“Man, it’s a hot one” – another day in the 90s. Thankfully, there was a bit of a cloud cover during my 3.1 mile jaunt this morning, and man did the pool feel great. I was joined on my run by neighbor Chuck who tolerates my slower pace and keeps me entertained with his constant chatter. I put my ear buds away and listened to him talk until he pulled out of hearing range and circled back to rejoin me. Without his companionship, I would have likely been listening to Carlos Santana – certainly his duet with Rob Thomas would have been appropriate:

Man, it’s a hot one
Like seven inches from the midday sun
I hear you whisper and the words melt everyone
But you stay so cool
My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa
You’re my reason for reason, the step in my groove

[Pre-Chorus]
And if you say this life ain’t good enough
I would give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you’re so smooth

[Chorus]
And it’s just like the ocean under the moon
It’s the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of loving that can be so smooth
Gimme your heart, make it real, or else forget about it

[Verse 2]
I’ll tell you one thing
If you would leave it would be a crying shame
In every breath and every word
I hear your name calling me out
Out from the barrio, you hear my rhythm on the radio
You feel the turning of the world so soft and slow, turnin’ you round and round

[Pre-Chorus]
And if you said, “This life ain’t good enough”
I’d give my world to lift you up
I could change my life to better suit your mood
Because you’re so smooth, and

[Chorus]
Oh, and it’s just like the ocean under the moon
It’s the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of loving that can be so smooth, yeah
Gimme your heart, make it real, or else forget about it, yeah

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
And it’s just like the ocean under the moon
It’s the same as the emotion that I get from you
You got the kind of loving that can be so smooth, yeah
Gimme your heart, make it real, or else forget about it, damn

[Outro]
Or else forget about it
Oh, or else forget about it
Oh, let’s don’t forget about it
(Gimme your heart, make it real) Let’s don’t forget about it, hey
Let’s don’t forget about it, no, oh, no, oh
Let’s don’t forget about it, no, no, no, oh
Let’s don’t forget about it, hey, no, no, oh
Let’s don’t forget about it, hey, hey, hey

I hope 74-year old Carlos Santana is feeling better and that he’s up to singing on my birthday. The tour has continued without him after his bout with dehydration and heat exhaustion. Friends reported that they saw the band  along with Earth, Wind, and Fire recently, but no Carlos. He has 47-days to recover before we hopefully see them in Tampa for my 71st birthday, the concert that has taken three years to happen and maybe won’t. Here’s to cool ocean breezes that will create a pleasant birthday evening – not another hot one!