Shining like the sun, a coincidence?

A few weeks ago I went through what has become a semi annual ritual of psychology. That is, I had an appointment with my mental health counselor at the VA clinic. The routine is that I go in the office, the counselor asks me how I’m doing — on occasion she’ll ask I feel like harming myself or others — I say I’m okay. She renews the prescriptions for anti-depressives. That’s it.

Sometime I feel as if I should ask her if the several-hour mental lapses I have is just something someone almost 60 years old normally experiences has whether it foretell dementia. I suppose if I am able to eventually determine a suitable answer on my own then perhaps I am good, at least this time.

What I forgot and then remembered an hour or so later, as it turns out, is one of those strange coincidences in which we often find ourselves.

I was tying to remember what has become my favorite song by the psychedelic rock group Pink Floyd, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” The coincidence is that on this date in 1975, the inspiration for that song took place.

The site UltimateClassicRock.com relays the oft-told story of how former front man and Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett crashed the studio in which his past band mates were recording their ninth album “Wish You Were Here.” It is on that album that “Diamond” was included.

That Barrett has showed up uninvited in the Abbey Road Studios of London was not so shocking. Rather it did unnerve his former band members that Barrett, whose mental state from whatever sources had faltered before, during and afterwards, had shaved his head and eyebrows, as well as had bloated up to some 300 pounds. Founding bassist and songwriter Roger Waters — who bitterly left the band some 30 years ago — broke down and cried when told by vocalist and multi-instrumental artist David Gilmour that the stranger was Barrett.

Now one might ask why all of this matters? Probably not a lot unless you are a big Pink Floyd fan. I wouldn’t call myself a fan-atic. But I have enjoyed many a Pink Floyd works. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was meant for an entire album side but was broken into several pieces. It is one of those songs that you just kind of slide along listening to.

The coincidence is kind of uncanny, as coincidental occurrences are wont to happen. As well, it is rather nice to regain your memory before you have to attempt finding it on the Internet. Memory can be many things to many people, not the least is catapulting you back, back in time.

“Remember when you were young/You shone like the sun/Shine on you crazy diamond … “