My MO is not a modus operandi--it's my Motown Obsession.
For the man was on a video conference call and I passed by him a few times while doing my daily library work. He was going through some sort of anger management rehab and sounded quite humble, saying to the host that, "there was this Motown song by the Temptations--'I've Passed This Way Before'..."
My MO kicked in. "Sorry to butt in, sir," I said, "but that song was by Jimmy Ruffin and not by the Temptations or David Ruffin."
He disagreed with me for a second and then answered, "hey...you're right."
Not only am I lucky to have grown up with those brilliant records--Ruffin's second biggest hit "Passed" includes a spoken part that's most memorable--I'm also glad that the stations I listened to in the '60s played Motown hits both big and small. And today in Washington State, I have KGHO to tune into. While oldies stations around the country have reduced their Motown playlists to a few by the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, I still get to experience "I've Passed This Way Before" somewhat regularly.
Now if I could only stop butting in...