Painted Kites

I imagine that my mother's neighbors thought it was a bit weird when I pulled into the driveway with Frank Sinatra blaring, but Ol' Blue Eyes came on just as I was rounding the corner onto Shirley Road. Of course, Frank sings the hell out of the song and the lyrics are great as well.

I especially like the lyric - Like painted kites, those days and nights, they went flyin' by

It actually had even more meaning as I had been speaking with my brother in the morning and we were talking about Dad at the age of 50.

"It seemed like ten minutes ago," I said.

"It flies by," Jim answered.

I sang the hell out of that particular line.

The Summer Wind

The summer wind, came blowin' in from across the sea
It lingered there to touch your hair and walk with me

All summer long we sang a song and then we strolled that golden sand
Two sweethearts and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights, they went flyin' by
The world was new beneath a blue umbrella sky

Then softer than a piper man one day it called to you
I lost you, I lost you to the summer wind

The autumn wind and the winter winds, they have come and gone
And still the days, those lonely days, they go on and on

And guess who sighs his lullabies through nights that never end
My fickle friend, the summer wind

The summer wind

Warm summer wind

Mmm, the summer wind

Can't you just hear him singing it?

They only call one singer: The Voice.

After I got out of the car I greeted Mom. She hadn't heard the song, but I entered the house laughing.

"Your neighbors might complain about the music," I said.

"Bruce?" She asked.

"Actually, Frank," I said. "I was blasting Summer Wind."

We didn't have to get into the discussion of the Painted Kites.

She knew they went flyin' by.