Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Turn the Page

I was sitting in my room listening to some good ol’ feel good tunes last night when Bob Seager came up on my playlist. It was a favorite of mine: “Night Moves”. Listening to the song made me reflect, oddly enough, on American culture. Man, nothing is quite like young teenagers in love in the United States. There is something special about it.

This song conjures images in my head of driving around in the guy’s beloved vehicle with his sweetheart sitting in the passenger seat, with autumn closing in. The stars are out… at least those visible behind the street lights. Outside the weather is chilly, and chilly enough to need a warming arm around the shoulder or a snuggle in the jacket. Scenes that flash through my mind include beaches, highways, and parking lots. To me, they’re always moving. Always exploring. Teenage love involves a fair amount of exploring.

Perhaps I am grafting my own memories on to the song. I am fortunate to have had a nice high school sweetheart and pleasant memories associated with her. It’s funny looking back at how young and truly naïve I (we) were… but it’s nice. We are greatly different people today, but that shared experience shall always be there. A nice thought, if you ask me. It was truly the only time in my life that I was completely ignorant of “love” and what to expect. We were just being honest and open. From then on, there are always expectations and standards to live up to. I don’t think that purity can ever be found again. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it’s just an interesting thought.

[I wrote this last night after feeling somewhat sentimental. Re-reading it now (it's 2:00 in the afternoon) and after spending the entire day in the Foreigner's Office trying to get a visa... the only thing I can say is "Matt. Grow a pair."]

Cheers,
Matt

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

we WERE young and naive, weren't we?

Anonymous said...

Paul,
You made me laugh outloud. I miss you as much as you miss Matthew. You are the funniest person ever. I truly needed that laugh this morning. Thanks.