Joining The 49ers

Old, Old News: This coming Shabbat (Shabbat Shirah!), Mr & Mrs Abq Jew will אי״ה celebrate the 49th anniversary of their wedding at NYC's Town & Village Synagogue (with reception following at the Waldorf Astoria).

Yes, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew will be 49ers! You, Abq Jew's loyal readers, may not know this, but - once upon a time, long, long ago, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew almost became true San Francisco 49ers.

Shortly after Abq Jew graduated (see June 2024's Religious Freedom? Meh., et al) fromThe Jewish Theological Seminary of America - and realized that there was no job in Jewish Education waiting for him anywhere in the US - Mr & Mrs Abq Jew (and Mickey the cat) took off for California, where Abq Jew grew up and where Abq Jew's parents z"l then lived. 

And where jobs were plentiful. In Silicon Valley, of course, which did not then include The City By The Bay. But The City was only 50 miles and a one-hour drive away, and it was so beautiful ....

So (see December 2021's Joseph Dreams) anyway - Mr & Mrs Abq Jew wound up in Sunnyvale, in the heart (or, perhaps, another body part) of Silicon Valley. Where Abq Jew's 10-mile commute to work still took about 45 minutes, including the 15 minutes he needed just to get out of the driveway.

Do you like crossword puzzles? Abq Jew will do a middle-of-the-night Wordle, but Mrs Abq Jew will do crossword puzzles until the cats come home.

Now comes the magic - when Abq Jew puts
California, puzzles, and Shabbat Shirah together!

So. Abq Jew the Engineer grew up (if anyone ever does) in California. Junior high, high school, and 3 of 4 years in college (with one year at The Technion). 

Mrs Abq Jew the Artist grew up (as one does) in Brooklyn. Midwood High School. Undergrad years in Philly (with one year in Italy).

And thus, Abq Jew and Mrs Abq Jew approach, reconnoiter, attack, and occasionally defeat crossword puzzles differently. We help each other when indecision strikes, and laugh when one of us can actually decipher a clue.

A recent clue: "Pontiac muscle car." Three letters.

An East Coast artistic yet non-musical and certainly non-automotive upbringing did not provide the background Mrs Abq Jew needed to proclaim the answer:

GTO

Which Abq Jew, with his California upbringing, knew instinctively. (Here's where Shabbat Shirah - the Sabbath of Song - comes in.)

You see - Abq Jew grew up with California muscle cars. Although he walked to high school and only drove the family's 1962 4-door Dodge Lancer on off days - Abq Jew listened to Ronny and The Daytonas' song on the car radio. 

Abq Jew hears you shout. Wasn't that a Beach Boys song? I mean, didn't The Beach Boys also do GTO?

Well, yes, they did. The Beach Boys covered (as they say) "GTO." But said Beach Boys are much more famous for Little Deuce Coupe!

And here are the lyrics. Abq Jew knew you'd ask.

Little Deuce Coupe

Little Deuce Coupe, you don’t know what I got

Little Deuce Coupe, you don’t know what I’ve got

Well, I’m not braggin’ babe so don’t put me down

But I’ve got the fastest set of wheels in town

When something comes up to me he don’t even try

‘Cause if it had a set of wings man I know she could fly

She’s my little Deuce Coupe

You don’t know what I got

Little Deuce Coupe

You don’t know what I got

Just a little Deuce Coupe with a flathead mill

 But she’ll walk a Thunderbird like she’s standin’ still

She’s ported and relieved and she’s stroked and bored

She’ll do a hundred and forty in the top end floored

She’s my little Deuce Coupe

You don’t know what I got

She’s got a competition clutch with four on floor

And she purrs like a kitten till the lake pipes roar

And if that ain’t enough to make you flip your lid

There’s one more thing, I got the pink slip daddy

And comin’ off the line when the light turns green

Well, she blows ‘em outta the water like you never seen

I get pushed out of shape and it’s hard to steer

When I get rubber in all four gears

She’s my little Deuce Coupe

You don’t know what I got

But ... as Alice did, you may also ask:

What does it all mean?

Once upon a time, long, long ago, Abq Jew - the only Jew at his high school, scared and lonely and trying to fit in  - knew all about this stuff.

And don't get Abq Jew started about surfing.