Common threads...

I believe that most people look for things that unite them with others.  It's what makes a society.  People coming together with shared beliefs, thoughts, values, etc.  Each day I go to work and process the orders of people who want tents.  It is fun because I can see people's names.  There are some great ones out there; and some I'm really glad that I wasn't burdened with that moniker.  I also get to see where people live.  Not in a creepy stalker sort of way, but I have to look up addresses to see if they are residential or business.  Sometimes I'll see an address that's local, and I'll think to myself, "Well, I could drive that over to you and drop it off."  Today was one of those days...a guy in McLean ordered a tent.  I thought, "If you only knew how close your tent is..."

What really struck me today was a name.

Back when Q and I had been married for about a year, we moved to Austin, Texas.  I worked as a teller in a bank and Q worked for UT in the traffic department.  All day long he scheduled appointments for people who had gotten parking tickets.  He spent all day listening to people who were PO'ed.  We lived in a tiny little apartment on the south side of town.  It was the site of the infamous, "Get the mouse..." story.

We hung out with Q's college friends - who became our friends.  I feel like we got out more than too.  There wasn't internet everywhere, so we'd go to a bookstore, or out to eat, or just drive around looking at houses.

We only had one car, so we spent a lot of time in the car together.  In the mornings we'd listen to the morning radio show "Dudley and Bob".  Many times we would arrive at our destination crying because we had been laughing so hard.  We still laugh about the time Dale Dudley was saying his name and it all kind of slurred together, "Daledudley...Daledudley."  I'm giggling a little now.

Today I was processing an order with the last name Dudley.  My mind jumped to, "I wonder if they're in Aust...oh, my gosh...they're in Austin.  How funny is that?"  It wasn't Dale Dudley (but in my mind it's his wife...or daughter...or mother).  All of a sudden I was taken back to those two years we spent in Austin so long ago.  Before kids, before pets, before the second enlistment in the Army, before my dad was gone...

Dudley and Bob used to play new music and then poll the audience to see if it was good.  I remember hearing this song and thinking, "Man - that sucks."  It's become another little reminder of what used to be.  As much as I get frustrated these days and as much as I loved those times, I don't think I'd like to go back.  I'd miss my kids too much...and man, that song...it sucked.

This isn't the official music video - but it is very entertaining.