Times Like These

I met this guy when I was 14. He was 21. He was my brother’s karate instructor. My mom wanted to start taking classes too but hadn’t yet worked up her nerve. She made me a deal: Watch a few classes with her in exchange for something that I wanted at the time, I can’t even remember.

Aside from pretty much giggling the entire time (I was 14), I was mesmerized when I saw Chris. I instantly thought he was the hottest thing evah. I had that feeling you get when you see someone and you know … So yeah, I was more eager to go to class with my mom. She eventually enrolled in classes and I also was eager to attend their tournaments and testings.

It was obvious that Chris was interested in me. It was also obvious that he had no idea how young I was. Eventually the truth came out; the look on his face when I admitted that I was 14 (or maybe 15 by that time) was priceless. He thought I was in college.

Over the next few years, we continued flirting. He scheduled a self-defense class for women basically for me. My mother grimaced her way throughout the six weeks. Chris would always select me to be his “helper.” One time I had to run my fingers through his hair and then end up flipping him (I guess to take down some guy you didn’t want to kiss LOL). Well, I think at that point, I had never even kissed a boy and had no idea of the power that a woman can have over a man or even what the consequences were of our flirtation. In front of the class, I slid my fingers into the hair at the back of his neck … and then proceeded to flip him. After he got up, Chris commented, “Wow! A guy could really get distracted by you!” My mother grimaced even more.

At one point, I’m not sure how old I was, at least 16, maybe older, Chris called my mother to ask her permission to ask me out. I was delighted. Of course, my mom told him no. What else could she say? And by the time I was old enough to date him, he was still too old for me.

I haven’t seen him in years. My mom said he’s an ass now. Doesn’t surprise me. I’m not even really sure why Circle by Big Head Todd and the Monsters makes me think of him, it just does.

It seems to me, you and me
Are chasing something
What it is does anybody here want to know?
It seems to you, you and me
Are forgetting something
When love is so easily forgotten
And if I pick you up will you drag me down?
If I run to you will you turn around?
Rise and fall turn the wheel ’cause all life
Is really just a circle
It seems to me, you and me
Are being chased by something
What it is has anybody here apprehended?
It seems to me, you and me
Are terrified of nothing
When nothing is the reason we are here
Oh, nothing at all
And if I cry to you, will you laugh me down?
But I’m asking you to turn around
Rise and fall turn the wheel ’cause all life
Is really just a circle

Written by Tori

I was in a new relationship… only a month old… and it was Christmas Eve… he was in Chicago, I was in California… we were both with family. Neither of us had very much money after buying for everyone else in our life…

I woke up and in my email was a rapidshare link to download a file… it was a Video of him… “just a little something, just for you… just messing around… missing you… & hoping to see you… “… and then just pictures of him & me set to DreamGirl by the Dave Matthews Band.

he’d spent no money… only time, a few digital pictures, and a song… and it’s still the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten… I cried “love” tears… happy tears… for the first time ever.

My eyes still get wet every time I hear that song, even tho the relationship was short and ended badly.

I would dig a hole all the way to China
Unless of course I was there
then I’d dig my way home
If by diggin’ I could steal
the wind from the sails
of the greedy men who ruled the world

Still you’re my best friend
And after a good, good drunk
You and me wake up and make love after a deep sleep
Where I was Dreamin’, I was Dreamin’ of a
Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl

I was feelin’ like a creep
As I watched you asleep
Face down in the grass,
in the park, in the middle
of a hot afternoon
Your top was untied
And I thought how nice
It’d be to follow the sweat down your spine

You’re like my best friend
aw after a good, good drunk
You and me wake up and make love after a deep sleep
Where I was Dreamin’, I was Dreamin’ of a
Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl

Caught by a wave
my back to the ocean
it knocks me off my feet and
just as I find my footing
here you come again
Dreamgirl, aww Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl, Dreamgirl

(Scat….trails off)

*Deep in, Deep in
Deep in, Deep in
Deep in

I have a soft spot for SNL movies, and when I found out that Superstar was directed by Bruce McCulloch, one of the Kids in the Hall, I was even more excited. I saw Superstar with my then-husband and we were two of about three people in theater who laughed when Molly Shannon ran out of school in her Catholic schoolgirl uniform as Sister Christian played. Everyone else in the audience was too young to get the joke.
The song that stuck with me, though, was Beautiful by the Go-Gos. It’s played at the beginning of the movie. It’s a great summer song. I played it incessantly when I stayed in Myrtle Beach for a few extra days three years ago. I was separated from my husband, things with the Former Flame had reach the level of intolerability and I just needed time to clear my head. The weather was perfect — sunny, bright and clear. My life was anything but perfect at the time, but the song’s enthusiasm was infectious. I still think of that time in my life when I hear this song but now I can smile. Back then, all I wanted to do was cry …

My life is ever so perfect
My life has been a bed of roses
And you might think i’m crazy
So what if i am
My head is full of good things
Enough for everyone

Let me have my own world
Come in live in my world
Let me have my own world
Come in live in my world
Beautiful
Is all i see when i look at me
Beautiful
Every monther’s dream
Day by day
Things just keep getting prettier (so pretty)
Beautiful
What a wonderful life
Beautiful
Things keep getting prettier
Beautiful
Things keep getting prettier (so pretty)
Beautiful

I was the DD one night, a few years ago. I’m thinking some of us took my friend Chris out to distract him from a particularly bad break-up. He downed three martinis at dinner and I was stuck carting his drunk ass around. I can’t remember if I was driving my car or his, but the song “Times Like These” by Dave Grohl came on the radio. Chris was silent in the back seat. All of a sudden he said, “Oh my God, you guys! It IS times like these you learn to love again!”

I nearly drove into some parked cars, I was laughing so hard. And then Monday morning I heard the song on my iPod and launched into hysterical laughter, all alone in my car. The song is bittersweet but I have happy memories of it.

I am a one way motorway
I’m the one that drives away
then follows you back home
I am a street light shining
I’m a wild light blinding bright
burning off alone

it’s times like these you learn to live again
it’s times like these you give and give again
it’s times like these you learn to love again
it’s times like these time and time again