Sunday morning, the New York Times Weekend Briefing has again arrived in my iphone mailbox.  Among the usual topics is an overview of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, an anticipated reinforcement in the push to immunize the population against accelerating transmission of the corona virus.  The pandemic aid bill which has gained House approval was mentioned, as was the acclamation of former president Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference.  The Times characterized CPAC as Trump-chella.  The Golden Globes awards ceremony by the The Hollywood Foreign Press Association scheduled for broadcast tonight was also mentioned.

One One NY Times article in particular captured my attention.  Jennifer Steinhauer wrote about a large scale refusal of vaccination by personnel in the army.

Roughly one-third of troops on active duty or in the National Guard have declined to take the vaccine, military officials recently told Congress. In some places, such as Fort Bragg, N.C., the nation’s largest military installation, acceptance rates are below 50 percent.

Of course each soldier has his/her own reason for refusing the voluntary vaccination.  My sense is that under the right circumstances, these individuals would likely show allegiance to hyper conservative objectives, rather than to the Constitution or the welfare of the nation.  We are a deeply divided country at this moment in time.

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But never mind all of that.  What I most want to say is included in the lyric of this song my Eric Carmen, Make Me Lose Control.  I ask myself often, “What is life?”  In a few words how would I sum up what it means to be alive.  The question has many good answers and this one qualifies.  The video is a wonderful montage of scenes from the 1987 film, Dirty Dancing.  Patrick Swayze is missed.  In my estimation Swayze approached artistic perfection in his acting and dancing.  Rest in peace my brother.

Make Me Lose Control

By Eric Carmen

I run a comb through my hair and step out in the street
And the city’s the color of green when the noon sun appears, oh yeah
Jennifer’s got her daddy’s car, she’s playin’ “Uptown” on the stereo
We go cruisin’ so close, the way they did long ago…

My darlin’, turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control
Baby, baby, when I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever’s high with the lights down low
So, take me over the edge, make me lose control

We put the top down on the car, with the moon in the sky
And the wind is so hot in our hair, like the fire in July, oh yeah
Jennifer’s singin’ “Stand By Me”, and she knows every single word by heart
Was love always this good, or could this be just the start?

My darlin’, turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control
Baby, baby, when I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever’s high with the lights down low
So, take me over the edge, make me lose control

“Be My Baby” comes on and we’re movin’ in time
And the heat from your touch makes me feel like I’m losin’ my mind, oh yeah
(And then they play) “Back In My Arms Again”
(We close our eyes) we start rememberin’ when
(We start to kiss) and now the feeling’s intense,
And we just pray that this night never ends

My darlin’, turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control
Baby, when I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever’s high with the lights down low
So, take me over the edge, make me lose control

Baby, baby
Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control

When I look in your eyes, I go crazy
Fever’s high with the lights down low
So, take me over the edge, make me lose control

Baby, baby
Turn the radio up for that sweet sound
Hold me close, never let me go
Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control

The Backstory to the song…

“Make Me Lose Control” is a 1988 Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 hit single that was written and performed by the singer-songwriter Eric Carmen. It was co-written by Dean Pitchford. It is one of two major hits written by the duo, the other being the 1984 song “Almost Paradise” by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson.

Make me Lose Control was released a few months after the success of “Hungry Eyes”, Carmen’s song from the film Dirty Dancing.  — wikipedia