There are times when I seem to get a bit nostalgic.  I'll go listen to some of the first songs I wrote/recorded, and have a good laugh/memory over them.  Kinda like when you pull out an old cd, and you can remember when you bought it, what you were doing with your life, or maybe a particlar song on that cd that really stands out, and you can recall the very first time you heard the song, where you were, and what you were doing.

Over the past few days, I've kinda been there, doing that.  Especially yesterday when I saw Kurt Warner beat the Rams to make it into the playoffs for the first time since playing for the Rams. If you don't follow sports, there was a ton of irony in it all, and in fact, after the game Kurt said "My God's got a sense of humor" - if that's not an understatement. I really hope they can make it all the way this year, but who knows.

I know with the state of the economy right now, things can look bleak, and it's one of the reasons why I like sports and music. They can take you out of reality for a few minutes and give you some hope.

A few days ago I read a blog by someone who was asking "what is the definition of an artist?" and got this reply from a friend:

I suspect one is an artist because one can find no other way to articulate who one is inwardly. If one can find another way, one should, because the life of an artist sucks. (And is unspeakably full of wonder.) I'm pretty sure at a certain point in life (adolescence, probably) one has become an artist-type whether one likes it or not. You can no longer just work in a bank. You are cursed / blessed, because something happened to you back when - something you probably can't even put a finger on - and it was probably something sad, based on a deeply sensitive kid being disappointed. When you're a kid the stories they tell paint the world as it should be - not as it is - which hurts to discover. But then, somehow, mysteriously, you learn to believe.

So, what do these things have in common? Well, as I said with my nostalgia talk, I think music, movies and sports, etc, can bring a glimmer of hope to people. A slight escape from reality. I know some could argue this being bad, but don't go overboard on me here, everyone needs an escape from reality every once in awhile! One of my top 3 favorite movies is Comedian. I have no aspirations of ever becoming a comedian, but for anyone who has pursued something for years on end, or would just like to get a different perspective on someone who has/is, I highly recommend it. I simply enjoy some of the things Jerry Seinfeld (and his friends) say in it, not the jokes so much, but the insights on life, purusing your dreams, etc. Check it out if you haven't, you won't be disappointed.

So I'm curious, do you have any nostalgic moments when something particular happens? Maybe it's the gas prices being so low that it reminds you of taking a trip somewhere, I don't know. Share, I'd love to read. :)

Tom Wehrle on iLike - Add iLike to your MySpace