Green Day

"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me...."

I seem to be going through a Green Day phase. Over the last few years it has occurred to me that I do music in spurts. When I find a CD that I enjoy, I listen the hell out of it. It will play on my I-POD, my computer, in my van, and in my sleep. I'll know the entire thing from start to finish before I move on.

All of my memories during a particular time in my life can usually be summed up by a band. January of 2002: Nickleback and Puddle of Mudd. Summer of 2002: Godsmack and Disturbed. I also did a lot of Staind during that time which seems to bring to mind my brother. May 2003: Fleetwood Mac. Early 2004 was spent in a frenzy of Limp Bizkit, 3 Doors Down, Linkin Park, and Hoobastank. Later that year I was stuck on Seether, Chevelle, Jane's Addiction and Big & Rich (nice array!). 2005 has thus far been U2, Crossfade, Cold and Fuel. More recently I have been obsessed with The Exies and now....Green Day.

The Green Day thing kind of happened on a fluke. And wouldn't you know it...I'm gonna give ya a little background for this one! GOOD TIMES!!

Every Sunday night my girlfriends and I head out to Starbucks for a few hours. We chill, drink coffee, talk, laugh and observe. It has become somewhat of a ritual since the menfolk have been deployed.

Anyway, last Sunday as I sat drinking my Mocha Frappachino with a shot of Caramel it suddenly hits me that this indeed will be the final Sunday for our "inner circle". By next Sunday Jenny would be in Virginia, Heather in Alaska, and Judy and Kim would both be knee deep in husband homecomings. As for me, I...will be alone.

Now, I too am very much looking forward to the return of my husband. However, I still have 3 Sundays before that blessed event. So there I sat, wondering what the heck I was supposed to do with myself until his return.

Aha! I could have the kids join me for coffee...except that I don't normally return home until late and the entire point of Sunday coffee is to get AWAY from the children. I could sit at home and read, but this again defeats the purpose of Sunday coffee and besides I have now become a frappachino WHORE!

While all these thoughts are racing through my mind the Starbucks employees are pulling the shades and locking the doors. Sunday coffee has again come to an end and I am feeling pretty much completely and utterly alone.

The girls and I make our way across the parking lot to my van where I proceed to connect my I-POD to the stereo. I press play and lo and behold Boulevard of Broken Dreams begins to play...

"I walk a lonely road, The only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, But it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone. I walk alone, I walk alone. I walk alone, I walk a...My shadow's the only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me. 'Til then I walk alone."

Just then, somewhere in the back of my mind, lightning struck and instantaneously it became my new theme song. I rolled down the windows and blasted it through the speakers as we drove down the highway. My only purpose was to burn this memory into my mind and the minds of these women who have made this last year of my life so very unforgettable.

No, I am not depressed, and no I don't honestly feel all alone. No worries, it's just my song for the moment. All joking aside, the song really does put me in a good mood. Every time I play it I end up cranking the volume and dancing around.

The truth is, I've nothing to be down about. My girls are leaving, but we will stay in contact. And yeah, Ronnie and AJAX are headed home, but that only makes me happy for Kim and Judy. They have been alone far too long. Besides, all is not lost. Rob leaves Friday so my girl Ginger will be free to join me in the Sunday coffee tradition.

But until then...."I walk alone I walk alone"