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Mixed Tape

"Power of Two" - Indigo Girls

I was sitting at an almost empty thrift store. It was still early, but the sun disappeared an hour ago. It was not at all busy, but somehow time didn't take long to pass by. Maybe because I was distracted and didn't mind so much that I was out of my element and especially, out of the office. I needed a "break" even though I've only officially been back for a mere 3 days. It felt like a year went by today.

Less than 20-minutes before closing a familiar song began to play. It was a little low at first, but I knew instantly what it was because the guitars gave it away. I walked towards the front of the store and sat at one of the worn-out sofas in the corner. It was burnt red with floral pillows and smelled of potpourri. I sank right in and remembered the first time I heard this song.

I was 15, a sophomore in high school. My long-distance boyfriend was in Boston somewhere and I was stuck here with no cell phone, no Internet, hell there wasn't even email! We stayed in touch the old-fashioned way: Letters, Hallmark cards, care packages, and a phone call or two a month. Although it was hard, I have to admit I enjoyed putting things together for him. I enjoyed picking out pretty stationary and cute little nick-knacks. I remember very vividly one particular package I made. This was before I even had a computer, printer and CD-burner. I decided to make him a mixed tape.

I recorded each song in a specific order. It told a story of my feelings for him and how they grew over time. Along with this tape, I carefully hand-wrote all the lyrics line by line. I wanted it to be perfect and to include the 3 things I value most in life: music, words, and heart. Nothing more, nothing less. I know I was young and maybe naive, but the feeling I got while making this for someone I loved at the time made me realize just how precious and timeless things can be.

This was one of those songs. And I'm so happy it played tonight to make me think of this. A moment when I was truly happy that someone out there was truly happy with me.


Lyrics:

Now the parking lot is empty
Everyone's gone some place
I pick you up and in the trunk I've packed
A cooler and a two-day suitcase
Cause there's a place we like to drive
Way out in the country
Five miles out of the city limit we're singing
And your hand's upon my knee

So we're okay, we're fine
Baby I'm here to stop your crying
Chase all the ghosts from your head
I'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart
We'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
Adding up the total of a love that's true
Multiply life by the power of two

You know the things I'm afraid of
I'm not afraid to tell
And if we ever leave a legacy
It's that we loved each other well
Cause I've seen the shadows of so many people
Trying on the treasures of youth
But a road that's fancy and fast ends in a fatal crash
And I'm glad we got off to tell you the truth

Cause we're okay, we're fine
Baby I'm here to stop your crying
Chase all the ghosts from your head
I'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart
We'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
Adding up the total of a love that's true
Multiply life by the power of two

Emily:
All the shiny little trinkets of temptation
Something new instead of something old
All you gotta do is scratch beneath the surface
And it's fool's gold
Fool's gold
Fool's gold
Amy:
Make new friends but
Keep the old
But remember
What is gold
What is gold
What is gold

Now we're talking bout a difficult thing
And your eyes are getting wet
I took us for better and I took us for worse
Now don't you ever forget
Now the steel bars between me and a promise
Suddenly bend with ease
And the closer I'm bound in love to you
The closer I am to free

So we're okay, we're fine
Baby I'm here to stop your crying
Chase all the ghosts from your head
I'm stronger than a monster beneath your bed
I'm smarter than the tricks played on your heart
We'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
Adding up the totals of a love that's true
Multiply life by the power of two


http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/boysontheside/poweroftwo.htm
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/this_weekend/

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