Overture
Because it's the beginning ... get it?
Welcome to my substack.
You may be thinking… what the heck is this? Well well well. What isn’t it? Right?
When thinking on what to call this publication, I wanted to make reference to the fact that I’m a yapper. But the term “yapping” is too on-trend – I needed something with more longevity. The Allman Brothers Band’s 1973 hit, “Ramblin’ Man” came to mind. American Songwriter describes it as a “rollicking song” that depicts “a rough-and-tumble lifestyle.” Oh how apropos.
When I googled “Ramblin’ Woman” to see if it has any previous association, the first result that came up was from The Paul McCartney Project, it read:
“‘Ramblin’ Woman’ is a track played (and likely written) by George Harrison during the “Get Back” sessions in January 1969.”
I took this as pure serendipity. The Beatles being my favorite band of all time (duh) and George Harrison being my favorite Beatle (double duh), made this title more than perfect. Moreover, the song went unreleased. Meaning you must listen to this YouTube link for a scrappy-ass recording from the Get Back sessions uploaded by a random YouTube user: Francisco Beatles Floyd Gonzalez. Thank you, Francisco. I still can’t believe they named their band after you.
One of the first stories I ever wrote was when I was in fifth grade. We were doing a state project in which each student was to select a state and we would write a short story about the state’s history. Inspired by the origins of my newly minted step dad, I chose Rhode Island.
The story was about a girl on a family trip in Rhode Island when she ends up in the possession of a message in a bottle. The map enclosed in the bottle leads her to seek answers to a mystery linked to iconic pirate Captain Kidd’s missing treasure off the coast of Rhode Island.
In the climactic scene, the protagonist is visited by an apparition that resembles Captain Kidd. The ghost says, “some things aren’t meant to be found.” In a Spongebob-esk pirate accent of course.
The story went on to win a writing prize for my grade. It was one of my first memories of special distinction and honor, something I still continue to chase.
Just like the unreleased track “Ramblin’ Woman,” there is a beauty in the ephemera of treasures that will never be found. It is truly the epitome of “you had to be there.” So, faithful readers, I hope to impart some of that ephemera on you all. It’s okay if you have not discovered the booty. Sometimes there is no loot at all.
Anyway, happy Eclipse day. Thanks for taking precious moments out of your day for reading some ramblings. It means a lot!
More to come.
Julia