As I write this, it is late November in New York City. It’s not winter-cold yet, but it’s certainly sweater and jacket weather. It’s also a Monday night. We’re only one day into the work week (let’s forget for the moment that Thanksgiving is in three days and the work week is shortened for many of us, including myself).

However, I hear The Young Rascals’ “Groovin'” and it’s summer time. It’s hazy and humid, and I’m either sitting in a folding chair in someone’s backyard. There are flies buzzing about, but there’s good food on the grill, easy laughter, and the mood is light. Or it’s a lazy Sunday afternoon (as indicated in the song’s lyrics) and I’m chillin’ in a hammock, rocking side by side and sipping on an ice cold drink. In either scenario, the hustle and bustle of city living has slowed down and it’s all about enjoying the moment for as long as possible.

The point I’m trying to make here is that “Groovin'” is a wonderfully evocative song. Everyone would love to be hanging out with their loved one, relaxing on a warm weekend afternoon with not a care in the world. Just listening to Felix Cavaliere sing and hearing the Rascals put down that laid-back, Latin-infused groove puts me in that space even in a cramped NYC apartment in the middle of winter.