In Appreciation

Thank you for the music, REM. 

I’ve loved you since my tennis coach in 7^th grade introduced me to Green.

You were one of the first things my husband and I discovered we had in common; he went to a concert on your Monster tour in Orlando while I was away at college being a poor freshman who couldn’t afford a ticket. When you came to Iowa, I had a friend buy me a T-shirt. The boy and I traded shirts through the mail, and 15 years later, we still have them.

I am thankful I did eventually get to see you twice in concert over the years. My only regret is not getting a T-shirt at the Vote for Change show. Springsteen didn’t hold a candle to you that night. Sorry, Boss.

I wasn’t saddened by yesterday’s news of the band ceasing to be. It made sense; I understood.

The fans will be fine. And I will always have “Catapult” on my playlist. And probably “Electrolite,” too.

Editor's Note: All the "It's the end of the world as we know it" headlines have just got to stop. Really people. It's not clever.