Wow, it has already been 5 years since I moved back to Saint. I still can’t believe Hell hasn’t frozen over yet. I ‘ll be honest, I never in a million years thought I would move back here, but Larry convinced me it was the right thing to do. Now I’m gonna say something I don’t say very often, Larry was right. It was hard to make the leap when it was time to actually do it, but it was the right thing to do.
Why do I say that?
“I’m going back to where my heart came from.”
The following pictures show you where a large part of my heart comes from and why Larry was right about moving back.
The Outfield is so much more than "Your Love". In my entire life's musical journey they are a top five band for me. I know that if you listen to their catalogue for the first time nowadays, you will be offended. Though you shouldn't be, as I laid out my reasoning in my Bob Seger song from earlier.
Shannon would attend school in Kansas and then summer in Ohio (not exactly summering in the Hamptons, but close enough). Ultimately she planted roots in Ohio - which was fantastic for that side of her family. But all of her brothers remained in the Kansas / Colorado area.
Sure we built our little family in Ohio and had some great times. But seeing her brothers was basically non-existent. I'm sure you can relate to how life can get in the way of the best laid plans, and when you add a thousand miles distance in, that makes it all the more challenging.
After the loss of Shane which affected her tremendously we traveled to Kansas for his funeral. And though everyone has their own path to travel with the loss of someone dear to them, I truly believe there is a cathartic healing when visiting them. But that really wasn't an option living in Ohio.
So I knew in my heart of hearts I needed to get her closer to her brothers and their families as well as Shane.
And although my first choice was Sandpoint, Idaho, and her choice was Denver, Colorado, we settled on her hometown - which she religiously professed "I'm not GOING BACK!".
But he we are. And I know it has helped soothe her little baby soul. Which is all I could hope for.
NOW ON TO COUNTDOWN
On April 12th, 1981 (43 years ago today) the first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off. I was 10 years old and a budding nerd. In the history of the United States, this was a huge deal. And to me, this was a huge deal.
And wouldn't you know it - Alex, Geddy and Neil were there as NASA guests, watching from Red Sector A. And after the experience, Neil penned this song.
As with all his lyrics, this song perfectly encapsulates not only their experience, but the experience everyone around the world felt that day.
I wouldn't discover Rush for at least another six years, and once I heard this song it took me right back to that day in 1981.
I never attended a shuttle launch which is one of my biggest regrets. But this song is almost a perfect stand-in for the experience. And the video takes me back as well...
Ghost of a Chance 