Wednesday, April 15, 2009

I Have a Variety of "Obsessions." This is About One of Them

I just read, well--skimmed, really, a book about obsession. The author claims that to be modern is to be obsessed. We're proud to be obsessed with our TV shows, jobs, and lovers--if it's really true love, that is. If you're not obsessed with something you lack passion. You're a dullard. I talk about a lot of obsessions here on my blog. I always feel a little bit bad when I do. Like you're all, "Great. Another post about [super heroes, X-Files, sugar cereal, NASA, old cartoons, Doug Fabrizio, etc.]" Now that I know it's totally modern, I guess I don't care anymore.

In other words, how many different ways can you start a blog post about Robert Plant? At least three. I find Robert Plant endlessly fascinating for many reasons which I love to talk about on this blog and in real life. I can't say enough about Led Zeppelin or, for that matter, the Honey Drippers. Sure, sure--in my youth I thought he was a sexy guy. Sure, sure--in my youth I threw my bra on stage at one of his concerts. But it's much more than that. He loves Lord of the Rings. He's so restrained on his album with Allison Krauss. He looks good in Levis. He loves Utah (At this point in my life I don't have time for people who hate Utah). He probably made a deal with the devil. His young son died.

I don't necessarily think Robert Plant and I have a lot in common. And I don't necessarily think he would find me interesting. My hope for Robert Plant is that at some point we could enter into a mutually beneficial co-dependent relationship wherein he becomes a father figure to me and I act as a place holder for his son, who would turn 37 this year. Just like me.

A few months ago I read Bumping into Geniuses by Danny Goldberg. That movie, Almost Famous, is loosely based on him. He represents and writes about rock stars. Goldberg writes that at Led Zeppelin concerts during those long and, in my opinion--very boring, drum solos, the rest of the band would go backstage to get a drink or something else R rated. But Robert Plant would stand offstage and watch John Bonham, his childhood friend, for the whole solo. I don't know if you know this but those solos are really long. I think that's nice. And kind of a cute image.

So normally I would read something like that, think about blogging about it, and decide not to because I already talk about Robert Plant way too much. Then I thought, why shouldn't I just do whatever I want?

16 comments:

  1. He likes Utah? I'm on board.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sure, being obsessed with Robert Plant is cool but being obsessed with ferrets makes people think you're gross. Passion is only modern when it doesn't reek.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You need not worry about me being obsessed with Robert Plant. After I saw his name I just skimmed the rest of it. I think I missed his train.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And I was so worried people wouldn't be interested in my boring, repetitive obsessions!

    ReplyDelete
  5. nah, i think it's interesting that you like him so. I am too narrow minded to get out of my Top 40 box.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keep the Robert Plant information coming- I learned something new about him from you. I love that image of him watching John Bonham too. It now resides safely in the part of my mind where fantasies live.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ahhh Robert Plant. Special to me. I blog about him often too.

    http://rabidrunner.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html

    or

    http://rabidrunner.blogspot.com/2007/12/robert-plant.html

    or

    http://rabidrunner.blogspot.com/2009/03/gag-me-with-spoon.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. I so know what I want for Mother's Day. Why wait? Tax Day is closer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I saw Robert Plant in concert two years ago.

    I liked Allison Krauss better.

    But then, I'm old.

    I have few obsessions - but the ones I have take up a lot of my time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous9:13 PM

    Bumping into Geniuses is a great book - but Almost Famous is about Cameron Crowe, who wrote and directed the film.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mom m(Granny Babs)-We saw him in concert last year, before Hannah's wedding, didn't we?

    Is it weird that I am having a conversation with my mom on your blog?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like to facilitate open conversation among all Terrills.

    Almost Famous=Cameron Crowe but I thought some of it was based on Goldman stories? You people--isn't there some happy middle ground between just skimming my blog and scrutinizing it for mistakes?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I knew we'd gone together, but I didn't remember that it was just before the wedding - but weddings are stressful so I can be allowed errors in memory.

    (Although even without weddings I'm having memory lapses - I think I do too much - I need to take it easy!)

    ReplyDelete
  14. You know, I love your blog which sure must mean that I love you. Great idea talking about you. Only you. Because you rock!

    ReplyDelete
  15. OHMGOD you like Robert Plant too? I just wrote you a stalker-like email but now I have to comment on this old post. *sigh* I do wish, however, that he would cut his hair or something. He's starting to look like Eric Idle from Monty Python when he dressed up as a woman. Or, as my husband likes to say (jealous man!) like someone from Middle Earth.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...