Are You There Mr Hendrix?

This story takes place twenty five years ago in my hometown. At the time I was living with my grandmother.

One time when I was seventeen, I was at home on my own and feeling a little sad because I had just finished reading a biography about the great rock guitarist/artist Jimi Hendrix. As you may know Jimi Hendrix young life was cut short by alcohol and drugs at the age of twenty-seven. And as I closed the book, reflecting on the sense of loss people would have felt at the time and all the music he would never get to write and record, a compulsion came over me to quickly go downstairs and turn the television on.

I smiled to myself thinking "This is ridiculous. You're just imagining things." I stood there for a few seconds trying to clear my mind but then suddenly thought to myself "Just do it." So I rushed downstairs, walked over to the television and switched it on. I remember feeling like something interesting was about to happen but also glad I was by myself otherwise I probably wouldn't bother doing this at all.

As the picture was slowly starting to form on the screen and only the sound of static could be heard - it was an old color TV, it took a few seconds to fire up - I remember thinking to myself, yes or no, something significant or just an active imagination. Then abruptly the sound focused itself. And as clear as bell a loud voice suddenly shouted the words "Are You There Mister Hendrix!?" A chill shot down my spine but a big smile appeared on my face. I'll never forget that.

By the way, the TV show had nothing to do with Jimi Hendrix.