Train Tracks of 2024

For twenty-four years the music of Train has comforted, encouraged, and cheered me. Although most of the members have changed the music has never failed to resonate, always touching and influencing my inner monologue to bring back my inner song.

These past 12 months, this year of 2024, 365 days of pure possibility: at times I'd have labeled it a Trainwreck. What better source of musical inspiration and healing to create the Soundtrack of my year than Train?

Follow These Train Tracks Throughout 2024

January: {Full of Promise with "Brand New Book"}

It's fitting that Train wrote and recorded this for the TV show "The Biggest Loser", since so many years have started with a vow to get into better shape. It's also fitting that the title refers to a book, as so many of my years have begun with the 'this is the year I write MY book!' wave of emotion.

2024 was no different. I was upping my exercise. Regarding the book? Honey- when am I not planning to write a book? Only every minute of every day [even now? ~checks notes~ yes even now].

What was different about this year is that I've begun writing parts of it and publishing it on Vocal, usually in the Chapters Community. These particular lyrics are all New Year New Me:

All I want is you to see me

Here I am, you still know me

Here I am, take another look

Here I am, same old story in a brand new book

February: {Love/Loss/Reassurance with "Valentine"}

It was on Valentine's Day that my world blew apart when my father died of suicide. It was the same day my now-husband told me the words that he had engraved on my wedding band: 'I'm not going anywhere'.

As the years go by I hope that time will cut the bite of 2/14, but it's sharpness creeps up and grief hits me with a surprising sickness, even in 2024. I don't sleep. I cry at unexpected moments. I'm learning to breathe through it, to say out loud how I am feeling, and to let it move through me. The Train song, along with the ring on my finger, reminds me of that life preserver my husband-to-be spoke into being that day:

I'll always stand by your side

So when're ya' gonna realize?

I'm never gonna say goodbye

I'm never gonna say goodbye

'Cause, baby, you're my valentine

March: {"listens like Spring" with "Drops of Jupiter"}

I am a broody Irish-Italian-Polish woman, born of a long line of broody and depressed people. The gray days of Michigan Winters are soddening and slog-worthy. It's that dead-gray here, the type when even the sky can't bother to wipe away the clouds and look down on all of us struggling to stay awake and alert. Ground is gray, trees and gray, remaining birds? As gray as my roots.

Then comes Train with the song that wooed me and won me: "Drops of Jupiter". The words are of friendship, reinvention, promise, joy, wistfulness, love, passion, and eternity.

I remember watching Train in 2002 on the 44th Grammys ; they performed it and I was captivated. They seemed to be filled with effortless joy and won two Grammys along with my heart. This performance below is the one I see in my mind's eye whenever I hear them sing. With the original five members, Jimmy on bass, Rob on keyboard, Charlie on guitar, Scott keeping the beat, and always: Pat; this song is always a symbol of renewal and hope for me. I'm reassured of the intentionality of that gift as it appears at unexpected moments on a radio snippet, grocery store overhead Muzak, my husband's Pandora thumbprint, and Facebook reel flipping through my timeline.

Now, that she's back in the atmosphere

With drops of Jupiter in her hair

She acts like summer and walks like rain

Reminds me that there's time to change, hey-hey

Since the return of her stay on the Moon

She listens like spring and she talks like June

April: {Eclipse and "When I Look to the Sky"}

Less than a month from my husband's knee replacement surgery we took a much-anticipated trip to Niagara Falls for the total eclipse of the sun. I was eager for him to experience one of my most favorite places although I was nervous about the amount of walking we would do.

It was, to borrow a page from Michigan- a gray day, cloudy, and not the bright and clear sky for which we had hoped. It was also a much-needed healing time, a charming small hotel, gracious people, and a breathtaking view that made the impression on him that I'd hoped it would.

Although the song itself has echoes of loss I've always found it comforting

Whether I am up or down or in or out or just plane overhead

Instead, it feels like it is impossible to fly

But with you I can spread my wings

To see me over everything that life may send me

When I am hoping it won't pass me by

May: {Anniversary & Surgery with "If It's Love"}

Surgery went well, new knee relieved the pain and he worked hard to get his strength back. We had been down this path before but I'm still astounded, and grateful for, at his discipline and strength. I'm also astounded and grateful to have celebrated our 15th anniversary in May.

