“Good One” - a song about sorrow
Surrounding yourself with people different than you improves the quality of your life.
Story Pairing
There is a restaurant called Namaste owned by one of my favorite couples in the world. A couple weeks ago I learned that Ganesh, owner, husband, father, and friend, passed. It was like a hammer slammed into my spine.
I’ve spent hours and hours at their restaurant. Nesh and I would meet up often during the week and he would make me something new to try, I would snap some pictures for his social media, and we would catch up. He would feed me food “too spicy for a white boy” and we would practice English sayings while I wiped tears and boogers from my face.
One meal I was there with a friend and there was a table next to us eating these small round red and green peppers. I asked Nesh what they were and he shook his head and said that those weren’t for me, too spicy (with a grin). I said I wanted to try one. He brought out two and the Nepalese family next to me started laughing and were ready to watch the show. Turns out they are called Dalle Khursani and considered one of the hottest chilies. They are comparable to a habanero, but the way some eat them is to just bite a chunk off or pop a whole one in their mouth while taking a bite. Even thinking of it is making my mouth water and my stomach tight. It was a really powerful pepper, but also delicious in a way some hot peppers just aren’t. (Also I finished both and earned myself a little street-cred).
I can think of a handful of moments like that, where Nesh was sharing a new experience with me. It’s the sort of thing that cements a friendship in a special way. Sharing a meal breaks down just about every wall that exists, and at the end when two individuals so different part ways with a full stomach, you reach a mutual level of appreciation for needs that we all share. Good food and good company.
On Sundays there is often a handful of friends that get together and we rotate through our favorite spots. Namaste is one that was a staple. I am not sure what is going to happen and if they will re-open. I am going to try and help the family how I can. I’m out of the loop as to what is going on, but I will share what I know and if there is a way for our community to help when I know more.
This world sucks sometimes. Life is hard and when you lose the people that make it a little better then it feels like the weight of that difficulty is doubled. I feel like a lot of what we do as people is pretty pointless, personally I’m reflecting on what I do and why it’s needed. Concepts, words, thoughts, selfish meanderings, none of it is tangible. Making money, spending money, buying things, selling things, posting things, all of it feels like bullshit sometimes (a lot of the times). A plate of food made by a friend, that just seems more honest and necessary than just about anything else. Losing a pair of beautiful hands from the table, just doesn’t seem fair.
Hold your people. Love -Ben
Song Structure
Capo on 2
Chords: G / C / Am
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
Aug 2023
Lyrics
I don't know what this is all is for
But I don't want to say goodbye no more
Stepped in and out too many times
Hope to keep a couples ones by my side
Lost a good one again, lost a good one again
If I could I'd dance with you friend
Spin you around and pull you back in in
You'd laugh and say, what's the crying about
That hasn't stopped since you stepped out
Lost a good one again, lost a good one again
Sunday evening dinner rolls around
It's not the same without you sitting down
Maybe down the line if I get there too
Have another morning of talking with you
Take a cup of coffee, I'd take a cup of tea
For a moment forget about the misery
Lost a good one again, lost a good one again, lost a good one again
I don't know what this is all is for
But I don't want to say goodbye no more