13 posts tagged “life”

July 4th, 2007

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When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

from the Declaration of Independence.

Woman on a cell phone across the street from my apartment, while walking her dog:

It's like we moved to the Bronx and we live in the ghetto. It's ridiculous.

Considering I live in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Tennessee, I'm going to venture a guess that she's never been to any sort of "ghetto." Yes, there's some loud music being played outside the apartment complex next to mine, but it's not all that bad.

I work at a bookstore, and as such, my job requires that I deal with the public on a daily basis. I meet all sorts of people, and encounter various situations that become almost routine. One such example is that I'm constantly running into religious people who wish to sell me on their religion.

Today was no different.

But first, I must set the stage. I was scheduled for a closing shift, when all I really wanted to be doing was sitting at home, watching the Red Wings game on television. (I did catch half of the second overtime and the few minutes into the third as we lost. I was sad. I digress.) However, at six thirty p.m. I had no idea the game would go on so long, so I was bummed that I didn't have the foresight to request the day off in advance, or the lack of work ethic to have called in "sick" that morning.

Also, a thunderstorm came through yesterday and fried an information desk computer as well as our intercom system. This was particularly irksome as we were relying on one lonely computer to look up books, and when I was backed up at the register I had no means of calling for help, other than to shout my coworkers name at the top of my lungs and hope that he'd hear me and come to my aid.

So, this was my mindset as I stood at the register, ringing people up. It had finally calmed down for a bit when an older, Mennonite woman approached me to purchase several books. She was kind, and so I made an extra effort to be cheerful when I was talking to her.

I guess she saw right through me.

As she was gathering her belongings and purchases, I wished her a good day. I may have sounded slightly frazzled because a long line had quickly formed behind her, and I had no idea where the other cashier was, but I didn't want to shout his name at the top of my lungs. She then took the time to hand me a business card for the church that had a Bible verse and a beautiful photo of a sunset on it, and then three tracts. I thanked her politely, even though I had no interest in the tracts, being that I'm a non-theist, and took her offerings before turning to the next customer.

It was fifteen minutes later before I actually got to glance at the tracts she had left for me.

I'll admit, it was an odd assortment that left me rather puzzled.

I showed them off to my co-worker, in the order she had selected them for me.

"I Was Wronged," was the first. He laughed and said, "Yes, you should definitely have today off."

"Dealing With a DEATH in the Family" was the next. I mused that I hoped I wouldn't need that anytime soon.

But the third is what made him laugh the most.

"Hope: Alternatives to Suicide."

"Wow, Sara," he replied. "What in the world did you say to this woman?"

I just don't know.

The digital age is revolutionizing the way we listen to and purchase music, there's no doubt about that. We no longer have to buy an entire album to listen to three or four songs repeatedly, only to discover that the rest of the songs on the recording aren't worth our time. We can buy one or two songs at a time, and disregard the rest.

But that hasn't always been the case. Back in the dark ages, we purchased cassette tapes and compact discs. (I know there were formats before that, and even now, vinyl remains popular but I'm not a complete audio geek nor old enough to remember buying records. Though I did listen to them. Most notably, I remember playing my Frosty the Snowman record until I destroyed it. I digress.) Very few of those cds held my attention all the way through. In fact, I can only think of five.

These five albums changed my life though, so I suppose it's an even trade.

The Concert in Central Park

Simon & Garfunkel

Simona & Garfunkel - The Concert in Central Park

I was in the early stages of adolescence when I first remember being captivated by the melodic tunes of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. My sister and I were driving up to my aunt and uncle's cottage for a vacation. I forget why my dad wasn't with us. That's not so important other than my mom had her choice of the music we listened to. "Homeward Bound" started playing.

The first verse would become legendary to me:

I'm sitting in the railway station.
Got a ticket for my destination.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.

Upon returning home, I demanded more Simon & Garfunkel. My mom obliged and dug up her copy of The Concert in Central Park. Once I listened to "America" the wanderlust that had been stirred up with "Homeward Bound" was permanently embedded within me. I still had all of high school to contend with, before I could even think of leaving home in search of the soul of America. But that seed was planted. I've been chasing the dream ever since.

Simon & Garfunkel are amazing, with their music alternating from humorous ("Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover") to haunting ("April Come She Will" and "Scarborough Fair"). I was only a year and five months old when the duo held their free concert at Central Park. I still wish I could have been there somehow. Once they reunited a few years ago, tickets were over a hundred dollars each. I still don't have that kind of money.

Dookie

Green Day

Green Day - Dookie

I was a freshman in high school when I bought Dookie. I don't remember if I bought it because I'd heard a song on the radio and liked it, or because everyone was listening to this cd. Regardless, I bought it and then proceeded to listen to it on repeat for hours.

