to Jeff Tweedy, with love...

It recently dawned on me that I have spent almost half my life with you in some form or fashion.

I discovered you in college. You were there in the background. I was drinking beer at Bluff Hole and smoking a cigarette. I fell for you instantly.

The next year you were saying farewell. I was stupid and weak. He told me not to go, and I obliged. Oh, how I wish I'd climbed in the back of that car and traveled those miles to see you. It was a sign. He left a couple weeks later. I kept the cd's. And came out on top. New Madrid.

You went through changes and so did I.

Late night drives. Should've been in love. Misunderstood. Say you miss me.

You led me to Mermaid Avenue. Sad and lonely.

Spring gave me Summer. "He feels lucky to have you here, In his kitchen, in your chair". That's what I wanted.

It would happen.

We drove to the airport, a new ring on my finger. "I could not see any wrong in you, and you saw none in me...".

A man who loved me.

I blinked and then we were three. A little sooner than expected. Every morning, for days on end, a drive to the hospital. Jesus, etc. was ever present. It breaks my hard exterior every. single. time.

Lots of living. And growing. And learning.

Some loss.

"Remember to remember me, standing still in your past..."

Always.

Searching.

You came to town. And then our little beauty arrived.

Three became four.

Lots of living. And growing. And loving.

And then you wrote some sweet little songs that were both happy and sad.

Timing. Perfect timing.

On and on and on. "I will live in you or you will live in me..."

It hasn't always been easy, but now I have "something that no one else has".

So thank you, Jeff Tweedy, for being my soundtrack.

What a sweet soundtrack it is.

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If you are a Wilco fan, this post will make a lot more sense.

If you aren't a Wilco fan, you should be.