melissawebster Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Having had a particularly upsetting and depressing morning after being let down and disappointed by a friend, it was one of those moments in life when all seems lost, a rare thing for me being, for the most part, an obnoxiously optimistic person. Yet in this moment I was ready and willing to let go completely and give up on everything I've worked towards for the last year and a half and finally admit to myself that I was living in a fantasy of what can never be. Sacrificing everything, friends, stable employment, the freedom of living on my own, I've been living with my mother in bum fuck nowhere Alabama to focus on the pipe dream of being a writer, and I was willing to concede defeat, to admit finally I'd wasted a lot of time I'd never get back. So here I am, living in exile, surrounded by farmland and beaches, with nothing but restaurants, tourist traps and retail stores as far as the eye can see. Now, having been a city girl my entire life, this new environment was an adjustment in itself. Add to that the fear in that moment I may have done it all for nothing and, well, I have to admit I was, at least for a split second, a bit suicidal. I needed the beach. Which brings me to Tropical Storm Lee. To be honest, I'd forgotten it was out there. I mean, it's just a tropical storm, which isn't a big deal. Even low-grade hurricanes are pretty much no big deal to me, having been around them my entire life. But this is the first time I've been close enough to the coast to see it, literally see it making landfall. And I was acutely aware of the metaphor laying itself before me. I don't know about you, but for me, in moments of despair, I play Green Day's music for its high energy and ability to relate to whatever I'm thinking and feeling in the moment. Never once has it failed to lift my spirits and put things into perspective for me. So I pull up to the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama just as "Are We the Waiting" begins to play, and I listen to it for a moment before getting out of the car, thinking that is so fucking perfect. Always waiting, waiting, waiting for that dream to be reality. That song has always saddened me and pulled so strongly at my heart because to me it epitomizes the fantasy of another time and place, the dream that's perpetually on hold. So I walk down the beach. And "Are We the Waiting" still plays in my head, except this time, this time, I feel hope. The call of the beach does that to me. And as I'm standing on the beach amidst this awesome and inspiring tantrum from Mother Nature, watching the violent waves crashing on the shore, looking at the seagulls flying backwards, being buffeted by 60 mph winds, with the feel of sand shooting at my skin like a thousand needles let loose in the wind, I am reminded that though I'm still waiting for that better time and place, I am definitely still alive.
gdpony Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Awww this was a nice read, and pretty inspirational. I bet most of us have a green day song that touches us like that.
Katarina. Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Thanks for posting this! It was a nice read Looks like something I'd like to see on GDA actually..
Margo 39 smooth Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 I love those Green Day moments Thanks for posting!
lizziebix Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 As this is just a small sample of your writing, I would definitely say: Don't give up your dream. You're quite good.
DoodleBob Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 Y'know, it's funny. "Are We the Waiting" is that Green Day song that just tugs on my heart too. I think it's because I was/is in the place the Jesus of Suburbia was in at that moment in time. Longing for a purpose, feeling like you don't belong and willing to change you character to fit in. The soft rock with the meaningful lyrics just.....I don't know, it's a moment where I don't want to do anything than take the full effect of the song in. If I listen closley to "Are We the Waiting", I start crying. Gosh, I wonder what will happen when I'm at my first Green Day concert and Tre starts the simple drum beat. Anyway, I loved reading this
melissawebster Posted September 4, 2011 Author Posted September 4, 2011 As this is just a small sample of your writing, I would definitely say: Don't give up your dream. You're quite good. Thank you so much! I hope you're right. Y'know, it's funny. "Are We the Waiting" is that Green Day song that just tugs on my heart too. I think it's because I was/is in the place the Jesus of Suburbia was in at that moment in time. Longing for a purpose, feeling like you don't belong and willing to change you character to fit in. The soft rock with the meaningful lyrics just.....I don't know, it's a moment where I don't want to do anything than take the full effect of the song in. If I listen closley to "Are We the Waiting", I start crying. Gosh, I wonder what will happen when I'm at my first Green Day concert and Tre starts the simple drum beat. Anyway, I loved reading this Thanks! That song is so powerful to me too.
Pres Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 I agree with lizziebix don't give up on your dream of being a writer I really enjoyed reading that You should post some of the things you've written in the Words I Might Have Ate section on the forum i know i would read some the other things you've written
melissawebster Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 Thank you guys so much! I'm not giving up. Just had a few bad hours. ^I actually have posted a feature-length film script I wrote titled SLAPPY HOURS based on Green Day's music from the 90s a few weeks back in the Words I Might Have Ate thread. It's a long read and takes about an hour to get through it, but I'd love for you to check it out. Again, thanks!
Laura! Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 That was really good! You definitely have some talent!
Disapperingirl Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Wow, this is exactly that kind of story, that kind of feelings that only Green Day fans can understand... You should really keep writing and be hopeful about your talent and your future, I can see all the emotions you put in that writing, that's the most important thing I feel like I can understand you a bit, cause writing is my passion too, but I've never been so sure about my talent at it to think "one day, I'll be able to make wiriting my job, and someone will appreciate my stories". Plus Are We The Waiting has always been a very important song to me, when I first listened to it I really almost cried, it help me thinking that I'm never alone, that there are thousands and more people "unknown" who are still waiting for something or someone, like me. Thank you for sharing this
melissawebster Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 ^Wow! That is exactly it! Thanks for getting it so completely, and for letting me know I'm not the only one. And though you may have doubts, and moments of despair, please keep writing as well, whether you do it as a job or just because it brings you joy.
Smoothed Out Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Wow that was really good, great job! You definitely have a future in writing Are We The Waiting is such a poignant song...I suppose because we all were just `waiting` at some point in our lives, kind of in a limbo between one thing or another.
Whatsername1911 Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Awwww lovely I'm always jealous of those who can just throw words together and make something special. So keep on writing
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