An Idea Whose Time Has Come: The Miles Davis Memorial Meeting

[Robert Crisman]

In the '50s Coltrane blew tenor with Miles, and they'd take the stage and Coltrane would solo and go on for years.

Davis got on him and Coltrane would say, "I just, I can't stop, Miles, how do I stop?"

"Try taking the fucking horn out your mouth," Miles said.

We've got folks in the Twelve-Step who talk a long time, more time than they took working doctors or judges, solos that bleat to the end of the very last nerve in the world.

And so, a proposal, The Miles Davis Memorial Meeting: we cite the above and tell folks out front, "You've got five minutes."

Right by the chair in plain site sit a timer, a gong, and a high-pressure hose for the four-alarm fires among us... 

 

[Brad Rose]

I am not qualified to comment on the context of this, or the situation you describe in your comment below.  That said, "solos that bleat to the end of the very last nerve in the world," is exquisite.  And the Miles quote is beautiful.  It reminds me of that Groucho Marx commnet on You Bet Your Life.  When Groucho asked the male contestant why he had 12 children, the man said "I like my wife".  Groucho, without missing a beat, said," I like my cigar too,  but I take it out sometimes."

[Angela]

Great six, Robert.  I'm so glad you are back.  You work it well, sweetheart.  Let's trudge the road of happy destiny.

[Teresa]

Nothing ranks higher in my book than a smart guy admitting he's dumb.  We're all stupid.  Same song, different instrument.  We all need a version of NA.  High five.

[Cita]

I think maybe I like your comment, Robert, as much as I liked the 6.  Very real.  And you know I like real.

[Robert Crisman]

I should maybe clear up misconceptions this six might have fostered: Me, I'm glad as a motherfucker I'm back in NA. Last time I used I woke up wanting to die. I also knew I would use and would die if I didn't do something. I also  didn't use for long stretches of time and didn't hit meetings and stayed stuck on stupid. Re NA, this time around I hosed the shit out of my ears and started hearing stuff I need to hear to help me stay clean and learn a new way of walking. Main thing, I finally realized that this is the last house on the block, for me. The guys I know in the program know me down to the bone and I know them likewise and they are my peeps, as Angela would say. That makes all the long-talkers that come through meetings a very minor annoyance. 

I'm a certified genius like everyone else who comes through the doors, and an arrogant fuck on account like so many smart motherfuckers seem to be. My sponsor tells me, "Homes, pray for idiocy," and I do because all my deep and wonderful thinking had me looking to eat a gun. What more do I need?

Speaking strictly for me, NA is home. Beats the graveyard, no?

[Gita]

you think a gong  and a little cold water are gonna stop a self-obsessed motormouth? Bwahahaha. Do, please, let us know how that works out for ya.

[Mike Handley]

Love it. GREAT quote; a perfect analogy.

[Joey Delgado]

Nice! Well said, Robert. Overly long testimonials are one of my least favorite things. Loved the six. :)

[Jeanette Cheezum]

I love their music to this day.