Happy Keane-o-versary

I was hanging out with Summer yesterday, at her home in Oakland, when it suddenly occurred to me that it was two years ago that we went to that first Keane gig together. I walked into that gig knowing next to nothing about them--I actually thought they were Canadian!--but I walked out a fan.

Anyway, on the drive home from Oakland last night, I got to thinking about the two years since May 8, 2009, and all of the things that have come into my life as a result of my epic fangirliness over one British rock band. Here's just a few things:

1. The Epic Week would never have happened, because if not for Keane, I would not know that Maayan existed.

2. Cali Swimmy would still reside on the shelf above my toilet, a nameless little rubber duck who never gets out of the house.

3. I would not know that the Dutch word for "duckie" is eendje, nor would I have asked a Dutch-speaker, Amanda, how to say it over the phone a few weeks ago (Maayan and I called our fellow Swimmy's Ladies the world over while she was visiting--yay international calling cards!).

4. I would not have met Richard and Tim last summer, or Jesse in October. I would not be able to giggle over Richard's "I like your shirt" or Jesse's "I don't believe I know you."

5. I would not be currently obsessed with the TV show "Supernatural, without Lindsay having talked it up so much and even loaning me her DVDs--mailing them from Michigan!--so that I wouldn't have to wait on Blockbuster.

6. I would not have sent a squeaky plush duck toy to a rescued greyhound named Faye who lives in England, because her Mom, Sarah, would never have mentioned that every time her rubber duck (Timmy Swimmy) squeaks, Faye thinks its a dog toy. In fact, there would not be a rubber duck called Timmy Swimmy.

7. Or an Izzy Swimmy, a Sparty Swimmy, or an Eendje Swimmy.

8. I would not have four incredible, phenomenal women in my life, making me laugh, calming me down from my stressful moments, and sharing great music from different parts of the world.

My life is brighter for all of these things...all because two years ago, I thought it might be kind of fun to see a band, who sing that song I like, because they were in Oakland for a night.

Never underestimate the power of music.