“I wanna feel happy days, happy days Happy days, happy days Walls of isolation inside of my pain And I don't know if I'm ready to change I wanna feel happy days, happy days Happy days, happy days All of this frustration inside of my brain And I don't know if I'm ready to change”
Just a couple of quick thoughts for tonight’s song. First and most importantly watching the video they made for this song during the Covid lockdown is a reminder of what the world was going through, well at least the populated parts of the world, for those of us in small rural communities our lives barely changed. Five years later and in some ways it’s like it didn’t even happen at all. Silly humans, we never seem to learn our lessons, do we?
Secondly for me blink-182 is not blink-182 without Tom.
Well this is a first - inserting the video to the song because IT'S THAT IMPORTANT.
There's a million reasons why I love blink-182, but this song and video are at the top. Can you believe it's been four years since the Covid outbreak? Nowhere on my bingo card since 1970 was a square titled "Live Through A Global Pandemic" that killed millions of people.
There are a lot of surreal things looking back, but let me tell you the most surreal is seeing this video and knowing that's what the world looked like to the majority of people.
But that's not what Saint Francis, Kansas looked like. Seriously.
There were no lockdowns. People did their normal routines like this wasn't even happening. The owner of Yost Ford REFUSED to put anything on the door regarding social distancing, wearing a mask, etc. but he sure took advantage of all the "free" government money being "handed" out.
Most of the businesses in town didn't really practice any safety protocols either.
Yes, people died in Saint Francis due to Covid. Yes, some were seriously ill and hospitalized for a long time - with some emerging having life-long impacts.
I traveled back to Ohio in November of 2020 and had discussions with friends & families about our different experiences and it was shocking to say the least. I couldn't believe what society was like for them and they couldn't believe it was so nonchalant for me.
So yes, this is a "F" The Pandemic! as well as "F" You Shitty Employers! as well as "F" Toilet Paper Hoarders post.
But it's also a thank you and empathy post.
Thank you to front line medical teams. Thank you to essential workers. I'm sorry Seniors didn't get the graduation you worked your whole life towards. I'm sorry people didn't get to be with loved ones to say final goodbyes.
And a million other thank you and I'm sorry sentiments...
Ghost of a Chance 