Rick's Sendup of Sondheim: "I’m Still Here & UP Here!"

This jazzy photo is from the summer of 2007, when I decided to leave
 Traverse City, MI after 30 years.

I re-watched Postcards from the Edge recently, with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, based on Carrie Fisher’s novel. As a thinly veiled Debbie Reynolds, Shirley plays the always “on” and aging movie queen. After Streep-as-Carrie sings at a welcome home party, guess who decides to do a number, too? MacLaine’s Mommie movie star selects Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here,” re-vamped to her legendary life!

Many an aging diva has sung this showbiz battle cry. I’ve viewed many versions on YouTube since watching Postcards. Yvonne De Carlo introduced the song on Broadway back in 1971, in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. Perhaps the most famous take on “I’m Still Here” is by Elaine Stritch.

It got me to thinking that anyone of a certain age could tailor this tune to their life. So here’s my hopefully humorous take as an aging Yooper back in Upper Michigan, aka the Upper Peninsula. After this, you readers out there will know a little more about Rick’s real life. Cheers!

I'm Still Here & UP Here

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

A gathering of Gould kids in hard knocks Upper MI! I was in the
2nd row, second from the right, in the purple striped shirt. And I'm still here!

I’ve slipped plastic bread bags,

In my boots.

Bummed school lunches,

3^rd grade was a real hoot.

Seen all my dreams go up in flames,

But I’m here.

My family bought this house the summer of '67 UP here;
it burned down the following February. And I'm still here!

I’ve shivered in fish shanties,

Gawked at the guys' girlie mags,

But I’m here.

Slept in my long undies,

Seven months of the year,

But I’m here.

Little Ricky relocated in the U.P. starting with 3rd grade!

I loved plaid flannel & being 23,
here with my niece as a baby, who will be 43 in 2025!

I’ve stood in unemployment lines

With the best,

Watched while the headlines

Did their worst.

In the Great Recession was I depressed?

Nowhere near.

I loved a Texas oilman,

And I’m here.

My sweet Texas oil man, the late Jigger Johnson. Me AKA "RG" at the left.

 

I’ve been through Oprah,

JLo and Ben’s affairs,

And I’m here.

Ben & Jerry’s,

Oversized glasses and permed hair,

And I’m here.

I got through Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, too

Three Kardashians, Two Jenners, ewww.

Had plenty of Pasties,

And Upper MI atmosphere.

I’ve lived through Paris Hilton.

And I’m here.

Like a lot of '80s youth with straight hair, I just had to get a perm. And rinse & repeat!

I’ve gotten through George Senior and George Dubya Bush,

Gee, that was fun and a half.

When you’ve been through two Bushes,

Anything else is a laugh.

The Top of the Park at the Place Hotel in Traverse City, MI for Martini Night!

I’ve been through Traverse City.

I’ve traversed through Portlandia,

And I’m here.

American Spirits and Martini Night,

Nap times and binging on Netflix,

And I’m here.

Been called a homo,

Faggot, too,

Got through it all as a rule.

I should’ve paid more attention in school,

That seems clear.

Still someone said, “He has potential.”

So I’m here.

Stocking shelves & going to grad school at 50 was typical of Rico's irregular path!

In the black one day,

Next day you’re cashing out stocks,

But I’m here.

Grad school Monday,

Tuesday, you’re stocking the shelves,

But I’m here.

"RG" on the edge of 30, in Traverse City, MI.

First you’re another

Big-eyed twink,

Then someone’s ex,

Then you’re camp.

Then you career to career,

Any career!

I’m almost through my memoirs,

And I’m here.

Like the tee shirt says, MI's Upper Michigan AKA The U.P. is someplace special!

I went from regularly hiking on the PNW's Columbia Gorge 15 years ago
to tripping on three steps 1 year ago here in Upper MI, breaking my leg!

Ricky in Mackinac Island, MI in my 20s. I was more into fudge than leather!

I’ve gotten through, “Hey, is that Rick?

Wow, he used to be good looking, too!”

Or better yet, “I wasn’t sure that was you.

Gee, you’ve really changed!”

I actually felt pretty great at 60 in the fall of 2019. 
Unfortunately, the COVID epidemic was just around the corner!

Good times and bum times,

I’ve seen them all and Holy Wah!

I’m still here.

Soft flannel sometimes,

Sometimes just Pringles and PBR,

But hey, it’s still beer.

The COVID era was my last career hurrah. I retired at 62. 
And I'm UP here!

I've run the gamut,

 A to Z.

Three cheers and dammit,

Holy Wah!

I got through all of these years,

And I'm here.

Lord knows, at least I was there,

And now I'm UP here!

Look who's here!

I'm still here!

And UP here!

I'll let you decide if I've gone to the dogs at age 65 circa 2025
in Upper Michigan, in my home town of Manistique!