There is nothing pretentious about this album, despite its immense popularity. When I listened to "Longview" and realized the song was essentially all about masturbation I was amazed that a band could become popular due to such a song. But it wasn't that song that drew me in. Instead it was the song "She":

She...
She screams in silence
A sullen riot penetrating through her mind
Waiting for a sign
To smash the silence with the brick of self-control.

Yeah, that song is a brilliant depiction of those early teenage years. That was the first cd I owned that was popular with almost everyone I knew. I remember riding the bus to school, discman in hand, Green Day blasting through my headphones, wondering if the band would still be popular years later. They are, and I'm still a fan.

Nomads Indians Saints

Indigo Girls

Indigo Girls - Nomads Indians Saints

I bought this cd later on during my freshman year in high school because a friend told me I needed to listen to "The Girl With the Weight of the World in Her Hands." The lyrics would haunt me for a reason I still can't determine.

"Is the glass half-full or empty?" I ask her as I fill it.
She said it doesn't really matter, pretty soon you're bound to spill it.
With the half logic language of the sermon she delivers,
And the way she smiles so knowingly at me gives me the shivers.

The entire cd, again, is amazing. The duo splits the cd songs evenly between them, each writing and performing the leading vocals on alternating tracks. I'll admit that I've always enjoyed the songs written by Emily Saliers more, but over time Amy Ray's songs have grown on me as well.

I haven't really listened to their more recent stuff, though I should. For now, the classics will suffice.

Kansas

Jennifer Knapp

Jennifer Knapp - Kansas

The summer after I graduated high school I went to a Christian concert in a park. Headlining the concert was a band called All Star United. They were good, but the surprise of the day came from their opening act, a singer/song-writer by the name of Jennifer Knapp. Compared to the Christian bands I was used to, which were increasingly marketed the same as mainstream artists, Knapp was refreshingly raw and honest. Just a chick on stage with a guitar, breaking two strings on the same song.

I had to buy her cd after this, and it was probably the greatest musical investment of my life. I listened to it for days on end, and still will. I ended up catching her in concert at least six times in three different states.

Jennifer Knapp disappeared from the music scene, and no one really knows where she went. The internet provides a variety of rumors. But whatever she's up to these days, I hope she's doing well.

There are ghosts from my past that own more of my soul
Than I thought I had given away.
They linger in closets and under my bed
And in pictures less proudly displayed.
-- from the song "Martyrs and Thieves"

The Beautiful Letdown

Switchfoot

Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown

I owned all three previous releases by Switchfoot prior to buying The Beautiful Letdown, but it was this album that cemented the group as my favorite band. Again, this is a Christian band that's gained widespread popularity. While their songs aren't as blatantly religious these days, they are no less spiritual.

Going mainstream is a tricky path for any Christian artist, but Switchfoot provides an example of how to pull it off. Their songs have meaning without preaching. Which is good, considering that I now consider myself an atheist.

The leading track on the album contains the lyrics:

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside.

To me, the songs echo the frustration of my generation, trying to find and define ourselves. This is by far my favorite album by Switchfoot, with Oh, Gravity! coming in second. It also captures that same emotion.

* * *

So there you have it, five albums that have changed my life. I still enjoy each of them to this day. If every band could put out such worthwhile tracks, I'd be more inclined to purchase entire digital albums, rather than two or three songs at a time. However, I'll be grateful for what I have.

Sunday, May 4th, I was sitting at my parents house, mooching their internet and doing my laundry, obsessively refreshing my student account page. I was waiting for my final grade to be posted. Never before had I been so close to getting straight A's, and while I thought I'd aced my math final, I wouldn't be certain until that grade was listed in an otherwise complete list.

My parents noted my anxiety, and were bemused until I finally relented and told them I was one A away from a 4.0 grade point average. I had never succeeded in obtaining a perfect semester in college, and only hit that mark once in high school.

But this was different. I'm on my fourth try through college. I'm 28 now. I'd promised myself that when I went back to school I would try for good grades, rather than settling for my normal range of A's, B's, and the occasional C. It's never been that I'm incapable of getting all A's. I usually just didn't care enough to put the work into it.

But now, at my second semester in Tech, I was one grade away. My first semester I'd pulled a 3.75, which wasn't too shabby. But that wasn't the goal.

Finally, around seven that night, my final grade in Math was published. I had received an A. My GPA was a 4.0.

It was about time.

I write all this to say, I know I haven't been around, Vox. This is why. But I have four months off for the summer so expect to see me around a bit more.

(At least until September comes along.)

Sometimes I wonder if the only times I'm living as if every moment counts are when I'm waiting in line or running late. Otherwise, I seem to think I have forever, but under those two conditions I become gravely aware that the minutes are flying by.

I think this may be the makings of a tragedy, but one I can prevent.

Also, I am far too impatient as I wait in the drive-thru line at Wendy's at 11:30 p.m..