Well we are back home. No stream tonight. It will have to wait for the 4th of July!
It was a wild four days. Feels like an eternity. For good and for frustrating. People say you can never spend too much time with family.
I am testing that theory! lol
We just listened to Fahrenheit 182. The life story of Mark Hoppus, lead singer for Blink 182. A 7-hour audible book. And we did 8 hours of driving. The last 30 minutes of the drive was listening to Blink's newest album with deeper appreciation.
The book was awesome. I would say a solid 8.5 on 10, only because from a literary perspective, it wan't Shakespeare. But it was never supposed to be.
As a Blink 182 fanboy, it was fascinating just to know the story of Mark. Childhood. Siblings. Parents. Divorce. Trauma. It was written in the way I would have conducted the interview/conversation.
You got to learn the origins of name. It was Blink before a lawsuit for copyright violation, so they added the "182" just because. So it became blink-182 (lower case b).
The stories of the origins - young punks, the punk rock scene, what van tours looked like. The rise to fame, the break-ups, back together again. It was awesome.
That said, from a literary perspective, or a deeper human perspective, it did have a beautiful theme. The leitmotif of Hoppus' trauma from divorce of his parents to the "divorce" or the band. Being stuck in the middle of warring parties and the need to be a peacemaker. How that trauma created the defensive mechanism that kind of drove his career.
The part of his cancer treatment was particularly poignant. You can be the most famous, richest celebrity on earth, and when you get sick, none of that matters. Except inasmuch as it allows you to get the best treatment at the best facilities.
Mark's OCD / phobias / inner voice / catastrophizing was definitely something I could relate to. But I think it's something most people could relate to.
It was really cool getting to know the backstories of the songs, albums. It definitely gives things a new meaning, however superficial the subject matter is.
It was an awesome story. Not many people get marries and stay married. Even Tom and Travis (the other two members got divorced), but Mark managed to stay happily married.
It makes me a little sad in a way. Listening to the book and listening to the most recent album after, looking at Marion, I realize what a part of our lives and memories Blink has been.
Makes me wonder what I am doing with my life. What impact I want to have on others and whether or not I can/will have a lasting impact in a meaningful way in the lives of others.
And whether or not it is a pursuit of vanity to even aspire to that.
Need to be the best father and husband first and foremost and hope I am doing that.
But will continue aspiring the the vanity pursuit of having a broader impact on the world around me, starting with the inner-most circle.
Deep thoughts.
See you all tomorrow.
Godspeed and God bless.
And happy 4th of July in advance!
