Last week, I got an ear worm. I could not stop whistling Daydream Believer by the Monkees. It’s an easy ear worm, it’s a catchy tune! By day two I began to realize, I couldn’t get this tune out of my head. The way I saw it, I had two options. I could either fight (and lose) to the ensuing insanity brought on by whistling that chorus over and over, or I could lean back and allow my natural curiosity to take it from there. I chose the latter.
Cheer up Sleepy Jean…
There. Now you’re humming it. Aren’t you?
What’s the deal with this song? What’s it about? Perhaps I could use the internet to answer these questions.
First stop, Wikipedia. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, Wikipedia is not an accurate source of information. Wikipedia is truth by consensus…for that reason, it cannot possibly be a legitimate source of information. It’s a nice place to start when researching something, but citing it as an official source will get you laughed out of the room, In this case, I didn’t think an inaccuracy would shake up the world. I’ll just stick around here for a bit.
Oh what can it be…
The song was written by John Stewart. Who was he? I clicked his name, American Songwriter & Singer, big in the folk music scene. Forty year career, almost four dozen albums, six-hundred recorded songs. Wow, this guy has game! Died in 2008. Strike that, this guy had game, then again, his songs are still being listened to. He might as well have achieved immortality. He had lots of game, six hundred songs, that’s nothing to snort at. I’m not entirely certain I have listened to six hundred different songs. That’s all I felt like knowing at the moment. I hit the Back Button.
To a…Daydream Believer and a Homecoming Queen
Daydream Believer…1967, Number 1 on the Billboard hot 100 chart, stayed there for four weeks. It was the Monkees last Number 1 hit in the US before they disbanded. Blah blah blah. Come on. What’s the song about?
Ah, John Stewart said it was supposed to be third in a trilogy about Suburban Life. Married couples start in an idealistic haze. After a few years, it wears off and they see each other for what they really are. This is when true love is proven.
Huh. Interesting. I’ll be a bit more thoughtful about the lyrics next time I hear it. I ought to look up the other two songs of that trilogy sometime.
What else? Uh, production notes, a thing about changing lyrics, the lineup…blah blah blah.
I found what I was seeking. It was time to move on.
The next morning, my alarm sounded, I hit snooze. Annie, still sleeping, rolled over, spooned up to me and nuzzled her head into my shoulder blades. It is one of the better experiences I get every day. I pushed back into her and she responded with a contented sigh.
Then both of our alarms went off.

Oh, I could hide ‘neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six-o’clock alarm would never ring
But six rings and I rise

No more snoozing for us. Annie got up and showered. How does she do that? I need coffee. Coffee! I rolled out of bed and made some coffee. She joined me in the kitchen, just in time for a fresh cup. We talked about how the day was shaping up to be. She looked cute with her hair wrapped up in a towel. I trudged up the stairs for my own shower. I was in no mood for a shower, I was in no mood to not be in her company.

Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
The shaving razor’s cold and it stings

Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?

We woke the girls, we washed them, we dressed them. We gave them breakfast.
The girls were contained and on track for the rest of their day.
Annie grabbed her purse and her tote bag. I gave the morning interrogation.
“Phone?”
“Phone.”
“Lunch?”
“Lunch.”
“Fork?”
“Sheesh. I forgot it ONE TIME. Fork.”
“Checkbook?”
“Right here.”
She kissed the girls. Then she turned around and gave me a slightly extended kiss.
“I Love You.”
“And I you.”
“Seeya!”
I watched her through the blinds take off for work. I turned to the girls, and clapped my hands together, “All right! We’re a little behind this morning! Tighten up the screws and finish your breakfasts ladies!”

The day proceeded as usual and without incident. I dropped off Lyd, I potty trained Regina. I emailed Annie asking her to pick up milk and bananas. I washed a couple of loads of laundry.
I wrote.
I tossed Reggie into the van and the two of us picked Lyd up from school. Annie got Home before us.
(Milk and bananas. Nice!)
I helped Lyd with her homework, we had supper. I beat Lyd twice at Mancala, she beat me once.
After the girls were put to bed, Annie and I struggled to stay awake for a little grown up television.
Later that night, I was brushing my teeth and my mind wandered.
Thirteen years ago, I asked her to marry me, I didn’t kneel, it was raining, but she was elevated at the time. I thought about kneeling these days and all the noises those knees would make. I’ve maybe gained fifteen pounds, likely more, I’ll keep claiming it’s fifteen. There are grey streaks in my hair, grey whiskers. I look tired, I feel tired. I feel old. I stared at my reflection, thirteen years–whatever happened to that kid?

You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed…

Annie sidestepped past me and squeezed some toothpaste onto her own toothbrush. There we were, staring into the mirror at ourselves and each other, brushing our teeth. Wow, she’s gorgeous. She winked at me then pinched my behind.

Now you know how happy I can be
Oh, our good time starts and ends…

I startled awake on the couch, the show I was going to watch ended…who knows how long ago? Ugh, the time. I hate falling asleep down there! I fired up the dishwasher and made my way upstairs.
After staring at her for a few meaningful moments, I carefully slipped into bed.
She rolled over and spooned up against me, nuzzling her face in between my shoulder blades, one of the better experiences I get every day.

Without all I want to spend
But how much, baby, do we really need?

Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?