Tuesday, August 31, 2010

On fleeting meetings

GIRL

Walks towards cashier with DVD OF 30 ROCK SEASON ONE. Looks into the air, trying to recognize the music that is playing. Failing. Smiles to the boy behind the cashier.

Hello.





BOY

Hello.

Takes DVD from girl, and proceeds to find a SEALED COPY.





GIRL


What’s the music playing?




BOY

In a very low voice

Fleetmcndfjhgefe





GIRL

Oh, Fleetwood Foxes! Of course! Is it a new album?

Pays, with CASH.




BOY

Smiling mysteriously. Still speaking in a low voice.

No. It’s an old one. Nfjkhrfgur sixkfjhrtuhr.

Hands girl the RECEIPT and the DVD in a PLASTIC BAG.




GIRL

Realizing her mistake. Blushes vividly.

Oh. Thanks.

Takes bag, prepares to leave.






BOY

Calls after girl.

It about time they make another album, though!





GIRL

Turns around. Smiles. Makes mental note to search for “fleet something” on Spotify when she gets back home.





Well-disguised as I know this character was, I can now shockingly reveal to all of you that I indeed was “GIRL” in this exchange. I may have dramaticized it slightly, but this was roughly how it went.

I have a thing for guys who work in record shops. I know, it’s silly. Most girls go for the musician. And yes, I like those too. Give me a man who can play the piano, and I’ll be happy. It can even be a guitar. Or cello. It doesn’t have to be strings either. No strings attached.

But. I also like guys who work in record stores. I think it is because I imagine they know a lot about music. That they are like Spotify – capable of introducing me to lots of new music I will love.

I know people who work in record stores don’t necessarily know all that much about music. Just like people who work in bookstores don’t necessarily know everything about books (and yet I feel exactly the same way about guys who work in bookstores, which is definitely silly, as I work in one myself and am fully capable of being my own Spotify of books. I should add that there aren’t that many men working in bookshops as in record shops. So they are a rarer breed. I should also add that I don't have a crush on the [only] guy that work in the bookshop I work in. Just in case you are reading this, Martin... Don't get any funny ideas!).

And yet. Record store guys...

Basically, the only reason I didn’t develop a crush on the guy behind the counter in this particular shop was that he probably was five years younger than me and looking five years younger than that. Not even his record store logo-ed shirt could make up for the ten years older he should have been.

My almost-crush on him explains why I blushed so much when I realized that I had mixed the band names of Fleet Foxes and Fleetwood Mac, though. It didn’t help that I knew one of them was a contemporary band, while the other was not (I could not for the life of me remember which was which). One of the boy’s muttered comments could have been his way of telling me that the album currently playing was from the 1960s. Or that it was their sixth album. Who knew?

When I got home I realized that the band they had been playing in the store indeed was Fleet Foxes. After some googling I also found out that Fleetwood Mac is still going strong, apparently. So either band could be up for a soonish release.

What I also realized was that I really didn’t care anymore what the boy in the record store thought. After all, outside the store, I wasn’t all that interested. Give me a man with a trombone any day!

27 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

This made me smile, as a young girl of 17 yrs I worked in a record shop , an dream job for me because of my love of music. It's true people come in and ask about different music which was recorded before I was born.
I enjoyed your post so are you looking for a trombone player?

Yvonne.

H.B.Markor said...

*whispers* I wouldn't have known the difference either, and wouldn't have known that there is a place on the internet to look that information up.

I don't care what he's playing, just as long as it has a beat and he's got the legs to prove it.


*briefly considers remaining anonymous*

Anonymous said...

You like the CD type uh? (look for it – there’s a pun in there somewhere)
By the way, I once sold my family album if that counts…. Will you add me to your list?

All the best, Boonie
PS: You can blow my trombone anytime.

Cruella Collett said...

Yvonne - lucky! If I knew more about music that would be the other kind of store I would love to work in. As it is, I think I do better where I am. And I wouldn't mind a trombone player (though the type of instrument isn't important, it's the making of music I find fascinating).

