Dear Darling Ones,

Since the stroke is on my mind every second of every day, I seek out things that make me forget it for even a moment. Not forget. That’s not a thing that will happen. I’m seeking small segments of time where my brain is distracted enough that it’s not constantly thinking “Wow it’s weird in here. The right side of your face is still numb. Is this how you’re gonna feel forever? Is the floppy scoop still heavy, raise your arm above your head to see.”

Here are four songs I’m obsessed about because they distract me for at least 15 seconds at a time.

Haha, Dead

For inexplicable reasons my brain sings this song about 88 times a day. I think it’s the fun to tongue clicks and clucks at about the two-minute mark. It’s super fun to sing along too. I much prefer this to Dan Fogelberg’s Leader of the Band,” which my brain had adopted as a lullaby.

Darkness, Pinegrove

I don’t know what it is about this song that caught my ear. It showed up in some Spotify mix or played after I was dine listening to the new Bully record for the 88th time. Who knows? The line about “darkness on my mind” snagged in my damage brain and never left. This has a shinier, slicker Gin Blossoms feel to me. Confession: I know zero things about this band other than I like this song.

Basic Channels, Josiah and the Bonnevilles

My music listening comes in two varieties: focussed obsessive listening to a specific band or record (see: Bully comment) or total chaos. Every week I spend time listening to the Spotify Release Radar and Discover Weekly playlists. I’m also inattentive some times and will listen for hours to whatever is shoved into my ears.

Anyway, I don’t know how this song came into my life. It reminds me of a mix between “Fishin’ in the Dark” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Avett Brothers’ cover of “Spanish Pipedream.

Time Ain’t Accidental, Jess Williamson

This song mentions a Raymond Carver and getting head, two of my favorite activities. Williamson is half of Plains, whom I love, and I can’t wait to spend more time with her new record.

What are you listening to?

Love,
Jodi

P.S. the Go Fund Me is going like gangbusters! Together, we’ve raised enough to cover a little over half my debt. I cannot thank everyone enough. I started working on Thank You cards last night. It was a lot of work. Writing is hard! But I loved doing it & it made me feel good. If you’d like one, hit me up jodi@iwilldare.com