Dear friend,

I’ve always wondered why rainy days leave someone feeling solemn. Every time their expressions are the same, always the infamous themed story, “Awww, Rain, Rain, GO AWAY…” but I won’t finish the rest. Secretly I love rainy days, because I can let my imagination run freely… sort of like streams of consciousness, and every thought is full of pure sunlight and fields of flowers – a dream land. And sometimes, when I’m having a bad day I just think about the sunshine of my imagination. All is better.

My dad loves rainy days too. As a kid I remember him and I used to share that interest. As rain poured, we spent those hours of sunshine together in our den, amidst the tall book shelves and peaceful fire; playing a game of chess, or reading, or imagining. I learned from our time together, that if you just let your mind be free, we can understand the true meaning of bliss. I like to think of those moments as the best any father or son can share.

As I grew older my imagination expanded and when I needed to focus I couldn’t… I would always dream about sunshine and other things. After that I was diagnosed with severe ADD. My parents let the doctors put me on medication, and since, my imagination has faded. Everything colorful became grey. My vivid streams of consciousness in which I found peace disappeared. Into high school, it was then I began to dabble into a self-medication process. I read poetry; I wrote poetry… sometimes I drove; sometimes I walked… sometimes I did things I shouldn’t have. I just wanted an escape and then I found it. Skateboarding was always there to lift the anchor of medication. Skateboarding was that escape I always needed – those blissful moments in sailing the air where my mind is free. But then, back to reality.

I wrote this letter because I’ve been wondering if I should quit taking my medication… if I should lie to my parents and my doctors. All I want my mind to be the way it was meant to be… free.

My kinship always,
Jammy

Our,

Lemon Burst

Song One: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
Song Two: “I Ran So Far Away” – Flock of Seagulls
Song Three: “Call Me” – Blondie
Song Four: “Flashdance” – Irene Cara
Song Five: “Tainted Love” – Soft Cell
Song Six: “Owner of a Lonely Heart” – Yes
Song Seven: “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
Song Eight: “Upside Down” – Diana Ross
Song Nine: “Land Down Under” – Men at Work
Song Ten: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears

I remember you and I would always talk about traveling back in time to the 80’s... And how fun it would be to wear goofy clothes, and glasses, and all those things. I remember our sophomore year in high school we started the trend for Funky Fridays with our Day-Glo sensations. I remember for Halloween we dressed as an 80’s duo for three years in a row. Each year just got better and better. We were always the talk of the neighborhood. And then, on numerous occasions you and I would take your dads convertible and go for a night on the town booming our favorite tunes. In the end, we did manage to travel back in time and in our honor I made this mix tape to declare, WE ARE THE RULERS OF THE WORLD!

I hope that when you listen to this mix tape you can re-live everything we shared together in our little world from the 1980's. Just promise me one thing, you'll sing out loud to every song like we did in your dads yellow convertible.


My best friend is really my twin. Shhh!
My dad adorns his moustache a little too much.
My mom sometimes “accidentally” cuts-in to change the subject.
My sister is very opinionated – Ms. Environmentalist.
My aunt always has a hug to give, and cookies too.