The Only Way is Up

Today is the anniversary of the birth of a dear friend. A friend I've known for nearly two decades. It probably isn't surprising that we've seen each other through a lot of changes in nearly 20 years of friendship -- including one marriage each (hers began after mine ended), a bout of breast cancer, a bout (or two) of depression, some serious boozin', and a whole lot of fabulous, global adventures.

Whenever we traveled together, we both brought songs with us -- we wiled away hours on trains across Europe singing every song we both knew the words to -- and acquired some in transit. This song fits into the latter category. When we were both nearly 21, we traveled to The Netherlands together, where we stayed with a friend in Rotterdam. Aside from other Dutch-approved activities, we hung out and watched music videos at his apartment, and we always got an extra spring in our step when this one came on.

We still quote this song to each other to this day. The last time she said "the only way is up" to me, as I recall, my answer was "yep, except when it's down." And that's how I was feeling at the time. The good news is, we both now know that neither up nor down is ever permanent, and the even better news is, we largely figured that out together.

Tonight, I'm dedicating this song to my friend and her husband as they restart their lives together in a sweet little pad in Queens:

Aaah,

Boy I want to thank you,

yeah, for loving me this way

Things may be a little hard now

but we’ll find a brighter day

Oh yeah,

(hold on) hold on

(hold on) hold on

Ooooh, oooh ooh

(hold on) hold on

(hold on) won’t be long,

Oh yeah

The only way is up, baby

for you and me now

The only way is up, baby

for you and me now

oooo ooh ooooooooh….