When The Radio Makes You Cringe

Songs invade every part of my life. Like certain smells remind you of past moments, sometimes (often) songs take me back to a place or time or person. I'd say that 95% of the time, the memories are good. Even the sad songs usually only bring about a nostalgia about a time or someone I miss. Of course, there are always exceptions...

Driving down to pick up the kids on Wednesday the local radio station decided to hit me with Stone Temple Pilots' "Creep" and instantly I was transported back into one of those cringe-worthy moments. My freshman year of college I was at a party and, um, I may have gotten a bit tipsy. I looked up and suddenly standing there in front of me was my very hot friend. We hung around the same crowd (oh, and what good influences they were!). We took Spanish together, he gave me random guitar lessons in exchange for helping him with his papers, he was older and funnier and much, much cooler than I'd ever be and I had the biggest lust-crush on him. "Creep" came on over the speakers and before I knew what was happening, he was dancing with me. (Did I mention I don't dance? And when I do, I definitely don't dance the way we somehow managed to dance to that song). So, there it was...the crush I had instantly multiplied by 1000. And, then, as luck would have it, the same person had agreed to drive us both back to school along with a bunch of other people. When we got to the car, there was only one seat left and so I sat on his lap. 18 years old and there I was thinking I was having the most perfect of perfect evenings. I got back to my room singing "Creep", feeling drunk and invincible, and so I called him and invited myself over. Shortly afterward, I was in the midst of my first, last, and only one night stand and you know what? It was completely awkward and just plain bad. And that, My Friends, is what I think of whenever I hear that song...the naivete and drunkenness of my youth. Ugh.