The next year Shelley began attending my university and we continued on.
But then something happened. To this day, I'm not really sure what it was. The final straw involved me making an emergency trip to her dorm room after a frantic call from her roommate. There was a mostly empty vodka bottle and a lot of confusion. After that we went out separate ways.
For years and years, Empty Glass remained on the shelf. I had no interest in revisiting that time period. When "Let My Love Open The Door" came on the radio, I had to change the station. Then, around the time of my (gulp) twentieth high school reunion, I somehow managed to get back in contact with Shelley via email. We had a nice 'what the heck happened' discussion. We came to the conclusion that we were both young and foolish and ended up treating each other the way we did for all sorts of reasons that were more or less out of our control. Then we got to really reminiscing. Now that was fun. Interesting the stuff you can remember from so long ago. We've both been through so much stuff over this time gap but some things remain fresh.
Years after that reunion of sorts, I am finally able to listen to Empty Glass without the pain...and a fine record it is.
Article comments
1 - Shark
Sound is almost as strong a motivator for old memories as odor or taste. (If Proust had grown up in the late 20th century, a madeleine dipped in tea would have been replaced by a song from the pop charts!)
I remember making out with a cute little babe during "Cherish" by The Association.
I can still hear that song and remember the very moment; the weather, her hands, her lips, and the odor of her hair.
"The Association."
Appropriate, yes?
(For the curious and vicariously inclined, I did get her to take off her bra.)
2 - Shark
re: "...odor of her hair."
"White Shoulders."
And mine would have been "Jade East".
Oy.
I hope she doesn't 'remember'.
3 - wally bangs
Delightful post, Mark. "Let My Love Open The Door" takes me back to my junior high roller rink days where skating so fast you were made to sit down was an honor among friends, but even better was making out with a girl in the corner which was public spectacle as all of your and her friends would make a wall so the adults couldn't see what was happening.
4 - Mark Saleski
tsk, tsk!
5 - Bob A. Booey
The Who sucks.
That is all.