Maria - Spotify is the awesomest, but I think perhaps possibly you have to live in Europe to get the free version (I'm not sure, though, so it's worth checking out). And I agree with you - a nice set of legs to stump to da beat wouldn't be terrible either :p

Boonie - Compact Disk? Seedy? Or am I too naïve to get this one? I really am frightfully naïve. For instance I don't think there is anything fishy about your comment about blowing your trombone...
(You're already added to my list, of course! Do you even have to ask?)

Sue said...

Excuse me while I pick up my laptop and fan myself. This repartee is becoming wittily risque ;)

I was lucky enough to work in a record shop in the days of vinyl. Most of the time I bumbled around pretending to know deep and meaningful stuff about the bands - which I never did. It was fun even if the bluff didn't work.

So pleased you haven't succumbed to thesis overload!

Powdered Toast Man said...

Did you crush on John Cusack in High Fidelity?

M.J. Nicholls said...

Interesting. The men I've seen in bookshops either have ponytails or resemble the (male) cast of Mad Men. As for record shops: Zitty teenagers or cooler-than-thou ex-student hipsters. Yeurgh. Still, I recall fondly when one shopladdie praised my choice of "Trout Mask Replica." I glowed for days and almost turned gay.

Cruella Collett said...

Sue - vinyl! Oh, you're my hero now. I have a very romanticized image of vinyl record shops. My parents still have a record player, but I don't know how to operate it. By the time I was old enough to actively take any interest in music we had switched to CDs. Now it is gathering dust in the attick.
(And the jury is still out on whether I am suffering from thesis overload...)

Jamie - excellent question! You'd think I did, but actually, I didn't. My friend did, though. Huh. Why didn't I? Perhaps because I realized he was too old for me (though this did not affect my crush on Ralph Fiennes or Colin Firth...)

Mark - you've been to the wrong kind of bookstores, I can tell! There are certain fine specimens among the riffraff. I agree more with your assessment of record store employees, though. Which is why I find it curious that I am drawn to them... (record store working GIRLS are also a rare breed, aren't they? Which probably explains why I haven't shared your near-gay experience).

Anonymous said...

Touchez! Yes , you foiled my CD/seedy whiz in an instant.
Sorry that I showed my insecurity by asking about being on the list.
Re, "I don't think there is anything fishy about your comment about blowing your trombone...": You really must pop over for tiffin and hot crumpets one day....

Have a nice day, from Borisoot-jie Boonie

RosieC said...

Oh, I do love a good record store guy. You've described it perfectly. I love listening to the passion of music as the record store guy expounds on decades of music history in a genre I've never heard of :) *swoon*

Hart Johnson said...

I've had a fair few crushes on record store guys, too, now you mention it.

I was sure this was a story leading to you later trying to track DOWN this CD. Like the orange book...

And I should clarify that in 20 years, looking 10 years younger will be a bonus... What I wouldn't give for a nice 39 who looked 34... I'm just saying...

Arlee Bird said...

I used to fantasize about working in a record store--I thought it would be so cool and sometimes I used to spend an hour or two just looking thru record bins. I recall when one of my best friends and I used to discuss the possibility of opening our own shop. But never worked in one or started one. If I worked in one now it would have to be an oldies or classical shop, or I'd have to do a lot of catching up.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Cruella Collett said...

Boonie - you're polite even in French! As for tiffin and hot crumpets - how about violins and hot trumpets?

Rosie - EXACTLY! You know what I'm talking about, girl!

Tami - haha, yes, I could have done that, but I already knew this "orange book", as I have listened to the album many-many times (on Spotify). I just couldn't remember the NAME...
(I'll keep the 5-looking-10-thing in mind for when it's sexy and not creepy...)

Lee - oh, but doesn't that sound like a wonderful retirement job? Especially if it was one of those gigs where you didn't really have to work for the money, you just work because you like it. Sit around in an "oldies" record store all day, playing music, talking to customers, having a good time :)

keishua said...

This cracked me up. I like record store boys, too. However, they usually have a music niche and that can get complicated.

