Keeping the Peace

Me, Simone, and the Boys in the Crue.

Have you ever heard a song that instantly transported you to the era in which it was playing on the radio. You can almost smell, see, and free all that was happening in your life just by hearing a few notes of your favorite tune. That as definitely the case on a nigh tin December as we bid adieu to one of our favorite bad ever... Motley Crue.

Motley Crue decided to retire from ever playing another live show again. It was clear that the four members, and most especially Mick Mars, had a good run and were ready to put that era of their lives to bed. My sister, Simone and I were true and loyal fans. We've seen them countless times over the years. The day after I got out the hospital for appendicitis, we went to see them. Nothing could keep us away. That was once again the case, on that sad December night when the music would soon die.

My sister and I spent the respectable amount of time deciding which ensemble would best show that balance between, I swear we are still cool and I'm so not trying that hard! Once we donned our winning looks, we headed for the show. As we entered the Staples Center, we could smell that familiar mix of leather, beer, and smoke. It already had all the makings of a great night. We did not catch the opening band because, well, we didn't want to. We were saving ourselves for the boys in the Crue!

As the first few notes came out of Mick's guitar and the bass of Nikki Sixx was coursing through our veins, I had that transportive moment! I was back to 1986. My outfit consisting of too much spandex and cowboy boots. My hair was teased to the perfect height and sprayed into place with the sufficient amount of Aussie Sprunch. (That smell was always a combination of corn tortillas and grape Bubble Yum to me.) I was singing every word as if my life depended on it. Those days, back in 1986, were so filled with promise. The future was still ahead and it all seemed possible. We didn't know where we would land, but we knew it would be amazing.

As I sit and type this, in 2016, I miss that sense of wonder and promise. I wonder how to get it back. My life is good. I have so many things going well, but the one thing that constantly eludes me is that sense of peace. I was able to grab it, for one night in December, that sense of peace and perfectness. But then the lights came back on the and music died. RIP Motley Crue.