An update on traveling alone…gratefulness, etc, etc.
It’s Black Friday and most of my friends have kept their shit together, decided to #optoutside, and have posted the ever-living-hell out of how grateful they are. If you read about my meltdown solo adventure (where I checked out and skipped the holiday) you may be wondering if I regret it.
The answer? No. I’m glad I did it. Aside from the snowstorm I drove through on some sketchy roads today, I’m doing fine. I’m now in Bryce Canyon in a hotel room next to the swimming pool with a million screaming children (see also: I will play my guitar as loud as I fucking want tonight) looking forward to a long day of hiking tomorrow. I thought I’d take a second to point out a few things I’m grateful for since I have nothing else to do, and I’ve already swum laps in my hotel room’s giant jet-powered bathtub. Here you go:
Albums I’ve loved the whole way through
This doesn’t happen very often. In fact, I can only think of a few right now. Let’s see…
DOVES – Lost Souls I bought this CD the day we buried my grandma. I listened to it once on the drive home, put it away, and couldn’t bring myself to listen to it for an entire year. It’s one of the most complete records I’ve ever heard. It’s almost perfect.
NEW ORDER – Get Ready This came out at the most perfect time in my life. I don’t know how that fucking happens. Also, I always, ALWAYS, always get this confused with The Cure. I don’t know why. I will always make that mistake. I don’t care if you’re into this band or not, this record is so good. I hate that I had to steal it from an ex-boyfriend. That guy sucked.
WEEZER – The Blue Album Such a classic, I know. But in reality, it was the beginning for me, as a very young kid, where I demanded that my parents keep the radio on my station, recorded songs to cassette, and started a long journey listening to music and getting lost in my own head. It changed a lot of things and still is. I hate that it never got better for this band, but what can you do?
THE BLACK RYDER – Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride Aside from being a great Hunter S. Thompson quote, this is just a great Shoegaze album.
I’ll stop here.
BOOKS!
OK, OK…real quick.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood (If you think this book is way out there, just look at what happened at Planned Parenthood today.)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky (Find out what it’s like living your entire life inside of your head. Just skip the movie, OK?)
Look Evelyn, Duck Dynasty Wiper Blades. We should get them: A collection of essays. – David Thorne (No, just trust me, the funniest person on the planet.)
Stranger than fiction – Chuck Palahniuk (This made me want to become a writer.)
DOGS
Dogs are the greatest thing about our time on this planet. Period. They just are. I will never be as grateful for anything as I am for dogs. Enough said.
I don’t know what to call this one…
I drove a few hundred miles today. Alone. I hiked to the top of a desert cliff, stood at the edge and looked over it. The only thing keeping me from stepping over the edge was myself. I went to dinner by myself, on my own schedule. I live at the best possible time in history for women. I know this isn’t on accident—it was a lot of work to get here. Not everyone has it this good.
So there. I’m a cynic. But, I’m still grateful. Oh, yeah, and I’m grateful for other things too. Grateful that I’m trying new things, learning an instrument, blah blah blah. I’ll write about that later, maybe. Whatever. Goodnight.
