Kiss was playing on my headphones while I was pedaling the Peloton bike earlier this morning.
I can’t lie: that song motivated me to push myself.
The sweat was bountiful.
“You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy.”
Wait, it gets better…
“Sweet emotion…”
Ah, Aerosmith. I pedaled faster.
The Music Stays With You
Hours later, I mentioned to my co-worker that Kiss was still playing over and over in my head.
“You’re dating yourself,” he reminded me. “But, you probably don’t care.”
“Um, no, I really don’t,” was my answer.
“Watch out, you’ll date yourself!”
That’s one idiom I find annoying.
Because I’m not 36.
And, no one would believe me if I told (lied) to them that I’m 36 years old. So there goes that idea.
I can go into all the reasons it would be nice to be 36. But, we already know what those are.
Looking Back
At the young age of 36, I had filed for divorce and things weren’t looking so hot for me back then. I was depressed. In addition, I felt like I had hit the dreaded middle age. “I’m so old!” was the cry.
Things change. So do perspectives.
If I weren’t the age I am now, I wouldn’t have encountered all these memorable experiences:
- Searched for empty pop bottles and coins on the ground — enough to purchase candy for me and my friends.
- Spent summer nights playing Cops and Robbers with every kid on the block, plus all those who wandered over from the next street over.
- I ate casseroles, used a rotary phone to call into radio contests, wore cowl necks, and tried (but failed) at macramé.
- Music from my generation is played at every sports venue we visit: baseball, basketball, hockey games, etc. My daughter rolls her eyes when I make a smug expression over this fact. In spite of this, she knows the lyrics to Kiss and Aerosmith songs. #proudmom
- I was lucky enough to be part of the teenage mall scene, including Evergreen Plaza and Ford City. It was there we saw first run showings of The Blues Brothers, Indiana Jones, and countless disaster movies such as The Towering Inferno.
- We spent hot summers at Navy Pier enjoying Chicago Fest. There, we caught cool lake breezes and a line-up of outstanding musicians. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts rock!
I’ll stop there. My generation can go on for hours talking about our beloved memories. Each generation has its own cherished celebrations.
Deservedly so.
Putting it all together, I can proudly say: “I’m not 36.”
Thank you for reading – PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST
PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST 