This Track Is Fire!

As a teen I was not an R.E.M. fan. In fact, I was considerably anti-R.E.M. for far too long, mostly centered around the fact that for some reason my adolescent mind severely disliked "It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)." Why? Almost 40 years later, I honestly can't tell you why; I don't search the song out, but if it comes out I don't always automatically hit "skip" now. What changed? In March of 1991 they released Out of Time , and more importantly for me, the song "Losing My Religion." The first time I heard the song I actively tried to dislike it. Again, I don't know why; blame it on my close-minded view of music as an young idiot. Despite my efforts, I cam around much more quickly than anyone would have guessed. I listened to more songs and eventually, bought the album. Out of Time  had melted my misplaced resolve again R.E.M. as a band, and from then on I appreciated and respected them, as they continued to relea...

Like most everyone that has heard this, or Luke Combs' version, I like it, but honestly, this one is for my partner, Shalee. I'm leaving this afternoon for a guy's weekend attending the Detroit Auto Show with a group of my friends. We've been doing for about 20 years now, as I noted on my other blog . I'm going to have a great time, but I will still think of Shalee as I always do when I am away. I can't wait to tell her all about my weekend when I get home on Sunday! Shalee, she loves  this song, so if the theme this week is songs about cars, then I need to include one of her all-time favorites. Enjoy!

As I look out my window today I fully relate to the title of this track, if not the words. Sometimes at the end of the week I want something that adrenalizes me for the weekend, but sometimes, like today, I want a song that feels like a blanket near a fire with a hot mug of something. And while I get that this may not be the happiest song, comfort is sometimes knowing that others have struggled as well. Misery loves company, and all that. Lastly, I wanted to note that this is another track that my daughter introduced me to. I think she's a keeper. Happy Friday!

I get that this is a love song, from a man to a woman, and it definitely fits my theme of giving thanks this week, but I have to be honest here: Led Zeppelin always reminds me of my father, now 11.5 years passed. Thanksgiving is all about family, and during the holidays it's wonderful to spend time with those that you love so dearly, but as you get older you also start to recognize more and more often those people that are no longer there. Be thankful for the time you have. Tomorrow at dinner I will think of the fact that we always teased by dad about not liking gravy, until that one year he grabbed the gravy boat and poured it all over his food just to, well, just to do something my father would do. And then we'll watch the Lions game and remember all of the dozens of time we did that in the past with him and my grandfather, Marion. Then, later still, we'd all play Trivial Pursuit as my Uncle Dan, grandpa, grandma (Nanny), and my dad, all since passed, would drink, eat des...