[Craig photographed at our house on Mountain Rd., probably about 1989]This blog, for however long I feel compelled to write it, is dedicated to the life of Craig J. Laubert. Craig never married and died childless at the age of 58. Irascible, difficult, and inclined to self-destructive behavior, he was also sardonically funny, smart (too smart for his own good), and true to his own peculiar code. He was my friend for over 28 years.
In this first entry, I invoke Linda Ronstadt in order to capture the attitude of the man I knew. When Craig and I first met in 1981, we were both staff at Hogares Inc., a social service agency serving high-risk teens. Ronstadt was a shared passion we bonded over. Having decided to share an apartment to stretch the appallingly small salaries we earned that this shoe-string non-profit organization, we spent endless hours of our free time swigging beer and listening to her LPs. Of all her songs, it became clear to me that Craig regarded "You Tell Me That I'm Falling Down" from Prisoner in Disguise to be his personal anthem. I agree. There is no song I know that better captures Craig and his outlook on life. So here it is:
You tell me that I'm falling down
A drifter with no role
You tell me that I need a friend
To help me take control
Well let it be I'm not alone
I'm only lonely see
And you can't tell me where to go
Or what or who to be
I am exactly what I am
And not the way you'd like to see me be
I look outside long as I can
Then I close my eyes and watch my world unfold before me
I may not lead the simple life
I've no love of my own
If no one gives me all his heart
I'll manage with a loan
I'm very used to feeling sad
It doesn't make me cry
And yes I do know how to love
And what you say's a lie
I am exactly what I am
And not the way you'd like to see me be
I look outside long as I can
Then I close my eyes and watch my world unfold before me
You tell me that I'm falling down
A drifter with no role
You tell me that I need a friend
To help me take control
Well let it be I'm not alone
I'm only lonely see
And you can't tell me where to go
Or what or who to beI am exactly what I am
And not the way you'd like to see me be
I look outside long as I can
Then I close my eyes and watch my world unfold before me.
I invite readers who knew Craig to send me memories or entries they would like to be included on this blog.
