Both Sides Now

The heat and humidity brings them in. All sort of people come in to buy coffee drinks. The fact that we are located inside an air conditioned building may also have something to do with it.


Today started hot and humid. The sky looked like someone had punched a wall of cotton. The sky was dented with blue holes and clouds exploding. Coming in to escape the explosion this customer walked by the kiosk saying, “I’d like to work for minimum wage.” He tells me he used to sell vinyl for Tower Records. He says he can’t believe it’s been seven years. I looked it up. Seven years since Tower Records filed bankruptcy and closed their stateside stores. Now he sells them on Ebay.

It’s the old maxim about one man’s junk. Record collecting is understandable. An album is a complete experience. There’s the artwork on the cover and surprises on the inside. Finally there is the actual LP. Today you download the music and pay extra for the cover.

Perhaps the era ended in 2006. Technology and teens move the music forward. Somebody turns down the color on the clouds. The sky goes monochromatic grey.