Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Songs That Link to Beautiful Memories #1


Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
 
     I was probably about 5 or 6. I could’ve been in kindergarten. Whatever age I was, I was too young and naïve to be against anything, nor even know who I was. One thing was for sure, though, at that time- I knew that Courtney was my best friend. Nothing could’ve changed that. She was the only friend I could’ve asked for.
      I still don’t remember what we were planning to do that day. I only have maybe one or two scenes that come to mind whenever I think about it. Whenever the song comes on, I want to cry a little. It was such a beautiful memory, even if I can only remember a tiny snippet of it. I remember my mom and her mom were up front, and we were both in the back. I wasn’t sure if Sophia was there, (my little sister) or which mom was driving, but I know that I was with Courtney, and we were both having a great time. I was old enough to have figured out that she was the best friend I would ever have. I think it was then that I figured that out. That must’ve been why it still rests in my memory. We were driving past Target and Barnes and Nobles- I think we were heading toward her house, because we were driving towards Concord. She was of the age where she cut her hair really short, and she would put them in pig-tails. The windows were open in the back- my long stringy hair was blowing in the wind. It was a new concept for me to have windows that open in the back. I never had that before. The song had come on, and I knew I’ve heard it before, somewhere. I liked the song, already, because I liked every song when I was little. This version wasn’t the original though- I was too little to realize that. It was the Dixie Chicks version. But we still both got really excited when it first came on.
      “I LOVE this song!!” I exclaimed.
      “ME TOO!” Courtney agreed. The wind in our faces, the music and the presence of each other excited our little toddler-selves. The song just fueled the excitement.
      It must have been something about the fact that we both agreed that we liked the song. I didn’t know all the words, but I knew the tune pretty well, so we both started singing it.
      “…children get older, and I’m getting older, too…” I figured out. Our moms laughed at our childish singing, but I genuinely thought it was a great moment in Amelia history. So I thought I’d document it.
      “We should make this our song. This is our friend song.” I decided. Courtney agreed with that, and continued humming.
      “Yeah! It is! From now on.” And it has, ever since. I remember that moment every time I hear it. That time I heard it, I remember a sense of ‘Courtney is my best friend ever. I want her to be my best friend forever. We have so much in common. She’s the closest friend I’ve had a play-date with. I had my first sleepover with her. We both love this song. This is ours.’ That song labeled our relationship as best friends. And it still does, which is what makes me smile and tear up every time I listen to it.



This is a great album, and one of my favorite bands ever.




This is me and Courtney at about this age- I'm the one in the front and Courtney's next
 to me. This was my last day of preschool- one of the best days ever! 


This is us now- we're still best buddies... and a little nuts... I'm the one 
on the left and she's the one on the right. Haha... Beautiful...

Monday, October 21, 2013

Staring At Screens

We all just stare at screens all our lives.
We have nothing to live for except for the comforting fact that we can just go home and unlearn everything about the day.
We're left with just our numb brains involuntarily breathing for us, our hearts slowly beating to the rythm of a screen's pretty flashing lights.
With our screens off, our music silenced, the universe is suddenly dull.
People are more difficult to deal with than before, for we all suddenly need entertainment from each other.
Too bored, too tired of it all, we all pile into bed, and plug into more electronics so we can function as humans again.
iPods, laptops, TV's, phones- all on, seeming to smile at us and say "It's alright. I'll distract you from trouble. You'll be alright with me in your presence."
Once our eyes and bodies can no longer bear the flashing lights and constant distractions, we reluctantly turn off our friends, longing for the next moment to turn them on again.
In the morning, we drink our coffees, a substance mankind can no longer live without, and turn on our cell phones.
Someone surely must have messaged us while we were asleep.
Our hearts beat excitedly as our devices reawaken and see us again.
It's been so long.
Alas, no one has messaged us yet, but you can never be too sure.
We set it in the cup-holder in the car, right beside our leg and our coffee in our plastic Starbucks mug.
We drive to work in our nice cars, blasting on the heater as it's too cold outside, and listen to the latest hits we're told to adore.
We yell at the car in front of us that's going slightly slower than we would desire, without forgiving them once they speed up.
We drive into our parking spot, glancing at our phones, sipping at our coffee, frustrated we're almost out.
We'll get more once we're inside.
There's Sheryl. We hate Sheryl. She isn't like you. She doesn't follow the rules.
We turn on our screens and work. We need to sit in our office chairs and sip our coffee, staring at screens, so we can get the money to afford to do it all over again.
Society.
Mankind.
People wonder why I don't watch TV anymore.
Even I am a victim to screens.
You cannot escape.
I want to go far away from this system.
From this world.
Away from the cement, the screens, the coffee; all of these addictive substances and attitudes.
Solitary I must remain.
I mustn't become like them.
I cannot love the things of this world no matter how hard I try.
The only things I enjoy involve romance.
Can someone as decisively odd as me have a romance?
Can someone who stares at a screen all day have a better relationship with a person than with their screen?