I distinctly remember the first time I ever heard The Beatles’ Sargeant Pepper album. I was in third grade, visiting the home of some family friends — with an older-than-me and oh-so-much-cooler daughter I adored (her name was Neecie, short for Denise). We sat in her Amazingly Awesome Bedroom on a pink faux-fur rug, surrounded by various ‘tween “potions” (arranged with care on the first actual dressing table I’d ever seen) . . . and she played the album for me. Although I had heard OF The Beatles, I was just slightly too young to be terribly aware, or to have caught the Beatles-bug. But Neecie had it . . . bad.

While listening (over and over) to the album, we carefully examined the album cover. She taught me who-was-who, filled my head with “factoids” about the Fab Four, and taught me all the songs. (On return visits, she would quiz me about the Beatles. I was a good student and quick learner.)

I loved that album. And I love that memory. But that’s not what this post is about, really.

Today . . . I want to re-visit one song from that album for a moment.
Come along, okay?

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I’ve been singing this one for the last couple of days.

WHY? Well. Because . . . Tom is 64 today! (It seems rather cliché, but here we are. Finally, this silly song . . . is about us.)

That’s Tom, probably about 3 years old, with his baby brother. (Looks just like his grown-up self, doesn’t he?)

When I get older losing my hairMany years from nowWill you still be sending me a ValentineBirthday greetings bottle of wine
If I’d been out till quarter to threeWould you lock the doorWill you still need me, will you still feed meWhen I’m sixty-four
You’ll be older tooAnd if you say the wordI could stay with you

And this is us . . . in May 1980 . . . when Tom was graduating from Boise State and getting ready to head off to grad school in Colorado. (Turning 64 someday was absolutely unimaginable at this juncture. Just sayin.)

I could be handy, mending a fuseWhen your lights have goneYou can knit a sweater by the firesideSunday mornings go for a rideDoing the garden, digging the weedsWho could ask for more
Will you still need me, will you still feed meWhen I’m sixty-four

Some things . . . never change! (Like that smile. That absolutely winning smile.)

Send me a postcard, drop me a lineStating point of viewIndicate precisely what you mean to sayYours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a formMine for evermoreWill you still need me, will you still feed meWhen I’m sixty-four
So.
Yes. My answer is . . . yes.
You can change the fuse. I’ll knit a sweater by the fireside. We’ll dig weeds in the garden. Who could ask for more?
Yes I’ll still be sending you a Valentine.
(Mine forever more.)
Yes I’ll still need you.
Yes I’ll still feed you.
Now that you’re 64!!!
Happy Birthday, Tom!
(I can’t believe this song is now relevant for us.)