One of the great things about having a teenager is that I feel like I am cool-adjacent which is almost as good as being cool at my age. (I’m suspicious of 50-year-olds who are too cool.) I have learned all kinds of things that I would be hopelessly ignorant of without her – like the correct meaning and usage of LOL and IKR, or what Snapchat is, or why anyone cares what the Kardashians had for lunch. My husband and I lose cool points daily by sounding out those acronyms: lawl and icker. We think its hilarious. She is not amused. Fortunately for her, I definitely don’t want to Snapchat. Texting is great. No one can see you when you text. Snapchat would even further increase the amount of time I feel it is necessary to wear makeup and do my hair. However, there is a downside to texting. I make a lot of mistakes texting because my fingers are too big for the screen and the letters are too small for my eyes. (Luckily, I have kind friends who, thus far, have not turned my daily errors into internet sensations.) So, I will bask in the glory of being cool… adjacent.My most recent discovery was the walk-up song. I have watched my share of sports, so I was aware that certain heart-pounding, chest-swelling, opponent-intimidating music is played as teams and players take the court or enter the ring. What I did not know is that kids have walk up songs now. I have to say that I think this is brilliant. Frankly, I want one! I love music. I always have. Maybe everyone is like this or maybe its just me. But I feel like there is a soundtrack that marks out the times of my life. I remember people, places and stories so vividly when certain songs come on. When I hear Rodeo by Garth Brooks I think of my sister’s wedding day. My youngest sister and I drove all over Lake City looking for a Diet Coke howling with laughter when people stopped to stare at our elaborate bride’s maid dresses. Peace washes over me when Country Roads by John Denver comes on and I am transported back in time to camping trips with my dad. John Cougar Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane reminds me of hot summer nights and the taste of freedom you get when you are a senior and your best friend has questionable judgment. Bumping around dirt roads in the endless daylight of an Alaskan night comes back to me when Bruce Hornsby croons out The Way It is. Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now brings my mom back gently dancing around the living room. I can feel my baby rocking on my chest whenever the lilt of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Girl spills from the speakers. I won’t go into “anything by Van Halen” but, suffice it to say, it still puts a smile on my face.Music makes great memories. A soundtrack is a special thing. But a walk-up song would be so cool. Not cool-adjacent but actually cool. Like today when I literally slayed suppression rules in Tableau (Trust me, in the data-nerd world, that is homerun, TKO, rock star stuff right there.) Thunder should have been playing! Test scores come in? We Are the Champions should be playing as I head to the podium. The perfect photograph? Touch the Sky. Maybe it is the “pride cometh before the fall” ethic we have or maybe it is just a fear of appearing arrogant (or foolish) that keeps us from celebrating our successes and hard work. But we should be celebrating the amazing things we do with the same passion that a teenage softball player does when she hears her walk up song playing on the way to home plate. Perhaps a walk-up song at a board meeting would be inappropriate – ok definitely inappropriate – but one should be playing in my head none the less. Rest assured it will be and I will be taking time to celebrate my successes too.I chose this photograph because I was so excited when I took it and about 20 more. I was waiting for racing to start in San Diego when this Pelican came in for a landing, splashed around a bit and then took off. It was like he was putting on a show for all the people waiting on shore. Walk up song? Freebird comes to mind.
Freebird
(1/1000 sec., f/6.3, 400 ISO, 600 mm.)
Catherine Matthews 