Anyway, Then I Saw This…

Metallica, Suede, and $9,900 sunglasses.

This morning started with Metallica, then moved on to a pair of $9,900 sunglasses.

“The Unforgiven” had been on my mind since yesterday, so I played it on my way to work. Then I looked up the meaning because listening wasn’t enough. I needed an investigation.

The Unforgiven (Official Music Video)

One explanation used the word subjugated. Being controlled. Having other people decide who you’re supposed to be until there’s barely anything left that belongs to you.

At first, I recognized something of myself in it. That feeling of being shaped by circumstances you didn’t choose, then carrying them around long after you should have been allowed to put them down.

But as I kept listening, I thought… wait. A lot of my life now is mine.

I live in a free country. I work, I go to school, and I got accepted into an MBA program. Yeah, go me. I’m doing things I wanted to do. Things that take effort and that I’m proud of.

I’m not about to pretend every day is a celebration. I still have to “obey society.” But I do get to choose what I’m working toward, and that’s awesome.

Then I started thinking about Metallica themselves. There’s something interesting about a song that feels so trapped coming from a band whose music has reached practically everywhere. I don’t know how free any of them feel personally, but look how far that song traveled.

Shoot, even autocorrect knows Metallica.

My phone questions perfectly ordinary things I’m trying to say, but Metallica? No clarification needed.

Then Suede came on.

Apparently, we all got older.

“Dancing with the Europeans” is my favorite song at the moment. I kept thinking Brett Anderson’s live voice sounded different. And I liked it. Maybe even more.

Dancing with the Europeans Live

Then I watched the video.

Oh. Everybody’s older.

“Me too.”

They’re still making music I’m interested in. Still interested in the voice, the faces, the whole thing.

Of course, this gave me another idea. I should write about this song being my favorite at the moment. Then a few more songs played, and I thought, actually, I should do my five favorite songs right now, with a little explanation of why I keep playing them.

By this point, I had mentally assigned myself several posts.

Then came the sunglasses.

An Instagram ad for Brunello Cucinelli caught my attention.

Men’s sunglasses. Very nice.

I clicked.

Prices in the upper $900s.

Okay. Expensive, but I could possibly afford them.

I see a pair. Okay, $990. “Not bad.” Then I looked again.

$9,900.

Oh. Well, then. They’re 18k gold, though.

Totally understandable.

I appreciate an explanation, even when it changes absolutely nothing about my ability to proceed.

And that’s how my morning went. A little reflection, a discovery, several imaginary deadlines, and my purchasing power.

Anyway, I still like the sunglasses.