soobiebear | Feb. 1st, 2021

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Let me tell you about this song. In case you weren't around in 1998, which is admittedly a long time ago now.

This song was massive. It was everywhere. Couldn't avoid it. It's not bad. Well written and produced. There's a lot of production on it, even though it might not always sound like it. I dug production at the time, so the DDDDDG tuning and triple recordings and curves were fascinating on a technical level. And it had a mandolin. In the middle of alt-punk and the start of cock rock, here was a mandolin. There were other reasons for mandolin as well, maybe I'll get to those later.

So this song is massive. In the cafeteria at college and in the grocery store and everywhere. You kind of get inured to a song when you hear it that often.

Then November rolls around. Capri's birthday party. I was going and determined to have a good time but was depressed and heartbroken. J wasn't going to make it. Well, I had a good time by myself at the Tiki bar themed place at the mall and for not knowing anyone got through it with little affair.

Because our other halves bailed, me and Jess ended up sharing a hotel room. No big deal. It had to be either the first night or early on day two - I haven't thought about this in twenty years. Likely day two, it was very late on Day One when the bus picked me up. After midnight if I recall. I was watching Premier League on the lounge TV when everyone else finally gave it up for the night. We got to the hotel super late that first day.

So yeah, Day two then. Jess and her Uncle Doug were getting in later in the day, so that's why I was alone at Kahunaville or whatever it was.

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Wow, ok, so much for that then.

It must have been before the the dinner party started. I'd had a few at lunch - already well on the way with my alcohol addiction - and its fuzzy. Jess gets in and we hang out waiting again for the bus to take us from the Hotel to the Cafaro's house. Or was it Day Three? Uhhh... Did we go straight to the house from Eastwood? No, we had to change, that's right. Maybe it was Day 2.

Anyway, at some point it's just me and Jess. She brought a gift for me, something I'd not had the foresight to do for her. I still have the shawl, but the slip of paper is long gone, not sure if that even made it back to the dorm room with me. I don't even remember what she'd written, but it was quoting this song and it was all touching and moving for two straight (at the time) girls.

The rest of the night was a wreck. I was mad and sad and drunk and she was off partying with 'Chaz' while I was gurgling wine like it was going out of style and later whiskey at the bar with Jason. Its the night of the infamous British Telephone Booth and In-house Bowling Alley among other things.

Even later that night I'd retired at the end of the party while Jess partnered off. Got a kiss from her when she came back to the room and I might have gotten a quick grope in.

For a crazy six month period in my life I crammed a lot in. And yes, the Goo Goo Dolls were a part of it. The song is still unavoidable even if it's not played as often. Every time it reminds me of her even now. William likes it, and sings along to it, and has no idea that it hurts most of the time.

Yeah, must have been day two. I woke up on Day Three still drunk and proceeded to have shots of Jack Daniels for breakfast. Got back to the dorms still drunk and flashed a classmate. Poor Joe. Wonder where he went to. I blew his mind a few times with the stuff I did. And read.

So the shawl/scarf is still with me through all they years and moves. Very protective of it and usually it's hidden away safely. Don't let the post-night shift hairdo fool you. I'm incredibly sexy under there.