As Time Goes By

I see that the great Schnozzola was born today in 1893.

A vaudevillian who made the successful transitions first to radio and then to television; in his old age, but still working, Jimmy Durante was a fixture of my childhood.

His quick wit was accentuated by a thick Brooklyn accent and a truly magnificent nose. Wikipedia gives an illustration of the professional, which also reveals a certain kindness in his character. “On August 4, 1955, The Jimmy Durante Show was the venue of the last performance by the famous Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda. Miranda fell to her knees while dancing with Durante, who instinctively told the band to ‘stop da music!’ He helped Miranda up to her feet as she laughed ‘I’m all out of breath!’ ‘Dat’s OK, honey, I’ll take yer lines’ Durante replied. Miranda laughed again and quickly pulled herself together, finishing the show.” Sadly, the article informs us, the next day she died in her home from a heart attack.

Today we here in Providence are awaiting the steady progression of a fairly severe storm. While I am only just now seeing a few scattered flakes falling, it is pretty much certain its just going to get thicker and thicker. A consequence is that things are slowing down. Most of my calendar of meetings have been canceled (all to be rescheduled, of course)

When the snow comes I get anxious about navigating ice. Such comes with age, and aging is part of my life (not really complaining, really; as they say, better than the alternative…).

But I do have a maudlin moment out of this. And, fortunately, the maudlin moment opens to an appreciation for the great play of joy and sorrow, of life and death.

And I find myself thinking of one of Durante’s hits.

You must remember this,
a kiss is still a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh,
The fundamental things apply,
as time goes by.

And when two lovers woo,
they still say “I love you,”
on that you can rely,
No matter what the future brings,
as time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs,
never out of date,
Hearts full of passion,
jealousy and hate,
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate,
there’s no one can deny.

It’s still the same old story,
a fight for love and glory,
A case of do or die,
The world will always welcome lovers,
as time goes by.

I could get all preachy about the lovers and the spiritual significances in this song one could find should one chose to look. Such, of course, is my trade. And no doubt I’ll do something like that about something this coming Sunday.

But, here and now, I think I’ll let the song sing for itself…