"Atlantic City" The Band

The older I get the more I feel the need to be closer to the people and things I loved when I was young. As things change, I need them to stay the same too. People change, places change, but music never does. Music has that crazy ability to bring back a memory or a feeling so strong that you'd swear it was yesterday.

If you're looking for my heart you'll find it in a dive ba

Every time I hear "Copperhead Road," by Steve Earle I'm driving down the back roads in a pickup. When "Don't Stop Believing," by Journey comes on I'm dancing at the hometown dive bar with my childhood best friends. I can tell you every detail of those moments, and the way that I felt while I was in them. I had one of these moments on my recent trip to Nashville where I ended up at a house party with a group of musicians who casually played every song I ever wanted to hear. I requested "Atlantic City," the version by Levon Helm/The Band, on the off chance that they knew it. And while I listened to them play my own private concert I found my own little piece of heaven, that tasted a lot like cheap vodka and smelled like Marlborough Golds.

"EmmyLou" - First Aid Kit

Sorry Jack.. only room for one on this plank.

So. I'm getting married.

I'm excited, slightly terrified and mostly in love. It's kind of frightening to imagine choosing one person to stick with for the rest of your days, all at the young, still idiotic age of 28. I love my future err.. husband (panic), but I've realized it's more of a best-friend, retainer-in, bra-off type of love. Meaning, I can't imagine my life without him but I don't know if I'd take it as far as Rose and Jack did, Ala Titanic.

"All For You" - Sister Hazel

The French have an interesting expression, "le coup de foudre." Literally it means "a bolt of lightning" or "thunderbolt", figuratively it means, "love at first sight."  There has been one instance where I've experienced "lightening", but other than that, my skies have remained relatively calm. Lightning always follows thunder, and thunder means unstable weather.  I have learned, that although unstable weather can be exciting, dangerous, and makes your heart race, it never lasts.

90's long hair - don't care, Sister Hazel

The more that I love, and lose, or leave, the more I think that maybe there's something more to it.   Maybe being successful in love, is less about finding someone that loves all of the great things about you, and more about finding someone that loves you, despite all of the not so great things.  What if in the long run, it matters less that someone will buy you flowers and write you love poems, and more that you can wear your retainer to bed with them, and that they'll take the dog for walks when it's cold out?

"Wake Me Up" - Avicii

I'm going to re-enact this pose on my
birthday every year for the rest of my life

Fall is here, and with that comes my Birthday. After the age of 25, birthday's stopped being as much fun. I remember being younger, and looking forward to my special day all year long, now, instead of excitement, I feel something akin to depression.  Now my Birthdays serve as a reminder, that despite protestations.. I'm getting older.

I've previously referred to my "quarter-life crisis", which began shortly before my 26th birthday last year.  25  is a perfect benchmark age; a time to reflect, and look back on all that you've accomplished (or not).  It's enlightening to compare what  I thought I'd be at 25 with what I am.