that Lou Reed song, Perfect Day? It is grand. Anthemic. It has the feeling of bright rays of sunshine running through it, and today I kept hearing it in the back of my mind.

An old boyfriend put the song on a mix cd for me when we were first dating, and although it has been a long time since I fancied that the song might have been about us, it has stuck with me as an anthem of the simplicity of sunlight and a well spent day.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.

It started out with a simple mission: to explore some of the record stores participating in the little known holiday of 'Record Store Day,' which features special concerts, in-store DJs, and sales. Since leaving Los Angeles, I have been disappointed by the lack of record stores (read: Amoeba). I've been waiting to be impressed. Of course, such missions are never as simple as they seem and M and I wandered through the throngs of Chinatown's street scene for a while before we found ourselves finally at Other Music on E. 4th Street. The small store rang with the lovely richness of vinyl and I remembered how much love wandering through the crowded aisles of music stores, assessing new titles and scavengering for the albums on the invisible list I keep in my head. In the jazz section I'm always rubbing elbows with those who probably think I should keep my filing fingers to myself. Finally, I emerge with Jorge Ben's Forca Bruta and Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet. Content. The orange plastic bag swinging at my side.

M, who always has all the brilliant plans, led us into Central Park where we were rained upon by blossoms, but with the quick change of plans made possible by mobile technology, we were soon shuttled to the Boat Basin for drinks with friends down on the Hudson River. Everything glowed in the haze of a late afternoon near the docks, and I couldn't help but feel jealous myself. It's easy to feel rich when you're overlooking yachts and sipping daiquiris.

Conversation flowed between hospitals and hipsters, boat fashions and immigration, roommates and life-mates and sing-song language... and I wonder how it is that I am so lucky. To have such fond friends. To live in a beautiful city where spring has finally arrived...

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
It's such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.