Sunday Morning Comin' Down

  We were on vacation and driving through one of the southern states, maybe South Carolina, when a warning light went on in our car's dashboard. After a while, when the light persisted, we decided to get off the interstate and get the problem checked out.  Dave drove off an exit and into a town. It was a Sunday, in summer, and not a single business was open. To say there was not a soul around would not be even slight exaggeration. The kids were young then and so were we, youngish anyway, so not that much into nostalgia.  But in one of those "slice of  life" memories that now frequently pop up, I can hear Dave saying, "This is what is meant by Sunday morning coming down."
  Of course he was referring to the hit song of Kris Kristofferson, the Harvard student and Rhodes Scholar who was a leading songwriter, singer and actor of the time, despite being a well-known renegade.
   A few weeks ago, I saw a video of  him in performance with Lady Antebellum singing "Help Me Make It Through the Night," one of Dorothy's favorite songs. It was haunting, for a lot of reasons. I've viewed it many times since, and all I can think of is a comparison to the Lion King.
   I haven't thought of Kris Kristofferson in years, and it's always a shock to see what age does to a person. But there he is singing away, plaintive voice, a little croaky now, but the brilliance still shining through.  What struck me most though is the deference shown to him by the Lady Antebellum band. The lead singers show so much respect and appreciation for Kris when he sings his part of the song that I see him as the aging lion. Then the lead singer takes his part with the booming voice of youth and virility.  The contrast is inevitable. And sad.
  ***I looked up the life of Kris Kristofferson: he is now 82 years old and has been suffering from memory problems. At first attributed to dementia or residuals of his wayward life, his family learned recently he tested positive for Lyme disease. Reflecting his usual phlegmatic outlook, Kris's attitude is what difference does it make.