Do you have a favorite musician, band, etc?

Without a doubt mine is Blue Rodeo. Has been for years. I can guarantee that at any one time I have at least one of their cds in my car deck and usually 2. It seems virtually impossible for me to experience listening fatigue when it comes to these guys. Whenever I hear "5 Days in May" I make everyone stop talking and listen. I lovingly refer to it as my codependent music. Somehow it triggers that thing in me, that thing that lets you know that we are all fucked up in our own way, and despite this, there is still hope for us all, even when it doesn't work out how we imagined.

I can tell you that it started in 1987 in a rec hall fifteen minutes from where I grew up, at a weekend dance. His name was Robbie, he had the most beautiful olive complexion and hazel eyes that were slightly green around the outer edge of the iris. His hair was brown and he was wearing bleached Levi's and a yellow polo shirt. He was 17 and I was giddy at being asked to dance with this older boy. We slow danced to "Try" and when it was over he kissed me. For days afterward I found myself catching my breath and replaying the melody in my head.

Don't tell me I'm wrong

Cause I've been watching every move that you make.

Hearts you steal in your make-up and heels

trouble for the man that you take.

Every time you walk in the room

I could never be sure of a smile

You were never the same way twice.

I'm falling in love Oh night after night.....

and its CRAZZ-ya-zzy.

.

Even now, I think of him in the music and smile.

As I've aged, so has the band. Lyrically and melodically we fit. I am moved by their style and their words. It is a bit forlorn, sometimes dark, often conflicted and always brilliant.

.

They met in a hurricane

standing in the shelter out of the rain

She tucked a note into his hand

later on they took his car

drove down on where the beaches are

He wrote her name in the sand

Never even let go of her hand

.

Somehow they stayed that way

for those five days in may

made all the stars around them shine

funny how you can look in vain

living on nerves and such sweet pain

loneliness that cuts so fine

find the face you've seen a thousand times

.

sometimes the world begins

to set you up on your feet again

and i know it wipes the tears from your eyes

how will you ever know the way that circumstances go

it's gonna hit you by surprise

.

But i know my past and you were there

in everything i've done

you are the one...

~5 Days in May