Finding Your Roots

I knew last night when I first got in my car that it would be a good night. I was waiting for a green arrow to u turn (the silly streets here are set up that way) and I fumbled through the radio stations. Crummy run of the mill dance music, soul music seriously lacking soul, overly indulgent love songs…then I hit a station and BTO came out of my speakers. I instinctually turned it up and started singing along.

Old, classic rock reminds me of my father, who, for the entirety of my life, has been an old, classic rock musician. I was thinking to myself as I drove, that these were my roots. Sure, there are the ancient ancestries witches often revel in, but we can’t forget our family, where we came from, and our humble beginnings. My beginnings happen to include a strong base and shredding guitar solo interludes.

I met Angelia at our spot (after we debated going somewhere else and decided not to mess with our favorite recipe). We chatted on the porch before heading inside for a listen to the band, which was playing, wouldn’t you know, rock songs from the late 70s and 80s. The place was just packed with people from all stages of life, and you could see in their faces the various memories they were re-living and just wondering what they were. Before the occasional bar skank plowed into you from behind, utterly trashed, squealing “I LOVE this song!” and re-living her memory a little too publicly. We headed off the main floor after the first break, for a quieter spot in the back. Next to me, I met Don and Sancho.

I was enjoying myself and singing every word to Panama (I don’t even like that sgong) “I have a question,” Don asked me, seriously. “How old are you?” I played along, but had a feeling I knew where this was going. (Where does it ever go?) Then he said, “I’m 10 years older than you and I know these songs. How do you know them?” I just smiled and told the truth, these were my roots.

It was fun talking to the two, even after Angelia left, still hung over from her night before. Turns out they both worked in the field I will be working in. He said when I get established he would take me to some happy hour networking events. Sometimes playing along really does help, I do suppose!