The Jane Name

THE JANE NAME

I’ve always liked the name Jane. There was a pretty blonde girl in high school who’s first name was Jane. Probably a dozen or so years after my high school graduation, I was at a family skating event in Ridgeway, and this pretty blonde lady kept skating by and glancing at me. I wondered what was going on, and she finally skated over and asked me if my name was Nick. She then introduced herself and was actually glad to see me. It made me feel pretty good because I was quite the proverbial Mr. Misfit in high school.

Of course Mary Jane was a popular name. I never delved much into drugs. The reason being this deep-rooted fear I had about being caught and having my legs broken by my father. This is what he threatened me with if he ever caught me using drugs. Of course, this was the same man who cheered the police on at the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. “Shoot those damn hippies in the legs, that’ll get ‘em off the streets.”

The first time I really smoked pot extensively one evening was a time I will never forget. A co-worker and I went out for a few drinks and some wings and on the way to the restaurant started to get high. I had Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited in my tape deck (this is way before CDs) and I had always struggled with the meaning to these songs. Well, Mary Jane certainly cleared it up for me and I had the experience of somehow being one with the music. This is something that has never really left me to this day. I have mentioned often that music is my language, and under certain conditions, music can still speak to me and have an influence upon my life. The same is with certain works of art.

The next Jane to have an influence upon me was “Sweet Jane.” Buffalo, NY used to have this great radio station called WPHD. I can still remember the first time I heard Blind Faith singing the “Do What You Like” song. It mesmerized and captivated me. I was up in my bedroom, really despondent one day, and I heard the most beautiful folk singer named Cat Stevens singing “Lisa, Lisa.” The words blessed my spirit – (I) must be hurt really badly, Oh, what makes (him) so sadly. There are few songs that will bring a tear to my eye. That is one, and the other is Janis Joplin pouring out her life in "A Woman Left Lonely.”

Anyhow, back to Sweet Jane. The opening chords were slow and grabbed my attention right away. And then the voice. I never heard a voice before like Lou Reed’s. By the time he and The Velvet Underground got to the last verses I was hooked.

Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, Just watch me now!
And there's even some evil mothers
Well they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
Y'know that, women, never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, woo!
And that, y'know, children are the only ones who blush!
And that, life is just to die!
And, everyone who ever had a heart
They wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh wouldn't turn around and hate it!

Sweet Jane! Whoa-oh-oh! Sweet Jane! Sweet Jane!

Heavenly wine and roses
Seems to whisper to her when he smiles
Heavenly wine and roses
Seems to whisper to her when she smiles
La lala lala la, la lala lala la
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane

Now I have another Jane who has made an influence upon my life. She would never have suspected it. Jane is a lady who helps us out at church with our Outreach Ministry, Kenmore Kindness (KK). She doesn’t even attend our church but puts in a lot of hours sorting through bags and bags of donated clothing for the Clothing Closet. I consider her to be a blessing as well as a friend. Well, one evening Jane brought her camera along and took some pictures of the KK Crew. I forgot entirely about my picture being taken. Recently, however, while looking at some pictures posted on the KK Facebook page, I came across the one you now see of me. OMG, is that what I really look like? I know the camera never lies, so it must be true. Look at that stomach. That’s a heart attack just waiting to happen. And how socially irresponsible is that on my behalf? Half the freakin’ world is starving, and I’m obese.
So now what do I do? I better think of something fast. My actual life is hanging in the balance.