For a Moment It Was 1989

When I was 16, I got a job and a drivers license and saved all of my paychecks so I could get my own car.

Oh, what a car it was.

It was a forest green (I swore I'd never have a green car) Chevy Citation. It was ugly as sin, but it was all mine.

Every morning of senior year, I'd pick up Carrie and then we'd go to pick up Eric. He was never ready and didn't want to go to school as early as I did. The alternative, riding the bus, got him up and out (most days) after 5-10 minutes of us sitting in the driveway. My concession to him for going in early was that he had control of the radio. I was totally OK with that. He introduced me to bands like Real Life, Joy Division, and New Order. Bands that are a part of the soundtrack of my life.

Fast forward, several years. OK, fast forward 25 years and there I am driving the Mom-mobile down I-271 to homeschool art class. The radio had been tuned to 1st Wave since I had been in the car alone the previous ride (no radio Disney, no School House Rocks). The DJ mentioned that on March 14, 1989, Depeche Mode released 101 and then they played one of my all time favorite DP mode songs, "Somebody."

After 25 years years, I still remembered every word.



At first glance, it's the ultimate love song. Everyone is looking for their "Somebody", but at the end Martin Gore gives his little twist and the song takes on a whole different meaning. I always loved that.

Next they played New Order. "Regret."



Next, Real Life. "Send Me An Angel '89."



Lastly, The Cure. "Pictures of You."



For 15 minutes, my kids didn't ask me to change the channel. As a matter of fact, they didn't ask me one thing. They did something amazing. They let me sing and live in a moment I'd long forgotten.

When "Pictures of You" ended, Nolan asked me if I knew every song they play on that station. I said that I probably did. Those were, and still are, some of my favorites. They have so many special memories attached to them. Driving to school everyday, especially the day where I hit the lady in front of us and Eric flew into the front of the car from the back seat (what seat belt law back then!), driving to play volleyball almost every night of the summer after we graduated, just parked on the side of the road in the metroparks and sitting in the sun and laughing, driving to Coventry to pick up Matt before he set out on foot to walk from Cleveland Heights to Eastlake (a 5 1/2 hour walk that he made many times), and so much more.

Twenty-five years. It just doesn't seem possible.