Look What It's Done So Far

By Michelle DiPoala on Jul 29, 2009 | In Facebook, Rainbow Connection

OK, it might be because I'm feeling rather vulnerable and quite anxious about this Weight Watchers thing (this was day one! what if I can't do it! what if it's too hard!) but I'm about to get all philosophical on your ass. Asses. Collective arses.

Follow up:

Today on Facebook, Fil asked for songs that really "move you." I wrote the following, and I liked it so much that I made it my status. I wrote, "I can't sing 'Rainbow Connection,' because I always cry when it gets to '...somebody thought of that, and someone believed it...'" It's true. I sing in the shower...in fact, sometimes I take a shower just because I feel like singing...and though it's one of my favorite songs, I can't make it through "Rainbow Connection" without choking up.

The replies to my status post, each in enthusiastic agreement that the song RULES ten ways, came from such a marvelous cross section of my people that it thunderstruck me.

Ingrid, who I met in Cambridge when she was managing The Lizard Lounge and once saved me from a bar bully by kicking him out (and she's TINY) and then married, and has a kid with, one of my best friends and favorite people in the world, Mr. Shaun Wolf Wortis. Mary, who was one of the few people in my privileged high school (sorry everyone, but you know who you are) who treated everyone with respect, whether or not you were part of her "clique." Just think "Pretty In Pink" and figure out which of us had a better prom.

Anyway, my point is that I am knocking on forty's door soon, and am only just really properly appreciating all the wonderful, special people I've met along the way. This fucking Facebook that merges all these people together, weaving us into this unlikely life-sized crazy quilt that covers the whole world. Maybe THAT'S it. The rainbow connection, I mean. Maybe we're all the rainbow connection. You and everyone you've touched along the way, living or passed on, like we're all parts of one big colorful magic machine.

No, I am not "on anything." Just seeing everyone agree on this song. It just struck me in one of those hyper self-aware moments.

YOU know.

Sarah Mclachlan's version might be my favorite (and in this clip someone cleverly used WALL-E with it).

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Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
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