Six degrees of separation is the idea that all living things and everything else in the world are six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps.
Remember this guy? Yup, the infamous Tobias McGregor from my novel "Because We Could" - the great musician David and I befriended in Key West in the 70's.
Well, Toby resurfaced in my life today in the form of a comment posted by his son on my blog - of all things! "Hi Marni, my name is Amos and my father is Tobias McGregor. We are down here in Key West. We are sitting here telling Keller stories. Toby sends Hi regards."
How many steps was that for Toby and I to reconnect? Less than six, I would say. How can you not believe in six degrees of separation?
If you have read my book, you will know that Toby and David did a little dreamin' and schemin' of the somewhat illegal nature, ready to tempt fate. That was a long time ago, and I knew very few people back in the 70's who weren't either growin', movin' or sellin' so that the rest of us could 'get down and party.' The related incidents I wrote about represented only a tiny snippet of our lives together. The rest was simply flat-out-fun - of the legal nature.
I am sure that some of the stories the McGregor boys were sharing were about the sheer delight that making music together, both on the boat and in the bars, kindled. Toby could play boogie-woogie like nobody's business. I can still see him sitting at the old upright piano, on a Sunday afternoon at the Sands Bar - just-a-banging it out. And we would all, bathing suit clad, be dancing. We couldn't help ourselves! Boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing. The lyrics of one of the earliest hits, "Pinetop's Boobie-Woogie", consist entirely of instructions to dancers:
Have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjx_W5dFUPsWell, Toby resurfaced in my life today in the form of a comment posted by his son on my blog - of all things! "Hi Marni, my name is Amos and my father is Tobias McGregor. We are down here in Key West. We are sitting here telling Keller stories. Toby sends Hi regards."
How many steps was that for Toby and I to reconnect? Less than six, I would say. How can you not believe in six degrees of separation?
If you have read my book, you will know that Toby and David did a little dreamin' and schemin' of the somewhat illegal nature, ready to tempt fate. That was a long time ago, and I knew very few people back in the 70's who weren't either growin', movin' or sellin' so that the rest of us could 'get down and party.' The related incidents I wrote about represented only a tiny snippet of our lives together. The rest was simply flat-out-fun - of the legal nature.
I am sure that some of the stories the McGregor boys were sharing were about the sheer delight that making music together, both on the boat and in the bars, kindled. Toby could play boogie-woogie like nobody's business. I can still see him sitting at the old upright piano, on a Sunday afternoon at the Sands Bar - just-a-banging it out. And we would all, bathing suit clad, be dancing. We couldn't help ourselves! Boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing. The lyrics of one of the earliest hits, "Pinetop's Boobie-Woogie", consist entirely of instructions to dancers:
And catch Toby boogie-wooging on the Hammond organ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks3WUOO4M80
This man has also become a very accomplished artist and can often be seen painting in front of the Oyster Bar.
A warm "HI" back to all the McGregor boys.
Marni
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