Jack and Diane
Were you just playing a John Mellencamp song...? My inquiry was earnest, though filled with the confused stupor that follows an awakening from a deep, mid-afternoon nap. Equally confused, he replied "... I don't know anything by John Mellencamp..." In a sedated, yet certain response I added ""Jack and Diane"... I thought you were playing that song..." He stood quietly for a moment, curious, as I held a focused gaze, hands in my lap, staring at my fingers, gracefully interwoven. It's the look he dubs the "1000 mile stare". And I slowly came to. Came to realize my father wasn't playing a John Mellencamp song, and Lloyd wasn't either. I shouldn't have been surprised- neither of the two men had ever played John Mellencamp before, so why would they now? But in some lost space where fatigue and sleep meet, I had heard my father playing guitar and heard his voice- clear as day- singing the