I have a favorite restaurant here, very near
the beach, small family operation, not well known, delicious and cheap
food, very nice people. It's under some big trees, and it's one of the
breeziest, most comfortable places to hang out on a hot day. I was
having an incredible sea food amok lunch there half an hour ago.
Incredible because the owner was likely showing his appreciation for me
being a regular customer. He made a
special bowl for me, big shrimps, hunks of calamari, some fish and
veggies in this thick roe-infused sauce, served over rice. ($2.50).
Ridiculous, one of the 'meals of the trip', it was that good.
Anyhow Simon is strumming my guitar, various acquaintances are happening
by for a chat and a laugh, and then this drunk Russian twenty-something
sits down at the table next to us and starts 'communicating'. The guy
was pretty hammered at 1:30pm, he was drinking what looked to be a cup
of cane juice (local treat), but I'm sure it was laced with vodka or
whiskey. Simon switches into a happy reggae groove to the chord
progression of Woman No Cry (Let it Be, Rock Me Baby, I'm Yours (Jason
Mraz) or any groovy song in that style. Your basic l V VIm IV
progression ho ho ho.
He played it in D (the 'People's Key')
which I had recommended yesterday. So I start making up lyrics, just
having fun and here comes the Russian, he's now making up lyrics, mostly
along the lines of 'hey no problem'. So we're singing we don't want
problem with Russia, no problem with France, no problem America, goofing
around and having fun. It was some kind of real-time validation of
Simon's and my conversation of the day before, about what kind of music
brings people in, invites participation etc. That progression in that
key is can't miss, and here was the proof. The owners are looking on
with smiles, it's a lovely scene.
Now the song is over and
the Russian is acting the fool a bit, and he calls the owner 'Papa'.
Mama laughs and 'Papa' says...'Big Problem'. Totally cracked me up,
given the just completed jam. To be able to be funny in a language
other than your own is huge, and the guy hit it out of the park. I have
to find out his name (I'm there daily, it shouldn't be a problem). A
few days ago he was listening to 'Imagine', and I asked him about it.
He said, 'my favorite song, I listen every night before sleep'. He's a
Khmer guy, special person, special place that his family runs. No, I'm
not telling you which one it is. There will be no 'Tripadvisor.com'
recommendations here. Why would I want to wreck it?
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