So a few days ago, I was flipping through some TV while eating brunch, and I came across the Food Channel. That capivated me for about a half hour. I never realized how fascinating cooking was. I recall the times in my life after eating a delicious dinner at a barbeque or a potluck or whatever when a friend would ask the cook what special ingredients were in whatever was so delicious, and I would listen very intently because I wanted to be able to cook this for my future family, but I would lose track of all of the ingredients by the fourth or fifth ingredient. I kid you not. I don’t know why I suck at remembering ingredients. I think it is partly because I don’t even know what what half of these things are. I remember hearing on the Food Channel that basil and parsley go well together. I don’t even know what those look like. If I could start everything over, I think I might pursue being a chef, but I think I’m too behind in the game now. Plus I think I have very bad taste buds. I know many people who can tell the difference between Aquafina and Arrowhead and Saratoga Springs. I had no idea. I can barely distinguish Dr. Pepper from Cherry Coke, or lemons from limes. I guess that makes me a pretty tolerable person, in terms of consumption. Anyway, it sucks to realize that a potential passion was never discovered, but it’s comforting to know that the passion would never have stood a chance.

But that’s not the point.

After watching the Food Channel, I watched this Country Music Awards ceremony, and I got to watch some music videos about love, family, and America. And it wasn’t long before I thought, “Hey, I like country music.” My immediate reaction to this thought was, “You can’t like country music. Nobody outside of Tennessee likes country music.” And that was very particular indeed. Why not? Countless times, I have asked people what kind of music they listen to, and they have responded something along the lines of “Everything but country.” Occasionally, there’s the “Everything but country and rap” or even less common is the “Everything but country and rap and opera.” But country is usually one of the most looked-down-upon music genres. That is very peculiar.

For a moment, I liked country music. It seemed like the only musical genre that was dominantly morally upright. Half of all country songs talk about God, and I’ve never heard a country song with swear words. It makes me wonder if most people who hate country music even know what country music is. It’s like they hate country music out of ignorance, or out of bandwagon-hopping, like how Harry Potter hated Sirius Black before he realized that Sirius Black was a good guy.

So my eyes have been opened. I’m trying to listen to country a bit more. It’s pretty simple and straightforward. Not too innovative. But it makes me happy. That’s all I have to say I guess. Have a good day.

– Larry