List: 'Top 10 songs that make men cry'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. I’ve previously written that I’m an emotional old guy [1]. It doesn’t take much to reduce me to tears. Reduce to tears? What a strange expression. As if being tearful’s a lesser – reduced – state of being. What bulldust. I’m not ashamed to weep. My feelings are close to the surface. I’m thin-skinned. So what. What gets to me most is my darling family [2]. But music’s pretty close behind. I’ve previously written of my love of music, and how it too brings me to tears [3, 4, 5]. Any music genre can do it: opera, orchestral, band, folk, and sometimes even country music. Of course when family and music combine – to wit darling Emily’s music [6, 7] – I’m a goner. Today’s list – ‘Top 10 songs that make men cry’ resulted from a 1,700-person survey by the the UK organisation PRS for Music [8], and was published by PRS [9] and reproduced in the Age [10]. To my knowledge I’ve heard only three of the ‘Top 10 songs’: ‘Candle in the Wind’ makes me puke. ‘Hallelujah’ never makes me cry. But ‘Tears in Heaven’ brings me close – maybe because it’s redolent of my weak point, i.e. the intersection of family and music. Having seen this list, I’m tempted to have a listen to the other seven. I’ll keep you posted.

P.S. h/t Sweetheart Vivienne for alerting me to today’s list.

My nephew hits a home run

Bernard Malamud (1914-86) was an author of novels and short stories, and arguably one of the great American Jewish writers of the 20th century [1]. When I think of Malamud, lots of things come to my mind. But baseball’s not one of them. Despite this he wrote a baseball novel [2] that was adapted into a 1984 film starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close and Kim Basinger [3] Its name? The Natural. My oldest nephew, darling Dion (pictured) isn’t a baseball player (to my knowledge, anyway). But when it comes to the media he’s a natural. Most definitely. So cool, unfazed, articulate, empathic, interesting, interested, concise and relevant. And, of course, handsome. ‘Yes, but you’re his uncle’, I hear you say. I am indeed. But don’t take my word for it. Have a look at this recent interview [4] and make up your own mind. I’ve no clue where Dion’s media savvy came from: there aren’t too many media stars – if any – in the family. Maybe he’s read books on the subject. Or been coached. But perhaps he is, before and after all, just a natural. I hope to see lots more media appearances in the future from my nephew – the Future Maker and Young Entrepreneur [5]. And I hope he continues to hit lots of metaphorical home runs – in his career, and in his broader life. Well done, mate!

farmdoc's blog post number 692

I’m in Melbourne – for the first time in four months – to see my darling children and grandchildren, and for some family celebrations. Today I write of one of these celebrations. So there’s no compendium this week.

Last Thursday my dear brother-in-law Jeffrey turned 60. He and my sister Sue have been married for nigh on 40 years. So I’ve known Jeffrey for two thirds of his life. Over the decades I’ve seen him blossom. In all aspects of his life. He’s now a successful lawyer, respected community worker, keen cyclist, and recent Apple Mac convert. Also a life-long observant Jew. And, I’ve seen, a loyal and true friend. But, folks, I reckon above all Jeffrey’s a loving, and loved, member of his nuclear family. And of his wider family too. Never was this more evident than last night when he and Sue hosted a 60th birthday bash. In all 53 people were there – to celebrate not only Jeffrey’s birthday, but also the special place he occupies in each of those 52 other lives. It was a suitably joyful, emotional and often humorous time. Enjoyable. And memorable. There was too much food, of course. But there could never be too much respect shown to this remarkable man. The man who, on the day he and my sister were married, became my dear brother-in-law. Happy birthday, mate.

Finally, as usual in Farmdoc’s Blog each Saturday, I wish you, dear readers, a wonderful week.