You remember, don’t you? Sitting in front of your home stereo or your “boom box” with the dual cassettes – tapes out of their jackets and spread out like the wounded on a battlefield, working intensely for hours to get the mix just right, to capture your mood, to get the order and the timing perfect.

The ideal mix tape – did you make it?

I’m reminded of those days, of the “cool” clear cassettes by Bosh with the yellow and red inner workings, and of the songs invisibly imprinted on the ribbon that still spring me to life or make me pause and well up.

Yesterday I got another musical gift in the mail from my baby brother. I still don’t know why I call him that – considering he’s older. Maybe because he’s the younger of the two? Maybe because his outlook has been chronically positive and optimistic even as mine was in the bowls of the belly of the beast? Because he’s sunshine and innocence to me?

Getting back on topic, Kevin makes some kick ass mix CDs. The one he made that I’m listening to now, this is the one that makes the trip back and forth to the Jeep with me. The one that brings me home.

Last night for my date night, I stayed in. I had one of my famous sandwiches, took a bath, and made Kev a CD that he can boogie and cry to…but hopefully not at the same time.