No matter how many parts this man needs to replace, and no matter how many new pieces I may need: Kenny always has my heart. The Train song "If It's Love" is my ringtone for his calls (everyone else arrives to Train's "Calling All Angels"), because I smile at the reminder of him and these words that explain how I feel when he smiles at me:

Hold our cell phones up in the air

And just be glad that we made it here alive

On a spinning ball in the middle of space

I love you from your toes to your face

If it's love: And we decide that it's forever

No one else could do it better

June: {Writing with purpose and "words" }

In June 2024 I read the 900+ pages of Project 2025, assembled by The Heritage Foundation for use by a conservative President if such a one was elected for the coming year. The ideas, the sheer scope, filled me with equal parts terror, anger, and revulsion. I wanted to bring it to the attention of EVERYONE, but I am, essentially, a nobody of no influence. I could do and used my words by creating a small series on Vocal, sharing the links everywhere because Vocal has no paywall or membership requirements so it was very accessible.

This is a decision that I am still sharing, still passing along, still encouraging folks to read for themselves. I will be forever grateful that the Vocal platform provided me with the easy-to-use tools that allowed me to quickly research, write, post, and share my message. My candidate may have lost, but I am not going back.

Words they'll try to shake you

Don't let them break you

Or stop your world from turning

When words keep you from feeling good

Use them as fire wood and let 'em burn

July: { Biden steps back and "Calling All Angels"}

On the very day, just after I'd changed to attend the TRAIN concert, I sat down and opened social media to find that Biden had stepped back. I crashed pretty hard, and at the concert that night these words were never more needed:

I need a sign to let me know you're here

'Cause my TV set just keeps it all from being clear

I want a reason for the way things have to be

I need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me

And I'm calling all angels

And I'm calling all you angels

August {Birthday & Harris Campaigns with Train's Cover of Dream On}

As many years as I've done it I'm still not at ease with getting older. It used to be milestones I eagerly anticipated but now I am more aware that the balls on the abacus are more heavily weighted on the 'spent' than the 'future' side of the frame. I've seen Train live close to 20 times, but would pay a vast sum to see them perform with Aerosmith and see them duet this song. Until then I'll Dream On.

Every time that I look in the mirror

All these lines on my face getting clearer

The past is gone

It went by like dusk to dawn

September: {Loss and "I Am"}

September brought an unexpected end to relationships along with worrying health concerns. The combination, and my part in things, brought me into darkness and doubt. Reevaluation, soul-searching, uncertainty still-and-maybe-never unresolved.

Am I the friend I think I am

Am I the man I think I wanna be

'Cause I'm here for my sanity sanity I am here for you

Whether or not I'm walkin' in

Whether or not I'm walkin' out

I'm always here for you

October: Train I'm About to Come Alive

October was a blur. Anxiety about health, family, elections, and the ever-approaching gray of Winter-Michigan. When things begin to fall apart my inner-voice screams and writhes in pain. No sleep. Exhaustion- and my work with victims of two hurricanes kept the adrenaline and cortisol pumping full strength.

And I know that it's been hard

And it's been a long time coming

Don't give up on me

I'm about to come alive

November: {Election and "If I Can't Change Your Mind"}

My first time as an election official meant lots of training, huge time commitment, and coming home to soul-crushing disappointment. Who are we? How could we-the-people choose this? Now what?

I truly didn't see it coming, I believed in the longshot as I couldn't fathom embracing the soul-sucking despot to our collective bosom and allowing him to sting us over and over. And, yet. Here we are.

Deciding what to do next was my goal and it will be Truth. Writing it and hopefully living it. Connecting with neighbors. Seeking and following through on community involvement. Paying down debt. Love.

But if I can't change your mind

Then no one will if I can't change your mind

Even though my heart keeps breaking

Don't you know that I'll be

Waiting here for you

I hope you see I'm dedicated

Look how long that I have waited

If you come back you will

Find a different person

If you change your mind

December : {Buckle Up with Train's cover of "Ramble On"}

These twelve months, 2024? They have been a ride, haven't they? On one side I'm not sorry to see it go and on the other I dread what we will collectively face as the Trump/Musk/Vance administration commences.

I dread it, but I am determined to face it. This is my life, and it's now or never. I've faced plenty, and your 12 months were but a small part of it. 2025 is my time, bright and hopeful. I'm not alone, and although It is with trepidation: it's time I was on my way to greet what's next.

Leaves are falling all around

It's time I was on my way

Thanks to you I'm much obliged

For such a pleasant stay

But now it's time for me to go...

I smell the rain

And with it pain

And it's headed my way