Today’s x365 post prompted me to recall that moment. It was 1999 and I was living with the aforementioned x365 post topics, Cheryl, Karen and Tina. I had recently discovered Emo music (long before it was cool) and I was hardcore excited that the Get Up Kids (I recommend songs 3 and 7 to get a good idea of their stuff) were playing a venue called the Cow haus, very close to my apartment. Cheryl said she’d go with me – for the fun of it – but on the day of, she copped out, went to the mall instead. Presumably to spend her financial aid on underwear and chocolate. Anyway, I didn’t have the guts to go alone so I went out to put gas in my car, to get out of the apartment, and to sulk. As I filled up (by the way, gas was about $1.20 back then) this old clunky Vovlo pulled into the station and a group of rowdy, ratty kids got out. They were exactly what I wanted to be. This one girl started pumping and she looked across the island at me and said something to the effect of,

“Get Up Kids. You goin’ to the concert? We are!”

And of course, I told her no, and briefly my situation. She then offered for me to go with them. In fact, she said they’d follow me home and then we’d all drive together, if I had 5 bucks to contribute to gas. So, we went to the one whole block back to my apartment and I drove off with these complete strangers whom I didn’t know from Adam, and I saw one of the best shows ever. (I think they were playing with Flogging Molly).

It’s funny how when you’re 20, you’ll do things that at 29 you’re almost appalled that you had the guts to do. I remember being that carefree and daring, not as skeptical and wary of people, the way I am now. And maybe I’m that way because I am older and maybe I am that way because now I’m a parent, and that kind of stuff has a greater impact when you think about your child’s safety. I’m probably not ready to become a public radio supporter or crazy cat person but I’m getting OLD.