2nd Jun '10
a conversation transcribed as i overhear it, brothers k coffeeshop. 60-something with tattoos down his arms, leather jacket, raybands, and a grimace: i'm not talking about what you think, rick, i'm talking about where it came from in general—
rick, a skinny 50-to-60-something wearing asics with high socks and shorts: okay, skip...
okay, "skip," apparently: —listen, i'm saying that country music came down out of the mountains. back in the teens, twenties, thirties—
rick: i don't even know what country music is anymore. you're saying that's the same music that hannah montana plays?
skip: that's not what i'm saying. you're not listening. i'm saying it's a matter of heritage. that music can trace its roots back to appalachia, back to the music that really was from the country, back before the new deal—
rick: so hannah montana and the 20s country music. same thing. right? exact same thing.
skip: you're not fucking listening to me. it's heritage. it has its roots. are ancient romans the same thing as the italians? it's heritage.
rick: are they the same thing?
skip: forget it.
rick: you don't know what you're talking about.
skip: forget it.
rick leans back, rests his right knee on the coffee table and reaches into his pocket where a pack of cigarettes might be. he feels that his pocket is empty and runs his fingers through his hair.
skip: just forget it.
