The Playlist: A Love Letter

     Leaving is always bittersweet, and this time was no different.  The last few posts of last week were shorter, even though I had grand ideas for them.  Eventually, they became a tad gut wrenching, so I had to stop.  It turns out there were some pretty great people in DC, and the more I thought about them, the harder it got to say god-bye.  I spent the train ride thinking about it, and I became a cliche--the girl crying on the train, staring out the window, watching the world go by.
     I listened to this song many times:

It felt like the first day of my life. But also, and I realize this isn't what the song meant, I was holding onto hope that if I realized one day I wanted to go home, they would take me back.
     And now it really does feel like the first day of my life.

     I wrote this love letter to my friends.  It's a modern day love letter, so it's not a love letter at all, it's a playlist.  If you're interested, the song list is here.

5 Years Time – Noah And The Whale
This Too Shall Pass – OK Go
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
First Day Of My Life – Bright Eyes
No Children – The Mountain Goats
She’s Got You High – Mumm-ra
Swim Until You Can’t See Land – Frightened Rabbit
If I Had A Boat – Lyle Lovett
Hurry Up Let’s Go – Shout Out Louds
Kids – MGMT
Daylight – Matt & Kim
Monday Morning – Death Cab for Cutie
My Beloved Monster – Eels
This Year – The Mountain Goats
Portland, Oregon – Loretta Lynn, Jack White
Joy – Lucinda Williams
Song for Myla Goldberg – The Decemberists
Furr – Blitzen Trapper
Goodbye (This Is Not Goodbye) – Over the Rhine
Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear
You Got Growing Up To Do – Joshua Radin feat. Patty Griffin
Things – Frightened Rabbit
The Cave – Vitamin String Quartet
Moves – The New Pornographers
Coffee And Cigarettes – Jimmy Eat World
Girl in the War – Josh Ritter
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small Town – Pearl Jam
A Real Hero – College, Electric Youth
Always Love – Nada Surf
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing – The Magnetic Fields
King of Carot Flowers, Pt. 1 – Neutral Milk Hotel
Fake Empire – The National
Section 9(Light&Day / Reach For The Sun) – The Polyphonic Spree
I Died So I Could Haunt You – Stars
Mutiny, I Promise You – The New Pornographers
Underwater – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Six O’clock News – Kathleen Edwards
Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
Lakes of Pontchartrain – The Be Good Tanyas
Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise – The Avett Brothers
Leave Your Boyfriends Behind – Leona Naess
Float On – Modest Mouse
New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down – LCD Soundsystem
Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend
Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
Honey, We Can’t Afford To Look This Cheap – The White Stripes
You Only Live Once – The Strokes
Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt – We Are Scientists
Junk Of The Heart (Happy) – The Kooks
Pyro – Kings of Leon
Say It Ain’t So – Weezer
Drugs Or Me – Jimmy Eat World
Here Comes Your Man – Pixies
All Kinds Of Time – Fountains of Wayne

  I think this Avett Brothers song best sums up the playlist's thesis:
     

I think I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Thank you Friends. I love you all.