May 24, 2004

Lisa and I went to the HFStival on Saturday night. We were really only going so we could see The Cure, since none of the other bands interested in us, and I wasn't sure how soon they'd be having a tour of their own. So after the ticket fiasco was settled (tickets weren't mailed, got them lined up through will call) we went down to RFK Stadium and got there around 7:30. Jay Z was performing so we got strawberry smoothies minus the alcohol because they had stopped serving at 7, and sat outside until about 8:30. Then we went in and watched Offspring from high up in the stands. And then it happened. The Cure.

I've seen The Cure several times before now, but it's always a pleasure to see them again. (The best time of course was when I watched them from the 4th row - nothing could top that, except maybe the first row...) There were one or two songs I didn't recognize so they were either new ones or some of the ones from the 90's that I never quite memorized.

At one point Lisa said to me between songs, "They have to play 'Pictures of You'" and wouldn't you know it, that came on next. And yes, I'll admit it, I got teary eyed. Not only is that my favorite Cure song (you know I love it, I quote it on my guestbook page), and not only was I hearing it live, but it just seemed to fit my life right now, more than ever.

So I sat there in the darkness of the humid May night, tears welling up in my eyes... and I silently mouthed the words out into the universe, "Thank you" to The Cure.

Thank you for Robert Smith always writing the lyrics that speak to my heart, or rather, speak on my heart's behalf. Thank you for all the years The Cure's music pulled me through some angst or another. When I was a teenager in high school their music soothed my lovelorn soul. When I first moved to the east coast and felt alone and afraid, facing one of the biggest life changes I've ever been through, The Cure's posters covered my walls and Robert Smith's paper face watched over me every night I slept. (That sounds kind of creepy, though, huh?) And now, years later, when I am a married women in her thirties, The Cure still touches a place within me that no other band has.

And this past Saturday night was no exception.

that was then - this is now