The other day I was running with the dog, listening to music, in my own world. On my route there’s a completely blind spot where a building ends and a parking lot exit begins. I always kind of slow down and lean forward to make sure it’s clear before passing, but I don’t really stop. This particular time, an SUV was driving too fast for me to see on my glance, and as soon as I passed the building it looked like that was about it for me and the Lou dog.
Thankfully, the driver was guilty of speeding, but not distracted driving. He slammed on his brakes and we lived to see another day.
I wouldn’t call it a near-death experience... but if that driver had been, say texting, or fixing his GPS, it would have, at the very least, changed everything for me, the driver, and everyone close to us. It’s one of those wake-up calls where you realize you don’t have as much control as you think.
We’re all racing towards something. Right now for us it’s the record release and after that, touring. I always do this: I delude myself into thinking my life has finish lines while I'm alive. What’s more is that I honestly believe I have control over them. In my head, the finish line that is the record release goes something like this: the room is at capacity, the audience is rapt, and look, Danger Mouse is here and he wants to do his next project with us! Then of course there’s Grammy Awards and sold-out stadiums, etc. But that isn’t how it works, and I’m not sure it’s even what I want. No, when the album is finished and we’re back from touring, we figure out how we’re going to do it all again. And again, and again. Hopefully we keep growing as artists, and keep connecting with more and more people everywhere we go. When I stop and think about it, I’m grateful that there are no finish lines.
John Lennon sang one of my favorite lyrics of all time: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” I’ll try to live more.
www.brokenfencesband.com
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@broken_fences
P.S. If anyone knows Danger Mouse please tell him our record release is June 1, 2012 at Club Cafe. Thanks.
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