Edmund out for New Year's. With no plans except to follow his pulse, he finds himself 43 in a bar and some lonely girl is growling into her drink. 10pm. The snow is thick outside, like walking through peanut butter, back to her apartment. The skin of his ass is like paper now, he knows she feels it, he's on top as usual. He thinks about watching other people parent, about drinking out of boredom, and overeating. He thinks about the way every year sinks into a kind of sludge of superstition and tension. The weight of tradition, the false hope of breaking tradition, they're what await every year as it takes its makeup off. Naked and shivering, like in the bathroom after stranger sex, every year stands hangdog in the mirror, squinting head tilted, pressing its skin, to test if it's there, as if to say "you haven't given up?"
Edmund puts on his shoes. And the way the snow falls on his shoulders as he heads out into the night, there is suddenly nothing wrong. These flakes chose me and I chose this life. Thank fucking God I at least got to choose this life.
And it's not even midnight yet.
--
This is my final entry as a regular writer on Said the Gramophone. It's been 10 years, and the weight of the work has finally become too much. As you may have noticed over the last six months I've been posting less, and now I have to stop altogether. And that is simply because this site is too important to me to work in half-measures. I love Said the Gramophone, I'm so appreciative of all the readers, and of all the things it's taught me. Thank you all for reading and commenting and following me on experiments with words and music. Sean will continue as normal, and I will now read avidly like all of you.
And I will leave you with the TV pilot for Dad Drives, a project that owes its life in large part to the readers of this blog. Thank you.
yours,
Dan Beirne
ps. Come what may, it's 2015 and The Best Show is back.
Posted by Dan at December 31, 2014 3:26 PMI'm going to miss your writing, but I am happy for your acting success.
Thank you for the past 10 years.
man, thanks for it all
Posted by Tim at December 31, 2014 7:29 PMThanks for the lovely words all these years, Dan. I'll miss your writing and hearing about Edmund. Best wishes with the future.
Posted by Rita at December 31, 2014 7:44 PMThank you, Dan.
Posted by Haz at December 31, 2014 8:21 PMthanks soo much for all the effort...you will be missed
Posted by kat at January 1, 2015 8:07 AMThank you and good luck from Amsterdam.
Posted by Michiel at January 1, 2015 4:19 PMThanks!!
Posted by S at January 1, 2015 7:53 PMThanks for the words & music, Dan. They will be missed...
Posted by Michelle at January 1, 2015 8:57 PMIt's been some beautiful 10 years, so many memories with your words and music... Sure the best is yet to come from your work!
Posted by elsia at January 2, 2015 8:41 AMAll the best, Dan. You will be missed here.
Posted by rgsc at January 2, 2015 2:43 PMI've been reading since the beginning. Thanks for all your words and best of luck in the future.
Best Show 4 Life.
Posted by Bryce at January 2, 2015 4:09 PMThank you for all the ways you've helped us listen. Godspeed xx
Posted by patricia at January 2, 2015 5:53 PMSalute, Dan.
Posted by Dima at January 3, 2015 2:14 PMThanks for all the words + music over the years Dan!
Posted by Julian at January 3, 2015 7:41 PMThanks for all the words + music over the years Dan!
Posted by Julian at January 3, 2015 7:43 PMgood run.
Posted by david b at January 3, 2015 8:24 PMSalutations and thanks and luck and merry!
Posted by Robin at January 4, 2015 11:35 AMAw, man. I'll miss your writing and song-pointing-out. Best of luck to you!
Posted by Lindsey at January 4, 2015 10:37 PMgood luck in your travels! much love from california
Posted by rachel at January 5, 2015 2:13 AMDan, thank you so much for the last - I've just counted them up, I'm a little stunned - seven years of music and writing. Thank you for Edmund, and the 2011/12 mixes, and for stories that leave through a different door they came in. Good luck in the beyond!
Posted by Ryan at January 5, 2015 4:27 PMThanks. you've given lots of pleasure over the decade. best of luck.
Posted by J at January 6, 2015 11:30 PMDan! I've always enjoyed your posts, and I'm a big fan of your other work. I'm sad to see you go, but I wish you the best of luck!
Posted by Bryan at January 7, 2015 12:29 AMThank you all. Teary.
Posted by Dan
at January 7, 2015 7:23 PMYour words will be missed.
Posted by Blayze at January 9, 2015 4:39 PMI've been visiting this site for about 5 years now and it's safe to say that your posts have opened my mind and ears to many new vibrations. Thank you and good luck with whatever lies ahead of you.
Posted by Adam at January 9, 2015 4:50 PMThank you, Dan!!
Posted by Vanessa at January 12, 2015 3:40 AM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
