Torn Between Two Lovers

Songs from the basement waterbed, a dirty puzzle, and ephemera

1977 was not only The Silver Chain’s namesake year, it was also a year of eclectic music that endures to this day. Earlier this morning, I put together a playlist of music that may or not have played at a Silver Chain dance or basement party and I’m happy to report that — after just one listen — my house is spotlessly clean. Whether in the car on a long drive, lounging with an afternoon snack, or sweeping an endlessly dirty floor like me, I hope you enjoy:

A Sunday Crossword

Some of my favorite Sunday activities are sleeping in, eating blueberry pancakes, staring lovingly into my geriatric dog’s eyes, and attempting crossword puzzles. But since I can’t solve the NYT, I turned to this one in The Silver Chain’s January 1977 newsletter instead:

Fun fact: The Kaptain — who we first heard from in Thursday’s post — created this dandy puzzle and promised to include the answers in the February issue when he pulled this fast one:

Like Carol, The Kaptain has a very specific voice. Unlike Carol, I’m not sure he can take a hint. But like all of us, The Kaptain loves Spring. Just maybe not the same way we do.

I’m sorry and you’re welcome. While contacting Silver Chain members and conducting interviews, determining the identity of The Kaptain was filled with red herrings. But do not fear, I’ll be unmasking this elusive cat Scooby Doo-style in the upcoming week.

I have no idea whose journal this was, what language it’s written in, yet I want

I Can’t Escape the Word “Ephemera”

Facebook Marketplace has responded to my obsession with everyday time capsule artifacts by flooding my search with listings that include the word “ephemera” — a word I never used until recently.

But suddenly, ephemera is everywhere. Including swinger ephemera. The Facebook algorithm roared triumphantly when I offered a woman $250 for letters from a swinging organization her grandfather ran in the 1970s, but her grandmother held firm on the $500 price.

And my takeaway is that I like my ephemera the way I like my outfits: unplanned, at times disappointing, rarely predictable, and not $500.

Halfway through this season of Time Capsule, we are hopeful to encounter our next artifact and we’d love to hear from you! If you have ephemera, or just a bunch of shit you were about to throw out, message me. You may be tossing out our next story. XO, Paul

Chuck Norris Ephemera is the drag name I didn’t know I needed