Can’t Get There from Here

Music plays constantly in my life as I am a firm believer in creating your own soundtrack as we move through this world. This collection of musings is on various songs that help shape the soundtrack of my life.

Say to someone, you love Southern rock and they will think you are talking about the Allman Brothers or Molly Hatchet, but for me the Southern rock that defined my teenage and college years came straight out of Athens, GA with bands like Kilkenny Cats, Pylon and the venerable REM.

More than any band, REM has played in the background of my life from love and heartache to long drinking sessions with friend on the front porch.

Like warm filling comfort food there is no time bad time for REM.

The opening lines of Can’t Get There From Here…

When the world is a monster/Bad to swallow you whole/Kick the clay that holds the teeth in/Throw your trolls out the door

have always rang true to me. Maybe for the the simple fact that I could actually understand them. Michael Stipe is not known for singing clearly and often mumbles out words as if his mouth was filled with boiled peanuts.

This past year the words have taken on more meaning in a simple metaphor of cancer is that monster trying to swallow me whole and I will not go softly. Kicking and throwing that troll out the door.

Four days ago I went to for my annual monster check up via a PET scan. I am still waiting for the results but either way I am ready if they monster returns.

To have cancer back in my life unnerves me and makes my stomach dance with butterflies.

“If you world is a monster/Bad to swallow you whole”

So here I wait with my foot at the ready to kick back ’cause I won’t be swallowed whole.