35

It’s true. Tomorrow is my birthday. I wasn’t planning on saying anything–not because I’m too modest mind you–but because the cleaning and the kids didn’t really permit me today. And the fact that I’m 35. That is the first birthday since 17 that has sounded really old to me. Not that there’s anything wrong with old, mind you (again). But then I came to the mall tonight to maybe grab a treat, take a pre-birthday break and it turns out I left my wallet at home, but not my iPad…so here I am.

 If you’ll allow me to be a little (read: a lot) self indulgent on my birthday I’d like to share some little known facts about me. Little known on this blog at least. Last night I got en email from a dear old friend that reminded me about some of our youthful, reckless adventures. Like the time we told our parents we were sleeping over at each others houses so that we then had to find a 3rd yet unknown location in which to sleep for the night. That was a fun little game. We ended up sleeping in our friend Spencer’s closet. Believe me when I say this was a really big closet. The next time we pulled this little shenanigan we ended up in sleeping bags on Spencer’s front lawn. I still remember his mom walking out to get the paper in the morning with a very confused look on her face. As soon as she walked back inside we threw the sleeping bags back in Spencer’s basement window and took our leave. Lucky for us we had a Spencer in our lives.

 The other thing she reminded me of was my enduring love for Led Zeppelin. It’s true, my first head over heels, posters plastered everywhere, mix tape after mix tape, musical love was Led Zeppelin. My first cd was Zeppelin II. I read books and biographies. I was obsessed. Later in college when I learned the guitar Tangerine was one of the first songs I could play, followed by as many other Zeppelin songs I could figure out.

Admittedly I was a little proud and brazen about my love and knowledge of all things Zeppelin, especially when it came to guys.  Silly?  Yes, but it made me feel cool.  Once in college a guy challenged me to a Zeppelin trivia duel. Apparently he thought I was frontin’. After 15 minutes he humbly conceded that I was in fact superior in all things Zeppelin. Another time some friends and I were hanging out with some guys we didn’t really know that well. One of them started playing Babe I’m Gonna Leave You on the guitar. It’s a classic, finger picking tune. It wasn’t a great rendition but not terrible either, it seemed like he was still learning the song. Anyway, I said something about really liking that song. He sorta sneered and said, Oh really? You know this song?

 I wasn’t having that shiz.

 I said, Yeah I really like Led Zeppelin. But when I play that song I usually play it like this…and I took the guitar out of his hands and played that mother with nary a mistake.  I handed back the guitar and said I had to go, but thanks for letting me play and oh let me know if you need any pointers. OK I didn’t say that last part, but I do remember his jaw on the floor. The turd.

 Ahh, the good ol’ days. I’m not exactly sure why the need to share my Zeppelin love with you tonight, but I think it has something to do with my friend’s email. An email which prompted me to get the Led out on the way to the mall tonight.  An experience which found me enjoying traffic as I sat there singing and screaming duets once again with my beloved Robert Plant, reminding me that I’m either a young 35 or an old 17.

Happy Birthday to me.

 – Posted using BlogPress from my iPad