I've been handed a curse...

I don't believe I ever have told you about my curse, have I? It is an odd one, I don't know where or when it started, but I noticed it a few years back (around 2000-2001). I have shared it with Gabi and a close friend or two, but, to prevent the spread, I have kept it encapsulated within that group. I was thinking about it the other day and decided that I would share it here...I am cursed by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Yes, the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynrd. I grew up in upstate NY. Very close to the town of Woodstock, Bearsville Studios and Bard College. "Classic Rock" or at the time I was growing up "AOR FM Rock" was king. 60's acts that crossed over into the 70's like The Doors and Stones as well as all of those 70's arena bands were the ONLY thing the kids at my school listened to. While I enjoyed some of that, I found myself leaning towards other bands that were not popular, or popular yet. I liked Cheap Trick before they broke with Budokan. I loved the Bon Scott led AC/DC. I was very into the first wave...Jam, Pistols, Pretenders and Cars, which did not allow me to fit in with my classmates on some levels. Right up there with Zeppelin and Aerosmith, the kids loved Lynyrd Skynyrd. I loathed them, I don't like the south in general, but southern rock, to me, really blew...fast forward to 2000...I started to notice Skynyrd in my life. Not just the occasional song every once in a while, but some reference to Skynyrd every single day!!! I started to notice not a day went by without something Skynyrd. A song, a photo, a story about them, someone talking about them, Muzak in the store, a reference to them from a comedian or on TV or even a kid walking down the street in a Skynyrd shirt! It was uncanny, I could be on the road, tuning the radio and I would, without fail, hit a Skynyrd song. When I finally shared this with my BSI replacement, Kevin, he at first dismissed it, but then noticed when we walked into a bar, it was only a matter of minutes before "Gimme Three Steps" or "Sweet Home Alabama" would play on the music system. He started to notice where ever I was, Skynyrd soon followed. As of today the curse is still with me...Everyone that knows the curse always stares me down when there is a random Skynyrd reference. As funny as this all sounds...it is true on every level and I have learned just to accept it. So, from Skynyrd central...have a great day! (and please, give me three steps, give me three steps mister...)