Along with Scott Cossu and Alex de >>Grassi, Fred, you are up there in my books. Until now. > > Why ... what did I do now? >
Ooops. Mea maxima culpa! I meant "even until now." Its really quite difficult at times to convey the essence of what one is trying to convey via a second/third language when one compares it with her/his own native tongue. This reminds me of something that happened in the List a long time ago. There was a thread on desert island discs and everyone was encouraged to list their top ten favorites. I always like lists because it opens me to different tastes of different people and I usually come out a little bit informed about those in the List. Anyway, in my top ten list, I remembered saying I always liked Jimmy Webb's "Ten Easy Pieces", and then someone reacted (I think it was Kakki) by placing a "Yay" at the end of that number. Clueless about "yay" and its usage, I thought at first I was being ridiculed publicly for my personal choice because I had this misguided assumption that as "yay" is close to "Yuck", someone is telling the list that my taste is one inch this side of garbage. Being quite new to the List then and being the only one from the Philippines (maybe even until now?? Fellow Pinoys, speak up!!), I didn't know if I should react instinctively or ask the advice of someone from the List. What to do when I didn't have friends then (maybe even now?? haha!!) to ask for advice. So I emailed someone offlist (the one and only Barbara Burst! Where are you now?) and asked what "Yay" meant. She told me what it meant and the context this word was used by Americans. I was so glad I asked her because if I didn't I would have made a major blunder and alienated many. In retrospect, I shouldn't have worried then, because unlike any other Discussion List I am subbed, the JMDL is one List where its full of intelligent, analytical, nurturing and creative people whose posts may not make me agree with what they say, but always in the level of discourse and with a conscious effort to elevate the level of discussions to something worthwhile and meaningful. And best of all, it is really an international family where people have this nice regard to everyone on the List, and just because no one responds to your message or to your threads doesn't mean you're not loved. Sorry, Fred, for this long explanation. Bottom line, I am a fan of your music and I hope other people get to experience the "musical high" you gave us through the years. Joseph np: Jacques Brel "Ne Me Quitte Pas"
