Pair of Wings and My Love Affair with Tracy Chapman

This blog is not meant to be read, it's an experiment between the separated book ends of a family of four. Jacob, the most important being the whole universe to his older and wiser sister Laura , has decided that "this blog is about badass siblings talking about badass things that gets read by badass people".

We are a pair of wings because our last name means "wing" in another language. If we were to include our other two siblings in this endeavour we'd make a dragonfly. And while dragonflies are amazing creatures and the way their wings work is mind boggling (check out SmarterEveryDay on youtube), butterflies are better.

We'll be posting and arguing so if you have siblings I hope you can relate to the unique relationship we share and if you don't this is a glimpse into a real one, quirks and all.

Okay, so I feel like if I don't actually talk about something substantial this will be my second post about nothing at all, so here it goes.

One of my favourite singers of all time is Tracy Chapman. My love affair started at a young age when my aunt gifted me her debut album for Christmas. The simplicity of the lyrics, the raw emotions and the mesmerizing tones of Ms. Chapman had me hooked. That and her very famous "Fast Car". She is the singer that quells my homesickness when I travel abroad, or brings all my sadness to the forefront. Because no matter where in the world I've ended up, someone always play "Fast Car".

One time this happened, I was in a car on my way to school in Germany. I was sitting in the back while both the driver and passenger sitting up front smoked cigarettes. I unequivocally hate smoke. And while I try not to make it personal, whenever someone smokes in my vicinity they are number one on my hit list at that moment. Honestly, if looks could kill just you dare look my way! But I digress...Here I was in the back seat drowning while breathing when all of a sudden "Fast Car" came over the radio and I, to put it simply, broke down. I cried and I cried and I cried. Silently of course. But I felt the pain I was holding in as tears dropped and then rushed down my cheeks. I missed home, I missed my family who understood and loved me, and I missed my home country where smoking was not this popular and I could get through a day without walking through a cloud of smoke.

The song ended and I took a deep breath (the first of the trip) and calmed down and quickly resumed my short shallow breaths. I didn't have to despair for too long because soon after they finished their cigarettes and we arrived at school.

To Tracy Chapman, my angel in the speakers. I love you.