Spit on a Strager

Spit on a Stranger by Pavement

The greatness that is or was Pavement came to me later in life, well later in life for a 26 year old who liked the Beatles at 8, the Who at 14, and the Strokes at 20. I’m not sure exactly how or why Pavement escaped me until I was 24, but they did. I blame my parents who decided to have me first, thus I never had an older brother (or younger brother for that matter). I shall forgive them.

No matter, this song cracks the top 20 of "All Time Greatest Songs That If You Were to Ask Me". The song comes in at just over three minutes, and all three minutes are pure indie perfection. I remember one day, it was during the long spring of 2006 in DC (aka the greatest spring of all time). I think it was April. I was pretty single and going to do something with my life - where I wasn't sure - but I was going to grad school. I was happy. Life felt good.

(To clarify, life feeling good and life is good are very different concepts. When life is/was good is basically saying, ‘I like life at this moment. It’s cool, I am enjoying myself’. Life is good moment often times occur when one is at a bar with friends or in bed with a lover. However, when life feels good, you’re actually at total peace and you randomly smile when you’re doing things like taking public transportation or eating lunch. This occurs when you feel like you have a purpose or if you are fully aware of your freedom. Life feeling good is a much better moment/feeling than life being good).

(ANYWAY) After work, I decided to walk up Connecticut Avenue. I did this from time to time back in the long spring. It was a nice way to take in life. Take in the unreality that is DC. I was going to some record store in DuPont to buy some album that I was hoping that was going to be pretty good. I think it was the Tapes'n'tapes album which Pitchfork said was good (it isn't), but I'm not totally sure. Anyway, I bought a few CDs from the record store and as I was walking to the metro, I decided to stop in DuPont Circle, the actual park which the city had slowly cleaned up over the six or so years I was in DC. I took a seat on the park bench listening to "Spit on a Stranger" and "You are a Light" a few times... probably read the Economist... and eventually left back for Old Town. That felt good.