Good morning, Monday. You're here. I'm here. We're alive. Mazel.
So while commuting and listening to my Discover Weekly this am (Spotify's custom playlist based on your vibes in case you don't know), "Take the Skinheads Bowling" by Camper Van Beethoven came on. While I was on a shuttle bus. Going through the Lincoln. Headed to New Jersey. Surrounded by young kids at the dawn of their career, while mine resembles something more like the twilight state you have when you're getting surgery, except with less Versed. But I digress.
Because it occurred to me, as it often does at this point in the game, how a song like "Take the Skinheads Bowling" would only be recognizable to a certain demographic, namely my generation, X. How a song like that provides a happy recall of oversized sweatshirts and asymmetrical bobs and good old angst ridden, teenaged revelry. A song like that instantly makes you remember who you are, and who you were. I'm not sure it tells you where you're headed, but no matter. You get it. Or you don't. If you're one of the kids on my shuttle bus, chances are you don't unless you're a requisite music nerd.
It's interesting to me how different age groups have such identifiable markings. Like a leopard's spots. It's humbling in one way and scary in another. Humbling because there's a good amount of gravitas in knowing that a certain random song from a certain college brand from the 80s will resonate with those who heard it when it first released and appreciated it for its rather ludicrous refrain:
"Take the skinheads bowling
Take the skinheads bowling
Take them bowling
Take the skinheads bowling
Take them bowling
Take the skinheads bowling
Take them bowling"
On the other hand, it's scary that so many other people in your everyday life have no frame of reference for this song. It doesn't mean you shouldn't hang with them of course, but the older we get, the more our references fall on deaf ears. Maybe I just need to hang out with music nerds exclusively so as to negate this sticky wick. I don't know. It's just a thought i had amidst the millions of existential crisis ponders I had on the road this morning.
Because 'm starting to itch in places I've never itched before. Not literally, mind you. But figuratively. I feel like I want to make big, sweeping changes but the lingo and energy it takes to get there is not really cutting it for me. In fact, nothing's really cutting it for me. Is it depression? Doesn't feel that way. Maybe it's a bit of that angst I spoke of. And maybe songs about skinheads participating in great American past times is bringing out the rebellious teen in me. The one who never thought she'd be sitting in an office park debating the relevance of acronyms (this already happened ps- and it's not even 11 am). Point is- I'm assessing big moves for January and beyond. I can no longer continue to feel out of context. Not because millennials have shit taste in music. Just because I need to up my game for where I am in my very own life. Funny how the more we let go of our youth, the more we somehow become more clear about who we are. Or at the very least, it's as ridiculous and weird as a somewhat obscure hit from the 80s. Link to video here. Classic.
Just wanted to share that this am as I'm feeling like I need to make some new references to sync up with where I am right here and now. I'm not sure any of this makes sense. I guess I just really wanted to see who amongst my friend group knew this song. Cause that's what's up this musical Monday in dirty Jerz. Yours, in shuttle busses and deep thoughts. What will you discover this week? XO