Some years ago, Sean and I used to play chess regularly. It was a winter pursuit, conducted in a room with a nice warm fire while Pauline and Susi, more than likely, played some other game.
While we played, we listened to music. For some reason, it became a tradition that we would always listen to Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge over Troubled Water CD. Sean got to know and like the catchy, melodic songs on it (which is why I mention the ultra-catchy ‘Cecelia’ in a song I wrote recently). I think ‘The Boxer’ was his favourite track – a true classic.
Anytime for the rest of my life that I hear, say, ‘Baby Driver’ or ‘Frank Lloyd Wright’ I’ll remember sitting across the chessboard from Sean, watching him ponder his next while he hums along to an S&G tune and thinking how big he’s got and how beautiful he is (as well as hoping he won’t notice that I’ve exposed my queen).
And being proud of him when he beat me, notwithstanding my competitive streak.
The road to God knows where ... Brendan O'Brien 
Hi Brendan, from the photo Sean looks about 10 years. I remember around this time, or maybe a year or two earlier, him telling me he really liked ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ which was in the charts at the time. I think it was a duet one half of which may have been Willie Nelson but I could be wrong. For some reason I can picture him telling me this very clearly. I think we may have been in a car and it was on the radio. Take care.
Hi Dave … thanks for that. I’ll make a note of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ as one Sean liked … I think I have a vague recollection all right.
Willie Nelson did record it. The first time I heard it was when Pauline and I went to see Ted Hawkins at the Olympia … maybe you were there too? (Not the time we got thrown out. :-))
I prefer Ted’s simple version to the more lush ones by people like Bette Midler and Celine Dion.