I heard the news on the radio just as I was pulling into my driveway after a long rehearsal last night.
I searched "Leonard Cohen Suzanne" on YouTube. It was one of the very first songs I learned to play on guitar. I was probably 10 years old.
The video that accompanied the original recording was just a still image of the album cover. "Songs of Leonard Cohen". It's probably been four decades since I've seen it, but that simple and now haunting photo, along with the very 60's-looking typeface brought a rush of memories.
Memories of struggling to wrap my young hands around the neck of the guitar and trying to remember where to put my fingers to make the chords. Memories of playing the song for my younger sister - who still asks me to play it for her to this day.
Memories of my father. A big Leonard Cohen fan.
I'm going to play that song at my show tonight. The chords come to me easily now, and I still remember the words. I'll let them bring me back to my parents living room in New Jersey in 1967 and I'm going to smile.
Goodbye, Leonard Cohen. May your memory be a blessing.