I was at home this weekend, doing some work on my computer and listening to some Ben Folds 5. I had not listened to the album in a long time, but whenever I listen to The Unauthorized Autobiography of Reinhold Messner, it reminds me of driving up the 101 freeway to pick up my brother from college that first year when he did not have parking. There were several times that I drove up, and I definitely have a fond memory of driving up the coast on each occassion.
I told my dad about this and asked him if he had any songs that reminded him of specific times. He mentioned something about how if he heard the lyrics “I am the county line man and I can hear you through the wire,” would remind him of a drive he did from Toronto to California. He smiled and left the room. I did some quick internet research, found this page, and had the music playing loud when he came back into the room.
Now, I will not say that I love the song, but I loved his reaction when he came back into the living room and just listened with a smile on his face. It was seriously amazing. I cannot explain it beyond that.
This probably sounds a bit corny, but I cannot help it, it was a cool moment together, connecting through music and memories and I loved it.
I also found out this past week that when my dad was studying at Berkeley and living in a co-op, Allen Ginsberg (“Howl” etc.) came by for dinner once and gave a poetry reading to his house. I think that is cool too.
I am overall somewhat jealous that my dad got to be in college at such a revolutionary time and at a school that was so key to the changes that took place in that time. And he was studying there during Berkeley’s 100 year anniversary. I look up to my dad a lot for several reasons, many not having to do with his schooling, but honestly… I think that he has had such a cool life! I hope I can be as strong in my convictions and as open to new experiences as he was. Could I believe in something so much that I would be willing to go to jail for standing up against the U.S. government with those beliefs? Could I live for 15 years in a foreign country doing worthwhile work for the glory of God? Could I work hours upon hours of overtitme to help put my children through college, in hopes that they might have some amazing experiences as well? I hope so, or at least that I would be willing to… no, I hope that I would desire to.
Something that has become clear over the past few days is that some amazingly huge things are in progress here at UCLA. God is definitely at work here, and I am excited to be a part of it all. I might not be here during any huge milestones (well, maybe the 100th ncaa title or something, we’ll see) for the school, but there is good stuff happening. More to come.
