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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Boom Boom Boom

Did I say I was taking the weekend off?


What I meant to say was that I don't take weekends off. I just write whatever I want, whenever I want. As it comes to me. Boom. Boom. Boom. Like that. And you would not believe how frequently it comes to me. (I have over 100 drafts in my draft box, all because my fingers can't keep up with my brain.)


(Freakish, I know.)


Today I have something I need to say, so I'm going to take John Mayer's advice and say it. To everyone. But mostly to all the teenagers out there.



About a year ago my daughter asked me if I could choose any age to be forever, what age would I choose.


"40," I said.


"But that was only two years ago!" she gasped.


I can't help it, I dig the forties. You know who you are in your forties, and you don't feel guilty about it.


If she had asked me what age I would chose NOT to be I would say 16. No, 17. No, 15. No, 18.



The teenage years are exciting. But they can be a drag too. High school ROCKS, but it kinda sucks too. You get me? I wouldn't go back to those feelings if you bribed me. Or black mailed me. Or offered me a big wig job as the SAM-e Good Mood Blogger. (Although I might consider that one carefully before I said NO WAY!)


My daughter is 16.


HOLD ON, my darling daughter. HOLD ON! It just gets better. And better.


But first it gets a little worse.


HOLD ON, all you teenagers. HOLD ON!


Especially all of you who have just lost your 2nd friend on the Kahuku football team to that heartbreaking S word that I HHHAAAATTTTEEEEE so passionately! That same heartbreaking S word that leaves friends and loved ones perplexed, stunned, and sweating their eyeballs out for years and years and years.


As Gad as my witness I'm going after that stinkin' S word if it's the last thing I do!!


(I ain't afraid of you, you stinkin' "S" word!)



If I could write music, this is the song I would write for my daughter and all of the other teenagers in their cocoon's trying to sprout their wings, while dealing with life's D words and S words.






I'm going to include the lyrics for those of you who get offended by Katy Perry:


Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you
Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em goin "Oh, oh, oh!"

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

14 comments:

The Songer said...

Say what you need to say, Say what you need to say **singing it on the top of my lungs**

T is so lucky that she has you to go to when these kinds of things happen...

Never heard this song before.... so no offense, maybe Ill google it later!

Annette Lyon said...

In spite of the fun times in high school, the teens years are so rough. It's tragic that so many kids just can't see the end of the tunnel.

Great song--should be an anthem for teens.

wendy said...

Did you know there's a chance for you cause there's a spark in you....I like that.
Everything seems so fragile when you're a teen. I'd NEVER want to be a teen again.
As for the 40's....they were good.....but WAIT till you get into your 50's.......
one more itty bitty year and I'll be 60
HOLY FREAK......wonder if I'll have any sparks left by then.

Kazzy said...

You wanna know the shallow reason why I like the 40s? Because when you look good in your 40s people point it out. When you look pretty good in your 20s and 30s it is kinda expected. I am soooo shallow.

Dolly said...

I love the music you introduce me to. This is a cool song with a fun sound.

And Kazzy is right about the 40's comment. It's pretty cool to get noticed for not letting yourself go.

But I am digging Wendy's comment the most. The uncharted territory is so intriguing. I wonder if the 50's are going to be my favorite over the 40's because I get where you are coming from Deb. Turning 40 was so liberating. I could be taken seriously one day and do a 180 and make it all about having fun as the priority without any damage to my reputation the next. (I suspect it's what my 17 year old wishes he could have. No wonder they are so full of mixed emotions. We offer them up as examples and then tell them they have to wait for another lifetime to be respected for their choices.) I need to get back to my readings on teenagers. I have so much to learn before they are all grown up and I missed out on being a suitable parent.

Susan said...

S word? Hmmm. What's that, Crash?

Cluttered Brain said...

I would never repeat high school.
Ugh.
Who won your video contest?
Don't make us wait any longer.
i know I didn't win...lol.
But WHO did?
LUB ya DEb!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Cluttered Brain, I will announce it publically later this morning. I'm on my way to decorate for our family Christmas party. But here's the inside scoop. Jim and Nan won with 106 votes and Sean came in 2nd with 99 votes.

Susan, I hate the S word, but I will spell it out. Suicide.

Dolly and Wendy, I HOPE I do lub the 50's even more. That gives me something to look forward to. Wendy I cannot believe you are in almost 60. I never would have guessed. You don't look a day over 50. Fer reals.

Dolly I don't know if parenting teenager books help. Maybe they do. Or do you just have to muddle through it while they muddle through it. It's hard watching them muddle through it. You wish you could lend them your perspective. It's hard to move in the middle of all of it too. Much harder than I thought it would be.

Kazzy, you are on to something.

Cluttered Brain said...

seriously? Your bro didn't get many votes?
His video was AWESOME.
And that other one you posted late ROCKED too...
Hmmm..
have fun decorating for the christmas party!

Vern said...

I should probably be fixated on the "S" word but all I can think is "100 DRAFTS IN YOUR DRAFT BOX?!"

Just SO said...

I, too, hate the "S" word. We've talked to our kids a little bit about it.

And when you are in your teens it doesn't seem like it's EVER going to end. If they only knew. Hopefully my kids will know. I'm sorry.

robin said...

I'm with you Crash, I would never go back to my teenage years but my husband disagrees... he LOVED every aspect about high school (except dances because he can't dance). Being a teenager is tough will so much to discover about yourself. As a parent, leader or mentor you try so hard to help teenagers realize their potential and innate worth. Some get it and others struggle not only during the teen years but throughout their whole lives.

I'm still undecided about loving turning 40. My sisters are trying to convince me that being in their 40's is great. I don't know if they are fooling themselves or if there is really something to it. I will know by the end of the year though if my mind will be changed about turning 40.

Stephen said...

So far my 40's have been my best years. I enjoyed aspects of each decade, but overall the 40's are my favorites....so far.

I am LoW said...

I loved my teens years but I tend to forget the hard times. So I am SURE there were ups and downs and regardless, I would't go back. They were fun but this is funner. (funner, ha!)

I am 40, so far, it's pretty rockin'! :)

So sad about the S word. :( Teenages angst only lasts a teeny tiny amount of time. If only they could see that!