Solitary Man

Don't know that I will,
but until I can find me,
a girl who will stay,
won't play games behind me.
I'll be what I am,
a solitary man, solitary man.

That's a Neil Diamond song that sort of became my personal anthem in the 60s. I had no girl and no prospect of getting one. I went to my Junior Prom with a friend from Newport News, 70 miles away. I went to my Senior Prom with a classmate who couldn't get a date either. Some girls in our class arranged it so we wouldn't be left out. We were a pity date for each other. Susan was a sweet girl and I was a young gentleman. Forty years later we laughed about it during our last class reunion.

But there has been another song that has been on my mind today. It's my own damn fault. When you live part of you life in an world of imagination, sometimes you imagination gets the best of you. I did that this past week. I found myself wanting more from a friend, who I already have a special relationship with, than was possible. I made a fool of myself and risked loosing a friend. But that song still haunts my thoughts...

Close to Cathy
by Mike Clifford

I'm so close to Cathy
I know just what she's dreaming of
She always calls me up to tell me
Every time she falls in love

Oh, I'm so close to Cathy
I know her every tender sigh
She loves to cry upon my shoulder
Always for some other guy

Oh, why can't she see
The one true, lasting love
In her life should be me

I'm so close to Cathy
As close as anyone can be
And I'll stay close to Cathy
Hoping some day
She'll feel close to me

I'm so close to Cathy
As close as anyone can be
And I'll stay close to Cathy
Hoping some day
She'll feel close to me