Last Friday I turned 24. Woohoo? I do think that 24 will be the best year of my life, and honestly I hope to keep building. Not because I have had bad years, but because I'm excited for all of the new adventures life brings. In my high school years the longer precusor to "yolo" was, "these are the best times of our lives." It was an excuse to get matching tattoos at 18, or throw parties. Even at the time I thought it was sad. And perhaps that's because I am not terribly nostalgic as a person, but I also think it's because I realized high school wouldn't be my happiness pinnacle, and I hope it isn't anyone else's either.
This birthday, my parents took Tor and I out for cajun! We went to moejoe's in Plainfield and it was amazing. My bloody mary had a shrimp on it, folks... this is big time. We had fried alligator and I also tried frog legs for the first time. They were awesome. Friday, we went to the Whitesox game. Torey caught a foul ball on the second pitch, but that was the happiness pinnacle of that game for me. Whitesox lost in 10 innings and the game was under three hours- rough stuff.
Saturday, we went trap shooting, and I had a blast. The degree of difficulty is low, with bright orange clay pigeons and a .20 gauge, but it strangely satisfying. My dad and maternal grandfather both enjoy shooting so it was a fun way to connect with my dad and husband and feel connected to my grandfather.
My husband and I were talking recently about how
much we love a good break up song. Now that we are in a stable, joyful
relationship we have kind of forgotten their power, and how it's so natural to
pour your feelings into each word and mean them and love them. Each of us, like
most of the human race, has had painful breakups during which we coped with
mournful and spiteful songs and the following is a compilation of some of our
favorites.
1.) Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
Even if you're not into indie music, tell me you can't see
yourself belting that at an intersection causing others to stare. It's
haunting, and real and brilliant.
2.) The Mountain Goats- No Children
"and I hope when you think of me years down the line you can't find one good thing to say and I hope that if I found the strength to walk out You'd stay the hell out of my way"
John Darnielle has always been one of my favorite lyricists.
The music is almost jaunty and his words are penetrating to the core of every
awful break-up.
3.) Kelly Clarkson- Since U Been Gone
This one is obvious. I think middle school students
everywhere have coped with this song. It's simple, straight forward and easy to
scream. A classic among millenials.
4.) Avett Brothers - Tear Down the House
"And, bulldoze the woods That I ran through That carry the pictures of me and you I have no memory of who I once was And I don't remember your name"
This is probably my favorite. In the midst of despair,
rebuilding and moving on, but not there yet. Acknowledging the hurt, and that
because of our relationships we change and grow as people- even if we fight the fact that a person we despise, has changed us.
Those memories however, are like ghosts. For some of us,
hometowns are like ghosts. And this song is mournful, sad and slow, and so
vivid in imagery it will take you to the hurt and back.
5.) Cee Lo Green- F(orget) You
And although there's pain in my chest I still wish you the best with a "forget you"
One word- fun. This song for me fits in the stage of grief after the
mourning and more in the "it would be awkward if we ran into each
other" phase. We've all been there. Over it, but not wanting to see the
person in our sweats at target.
There are some other great ones. Torey would suggest anything by Brand
New, I'd probably throw in an Adele song or two, Sometime Around Midnight by
the Airborne Toxic Event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJi2z3tGKIg , Jarrod
Niemann's Lover, Lover. An addition from a dear friend is For Today, by Jessica Lea Mayfield. It's wonderful- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJfcd_xmjHg
