This past Friday, I drove my wife and son to the airport and they left for 10 days. This is the second time since early May I’ve been “left to my own devices.” One time I was in Mexico for work, so that only sort of counts, but this time it’s just me and a 100-year old house that I’m pretty sure is haunted. (I don’t care if the cure for narcissism is in our attic, I am NOT going in there.)

They are currently on a cruise ship somewhere between Vancouver, BC and Alaska, on the search for whales, Bald Eagles, and if you’re my wife, just a teeny tiny bit of peace and quiet. Jack is, no surprise, having a blast with his two cousins and grandparents. He’s already won a prize from the claw machine and almost every time we’ve spoken he’s been eating soft serve ice cream.

I’m not really one to brag, and I am knocking on copious amounts of wood here, but my biggest flex is how amazing Jack’s childhood is. It’s so quintessential that it almost feels wrong in this day and age (almost). This summer alone, he’s been to a lake in Texas, on a cruise in Alaska, will head to Sweden soon, and that’s only the things we have planned so far!

As I’ve said before, travel is super important to Reagan and I. And I’m proud that we have prioritized it even when we can’t do it all together as a fam. Case in Point: Reagan is about to go to LA for a long-ish weekend to see some of her comedy heroes perform live. Jack and I will stay behind and be thrilled for her from afar. If anyone deserves a little South California Sun and laughs, it’s Reagy Baby.

What is always true as a parent becomes even more so when traveling. The bad/screamy/whiny times are still there, but boy do they pass quick. In a year, what will we remember: Jack crying because he didn’t get to spend 200 dollars on slot machines. Or him telling his slightly younger cousin that, “Patience can be hard, but it’s important,” when he was having a hard time.

Huh, I wonder.

They’ll be gone the rest of this week. I’ll be here sweating and watching the Fast and Furious movies in reverse order for some reason.

Rilo Kiley - “Portions for Foxes” (2004)

Reagan and I, for the most part, had very similar musical upbringings. We were both people who had to rely more on friends (online and IRL) to help us develop our musical tastes. The only songs I ever remember enjoying with my parents was the song they sing at dinner in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and a few early Garth Brooks radio hits. Other than that I was adrift.

I truly discovered music when I started getting involved at AbsolutePunk.net. But I’ve told this story before and it’s whatever. Reagan was someone who also loved emo and rock music and the type of stuff you’d hear in an American Eagle Outfitters and get mad at outwardly but inside you were like, “Yeah Im cool.”

But Reagan’s musical taste is much more diverse than mine. Always has been and probably always will be. This song from Rilo Kiley is another example of that. I heard this song FROM 2004 MIND YOU for the first time recently, and when I played it for Reagan and Jack she immediately started singing along. She was sort of indignant about it too, “Of course I know this song.”

Sometimes I forget she is a white girl in glasses who used to play the French Horn and had a poster of Big Ben (the clock) on her bedroom wall. So no duh she knows Rilo Kiley.

I’m told this song was on an album that was also their major label debut, which is a tough thing to navigate for any band. Rightfully (and surprisingly) so, it received critical praise and even had a song featured in the incredible early 2000s movie “John Tucker Must Die”

It’s a pretty classic angsty rock song, mixing extreme emotions like loathing and loving, and for a person coming of age at this time, I can see the immediate appeal. I’m not gonna do a speech about the gender issues of the early 2000s, but starting a song with the lines, “There’s blood in my mouth / Cause I’ve been biting my tongue all week” sort of breaks it all down in one sentence. Teenagers are simultaneously ready to break out and make noise, yet afraid of making yourself a target.

Oh wait, that never goes away? Shoot. Well then I guess that’s why this song still rules and is still super relevant.

Is it a JackJam?

Full transparency: I don’t have a super clear memory of Jack’s reaction to this song. His mom was liking it, and as the King of FOMO, I’m pretty sure he was into it.

I’ll try again when he gets back next week, but if history is a guide, this one will tick a lot of his boxes. It’s got a really catchy chorus that is easy to yell (“Baby I’m bad news!”), and even though it’s over 4 minutes, it’s dynamic enough to take quite a few left turns.

Jack can watch the same TV show over and over, but when it comes to music he likes things to get a little funky. And with some really happy-go-lucky synths, that sort of tinny/angular guitar that was huge during this time period, and a singer that can croon and caterwaul, there’s plenty to keep a discerning mind like Jack engaged.

As I said up top, I’m super glad that Jack and his mom are off exploring the world, and I look forward to joining them on a family trip later this summer.

For now, I’m rewatching old Rhett and Link videos, eating Frosted Flakes a lot, and reading Fantasy books about a blindfolded, agoraphobic detective. That sounds sad, but only the Frosted Flakes part is out of the ordinary, tbh.

Any songs you’ve been enjoying? Any tips for a 10-day bachelor? All you have to do is reply to this email.

BLAKE