As visitors to this place know, I am often earworm afflicted and that usually comes about from having listened to something on the radio on the way home from work. Recently Mr WIAA’s car died on us and re-joined his friends from the conveyor belt, in that giant scrapyard in the sky. It had served us well for 15 years however, first as a family car and then as a means of transporting his large, messy, work-related items and sporting apparel.
The replacement car, being a lot newer, has come with a much more cutting edge sound system and after a bit of “discussion” about how this car would have to be kept immaculately clean at all times, we made a swap. He now dots around town in a little red city car whereas I have now taken custody of the new family car with the cutting edge digital radio and sound system. Bonus.
This week, despite the political shenanigans going on all around us, there have been a lot of beautiful sunny days and the drive home from work has been a joy. I usually choose to skirt around the edge of town, rather than drive through the centre, which means you get to see the Firth, the Ben and the Bridge.
The journey is quite a short one so there is usually only time to listen to about five songs on the radio, tops. Earlier this week the 1969 song It’s Getting Better by Mama Cass Elliot came on and it being an uplifting, joyful one I decided to test the volume control and am pleased to say it passed muster, although not wise to drive with the sound that loud for long periods probably. The song, needless to say, did become an earworm (a calque from the German ohrwurm I discovered last year) for the next few days as often happens when I hear something sung by that big lady, with the big voice.
It’s Getting Better by Cass Elliot:
I have written about Cass Elliot (as she preferred to be called) on these pages before (here and here) so no point going over old ground but she is the only artist I think other than George Michael, to have cropped up three times now. Considering her time in the sun was when I was still under the age of ten, she, and her sunshine pop style of music, obviously made a big impact on me and I still feel real joy whenever I hear her songs today.
So, “What’s It All About?” – This song is obviously about a down-to-earth but very satisfactory relationship rather than one that is extravagantly romantic. I was nearly 30 when I met Mr WIAA and after a bit of a slow start precipitated by my carefully planned turning of the correct corner (documented recently), it has indeed just kept getting better the longer we’ve been together. Who needs fireworks when you have someone who will quite happily swap cars with you, squeeze himself into a quite frankly very girly mode of transport, just so that you can enjoy the new sound system!
Until next time…….
It’s Getting Better Lyrics
(Song by Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil)
Once I believed that when love came to me
It would come with rockets, bells and poetry
But with me and you it just started quietly and grew
And believe it or not
Now there’s something groovy and good
Bout whatever we got
And it’s getting better
Growing stronger warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
I don’t feel all turned on and starry eyed
I just feel a sweet contentment deep inside
Holding you at night just seems kind of natural and right
And it’s not hard to see
That it isn’t half of what it’s going to turn out to be
Cause it’s getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
And just like a flower that takes time to bloom
This love of ours is taking time to grow
Ba da da da da da da da da da da da
And I don’t mind waitin’, don’t mind waitin’
Cause no matter how long it takes
The two of us know
That it’s getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
What's It All About? 
My other half, who has far less interest in all things musical than I do, has a digital radio in her car. Maybe I can persuade her to swap…
Bwahahahahahaha.
Sorry. Something tickled my funny bone.
Love Mama Cass.
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Didn’t want to start a trend here – Horses for courses and all that! To be fair it was the threat of my wrath if the new car was allowed to get messy that threw it. The nervousness that comes from trying to make sure something doesn’t get spoilt or damaged, pretty much ensures that is exactly what happens.
Yes love Mama Cass.
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Sounds like you’ve struck a good deal with the car swap and I agree, it’s really these more practical things that help make a good, long-lasting partnership, those fantasy-style romances are surely doomed. I read this article recently (I do like Alain de Botton) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/10/romantic-realism-the-seven-rules-to-help-you-avoid-divorce
which I think spells things out very well!
Love your view of the bridge on your journey, looks spectacular. I only commute from my back door to my Shedio in the garden (about five steps away!) so I don’t get that drivetime, but I can at least listen to music while I work.
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Hi – Good article and all common sense really but seems to be harder and harder to make relationships last nowadays. I could go on at length about this topic but this is not the place as it would get far too personal and as you know I never share anything personal on these pages!! Ha ha.
As for the car I have done quite well but all paid for from the same pot so to speak, as it’s all share, share, share in our house – Another of the secrets of longevity I think.
Like you Mr WIAA has a Shedio or rather a Garagio (only 5 steps away) and I used to only have a 5 minute walk to work but now we both have to do a commute for part of the day – With lovely scenery however it’s not all bad. The snow-capped Ben didn’t look that impressive in the photo but trust me, on a blue sky day, it can look spectacular.
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You’ve written about three good ones here, Alyson: the song, your accommodating husband and those new wheels. Not sure how things can get better for you but I hope you find out.
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Oh things can always get better (I’m ignoring all the political shenanigans going on at the moment) but at the end of the day it’s the little things isn’t it. My first car just had a crackly medium wave radio so yes the sound systems have definitely got better!
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