MTeacress said...

HaHa! This is a great story. And I remember Fleetwood Mac from back in the day. I didn't know they were still going strong.
Have a great week!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

What about movies with record store guys, like High Fidelity?
And sorry, no trombone - just trumpet and guitar.

Jemi Fraser said...

You always make me smile! Great story - brings back a few good memories :)

nonamedufus said...

Ahem. I collect music. *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*
(By the way I like both Fleet Foxes and Fleetwood Mac)

Cruella Collett said...

Googlover (not that I don't like the other name, but since I am the self-declared queen of Googling, I favour the first one...) - but a nice record store boy with a substantial niche doesn't sound too bad..? Now I'm just not making sense. In a naughty way. Glad you enjoyed it, though :)

Michelle - I didn't know either before I had to google them for the purpose of this post ;) Have a great week too :)

Alex - both trumpet AND the guitar? Oh my... I am sold... And I really can't say why I didn't crush on John Cusack. I should have! (Maybe I was too young when I saw it?)

Jemi - yay! You know, that just made me realize how great blogging is. If I can make just one person smile with each post, (one at the other side of the world, even,) I have made a difference. I love that thought :)
(And what memories would these be? Inquiring minds want to know..)

nonamedufus - ...aaand you quote Monty Python! *swoon* Too bad you're already taken (lucky wife!) ;)

Karen M. Peterson said...

It's kind of funny. I've never been a sucker for the record store guy, but every guy I've dated has been insanely into music. I'm lucky if I can even match a band to a song. (Although, if you give the name of a movie, I can tell you the stars, the year of release and the director. And sometimes even the screenwriter.)

Unknown said...

I'm no good with music, musical bands and such, though I must say I'm in awe of people who casually discuss them.

Where I live, bookstore workers have limited English (mostly) so I don't expect much of them by the way of guiding me to good books.

Interesting and funny post :)

Anonymous said...

Re, "you're polite even in French": Only because I couldn't find the acute key....
Re, "how about violins and hot trumpets?": ..... = "Bow and blow?" Sounds OK to me. I'm up for it.

Have a nice day, Boonie

Anonymous said...

What I great read and thanks for sharing this.
We've all had these moments and it is always great to see - and empathise - with others who have landed themselves into similar situations.

Anonymous said...

Psst. I don't know who the Fleet Foxes are. Don't tell anyone. - G

Writer said...

Hi C.C.,
You fooled me at first. I thought it was a snipet of a play or screenplay you wrote ;)
I think most girls/women like artists in general. I have a weakness for men who are creative whether they're painters, writers, musicians, sculptors, you name it. But destiny played a trick on me. I married an analytical guy ;) LOL! I have to laugh. I guess opposites attract.

LTM said...

I love little encounters like that... they give me ideas for scenes.

I had a similar encounter w/a little Asian guy w/purple stripey hair at the grocery once... LOL! I know, but sometimes people can be inspiring in odd ways~ ;p

(And no, I'm not really into purple strips, Asian kids or anyone besides my husband. It just got me thinking... ;o)

Cruella Collett said...

Karen - what's your secret? To landing all the music-lovers, I mean? And that is cool about the movie-thing. I'm constantly playing the "who's that guy?"-game when watching movies, as I recognize faces easily, but I'm not so good with names.

Damyanti - oh, I'm no good in discussing music either. I only listen ;)
And that is a shame about the bookstores - perhaps you need to teach them?

Boonie - Bow and blow?!? HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, you're priceless ;)

Cassandra - thanks :)

Georgina - tee hee, you should! They're great. And your secret is safe with me. And, you know, anyone else with access to Internet ;)

Claudia - you're lucky, then, to have someone to deal with all the non-creative stuff! And I do think you're right about creativity being attractive. At least that always is something I appreciate in a guy.

Leigh - haha, I never thought you were the purple stripes type, no ;) But it is true, isn't it. Sometimes isnpiration, or attraction, or just good chemistry between two people can be very surprising and impossible to explain. Which I think is nice, in a way :)

Related Posts with Thumbnails