I’m 20, and therefore, I am immortal.

Okay, not really, but apart from a few emo episodes, I never really consider that I could die. It wasn’t until 2 years ago that I realized people my parents’ age died. That was when my Uncle Russ died.  Now, as I write this, my uncle Melvin is in the hospital, fighting for his life, after a really horrible accident yesterday morning.

It puts my mortality into perspective, I think. I mean, I expect my grandparents and older people to die. Luckily, apart from my maternal grandfather, none of them have. But, it’s inevitable, I suppose. Having aunts and uncles and parents coming to a point where they could die as well, although not as likely, has been a bit of a shock.

The truth is after their generation is gone, who’s next? … We are.

I am.

It’s frightening.

As it turns out, he died in 1986 at age 77. Many of his colleagues also have passed away, leaving me as one sad, little 20 year old girl, wondering if perhaps she was born in the wrong decade. I’m referring to the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, of course. Also, his peers, including, but not limited to Glenn Miller (whose air plane mysteriously and tragically disappeared in 1944), Artie Shaw (who lived to the ripe age of 94), Duke Ellington (played until his death in ‘74), and Louis Armstrong (whom you may know by his nickname, Satchmo, was one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time).

It is a rainy day, and I am an odd girl. With my window wide open so I can hear it pour and smell the rain, I put on a big band compilation album this morning, and have been working through several since. Falling in love a little bit more with each song. I’ve always enjoyed this music, and I love swing dancing. It’s sad that so many of my peers are unfamiliar with such music. It made me think about how these artists are already gone. Soon, the teenagers that danced to their music will be gone as well. And we’ll be left, with what– rap music? Not that I don’t enjoy rap, but there is something much more satisfying about big band and swing. It really captured the era. The 40s were tough for everyone, and it was used as an escape. The 2000s are tough too, but I have no desire to escape into the world of bitches and hos, myself.

Really, all I can say is thank God for compilation albums and period films. Oh, and for Michael Bublé.

This is a new layout.

That’s all, really.

Jem has already remarked that I’ve changed my layout 476 times this year. I KNOW, GUYS. I KNOW! I just get bored easily.

This layout is light! (Duh). Different, huh?