5 Year Old Me and the Record Player

It must've been before Kindergarten. I must've around 5. My focus was a lot sharper back then on smaller details. I remember the Michael Jackson Thriller record. For some reason the texture of the record itself always felt funny to me and I was always nervous about breaking them. I'd sit and watch the different reflection of light that would come with each different strip of song. It was clear to me that the different strips were individual tracks,but I had nooooo idea how a simple strip could make such a miraculous sound. How it could contain so much life. I would watch the needle run along the grooves and notice the subtle rise and fall of a slightly uneven record. Kind of like breathing. And that sound, that music that would come out of those two speakers, holy shit!! It was like another world just broke through into mine. It was like magic. Whenever I'd hear a Michael Jackson tune I'd be up on my feet. I'd be swept up in that world. Nothing could interrupt. I was the youngest in my family, easily outwitted, outrun, overpowered but when I'd dance I would be all that I thought I lacked. I knew Michael Jackson's every move. In my head, I would take his place in his music videos. Completely immersed and feeling that back beat and bass. For those intervals of 4 minutes each I'd be fearless. I can still get lost in the music like that today, and often do.

The title of the last post was a lie

The cold was the kind of cold that got into your bones and made them clatter. The van was throwing fits, but it was so cold even the clouds said, "fuckthis shit!" And bailed. It was absolutely clear night sky at 4am in Aurora, NY. Too bad I was so damned tired I passed out for another 4 states.

I woke up in the middle of what looked like a blizzard. Just in time to take my turn behind the wheel. This ridiculous winter storm stretched across 3 states! It been ages since he seen this kind of storm. Every 30 feet there was a car stuck in a ditch and semi trucks overtturned. Im barely even exaggerating. Crazy shit!

We rerouted and decided to go to my parents home in McPherson, KS. It was about 10pm when we reached the border of the state when Tiff said the words that would forever change the course of my life. "You want to find a Cracker Barrel?" I quickly texted and Facebooked an open call to my buddies that lived in Kansas City. Short notice but I was worth a shot. That food was ridiculous. The name still makes me snicker. Miss it. Ingredient ever meal needs: butter.

It was 2am by the time we got to my parents'. The car looked like the Delorian on Back to the Future by the time we got there. I was so stoked to see them and be home. It had been 4 years. Tiff went straight to bed. My dad was concerned as usual that I get enough sleep before the next day. Being a parent in other words. Also as usual, instead of getting rest, I was too excited and chatted them up, then dug through some old photo albums of my parents and sketch books of mine. It had been a while since I saw them and didnt know how long it'd be till I saw them again. You can't blame me. We talked about all the crazy things that happened around the house growing up. Surprised that house is still standing. My parents have to sell the house so it was good to be able to go back and see it. It's strange to have to sell "home", but it just redefines what I think of "home". It'll be a good change. My parents will be moving to L.A. Closer to us. It'll be nice to have them close.