The world's greatest Jam fan is broken-hearted. Very soon Paul Weller is playing at a local venue. The gig is sold out and besides, he's an arrogant git and has never imho managed to match what he produced with The Jam since he decided to go solo. I can cope with not going to that, but the following night's gig at the same venue is something different for then the two other former members of The Jam play in their new band, "From The Jam", together with Weller's replacement.
The Jam was the band of my teenaged years, of my long hot summers and days of freedom, the backing track to that rush of adreneline, that other life, the one I had when I was young and could do anything I wanted to do. The opening bars to "Going Underground" come on the radio and I close my eyes, I'm there, transported back in time, 17 again, at Wembley and on the guest list....
But I'm not there and nor shall I be. Now this aging Jam fan and lone mother has neither childcare nor transport and will be at home as usual on the night of the gig whilst other, luckier music fans queue in the cold to relive their youth.
And all the while I tell myself to grow up and get a grip, that this is what parenthood is all about, something pricks at the back of my eyes and like the teenager I've long since left behind I ache to be there, just one more time.
Is it just me or do the rest of you sometimes feel this way? I know I should count my blessings but right now I miss my youth and freedom so very much.