The day I stopped being cool.

It's a common action for those of us reaching their mid-to-late-ish-almost 30-twenties to reflect back into childhood, high school jr. and high school. It's almost a tradition to talk amongst others who reminisce about how we talked, dressed, what we drove, and most importantly, listened to.

I'm not above this ritual, as who couldn't crack a smile at myself ten years ago, with a VW Corrado with ten inch woofers, nice polo shirts, and a hairline that promised a handsome future. I WAS cool. No, bro, seriously. I thought I had all the bases covered...loved Slayer and Motorhead(still do) listened to slow jams on JAMMIN 95.5(heard it's back, will do so) and weighed all of 170 lbs. At my current height. I skateboarded almost competently and threw a javelin on the track team. Even though I refused to admit it(we all did) my clothes and taste in music defined me MUCH more than my personality.

I thought the most punk rock thing to do was register as a republican...Nowadays I intentify with the libertarians. Still registered with the party although I didn't vote for McCain or believe in the war in Iraq.

So fast forward to the middle of January, 2009. At Lincoln City, I found the identity I never knew existed: I stopped giving a shit at the BiMart in said town. Looking at camping gear, I realized that though I could afford it, the North Face camping gear was over-priced and of no superior quality to the $10 rain gear ahead of me, complete with Real Tree™ lining.

From that moment on, labels meant nothing. And not in an ironic, hipster way either, since much effort is still put into that style, regardless of the pretense of "wearing what I slept in after an arcade fire show" kind of cadence.

From then all out, it was function over form...the only last vestige of stylish hope for me comes in what I drive...still toyota SUVs after owning 5 of them. But alas, I landed the woman of my dreams AFTER I came to realistic sense. I'm happily married, have a child on the way, drive a 4runner, listen to Pantera, and cheer on Ron Paul, but only after listening to "I need love" by LL Cool J.

So I guess it isn't all bad...

-Nick