Reminiscing

Nostalgia has been kind of a theme with me lately. It all began last Thursday night, as Lord Kissington and I were driving home. There was a Jimmy Eat World song on the radio, which took me back to a very specific moment in 2001, my birthday. I had two birthday parties that year. On my actual birthday, a bunch of us went out for drinks, and a week later, I had a huge joint party with two friends. The first party was sort of weird. It was a Thursday night and it had been a shitty week. On Monday, we had all found out that a dear friend had just been diagnosed with cancer. Up until that point, the summer of 2001 had been a blur of parties, happy hours, nights where we stayed up until the sun rose, and lots of other good times. The sobering news hit everyone hard. We were young; young people don’t get cancer. That night, he came out to celebrate my birthday, which was pretty amazing, because if it had been me who received the diagnosis, I probably would have been at home hiding under the covers*. He brought me a present, the then new CD by Jimmy Eat World (Bleed American), which had just come out**. The second song on the record, “A Praise Chorus,” became my theme song for the rest of the summer. It was the song I played over and over again as I got ready to go out every night. It’s a really awesome song, and I loved to dance to it and it made me pretty hopeful even when things seemed shitty.

Are you gonna live your life wonderin’ standing in the back lookin’ around?
Are you gonna waste your time thinkin’ how you’ve grown up or how you missed out?
Things are never gonna be the way you want.
Where’s it gonna get you acting serious?
Things are never gonna be quite what you want.
Or even at 25, you gotta start sometime.
I’m on my feet, I’m on the floor, I’m good to go.
Now all I need is just to hear a song I know.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine.
I wanna fall in love tonight.

Are you gonna live your life standing in the back looking around?
Are you gonna waste your time?
Gotta make a move or you’ll miss out.
Someone's gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Stick around nostalgia won’t let you down.
Someone’s gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Whatcha gonna have to say for yourself?
I’m on my feet, I’m on the floor, I’m good to go.
Now all I need is just to hear a song I know.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine.
I wanna fall in love tonight.

Crimson and clover, over and over.
Crimson and clover, over and over.

Our house in the middle of the street, why did we ever meet?
Started my rock ‘n roll fantasy.
Don’t don’t, don't let’s start, why did we ever part?
Kick start my rock ‘n rollin heart.
I’m on my feet, I’m on the floor, I’m good to go.
So come on Davey, sing me somethin’ that I know.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine.
I wanna fall in love tonight.
Here tonight.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine
I wanna fall in love tonight.

Even though 2001 would soon disintegrate into a miserable uncertain time in the wake of 9/11, it was still one of the best years of my life. Actually, 2000 to 2002 were pretty damn good. I began 2000 getting out of a soul-suckingly awful relationship, and I spent the next two years having as much fun as possible. I made many new friends. I went on countless dates, most of which were good for nothing other than humor value. I drank a lot of vodka. I kissed some boys. I read (Ulysses. I met Lord Kissington, although I had no idea at the time that I would end up marrying him.

2001 is even more on my mind this week, because the Redhead is in town. She was my main partner in crime that year, and we cut a well-dressed swath of destruction through many bars in town. The other afternoon, we decided to hit our main haunt for old times’ sake, and as we sat on the patio sweltering and belting back our usuals (vodka & tonic for me, gin & tonic for her), the Professor walked up and said, “It’s 2001!” I even ran into some people I used to hang out with back in 2001 but almost never see now.

So, I’ve been thinking a lot about 2001 and how things have changed since then. Among everyone I used to hang out with, there have been eight weddings (including mine) and one divorce. There are now three babies. I’ve attended more going away parties than I care to remember (and some of them I honestly don’t remember). Several friendships ended (it was good riddance in all cases). The group houses have mostly disbanded. The cancer patient has been in remission for ages. I no longer know anyone with a Kegerator. Yes, times have changed.

*and moaning “Why, God, why?” to which God would probably have replied, “Ummh, you don’t believe in me and now you expect me to cure your cancer? Whatevs.”
**We listened to a LOT of emo back then. I still listen to my old school emo, but I can’t get into any of that newer shit since it’s too commercial (and maybe I’m too old).