This is a great theme for today, even though it makes me mad to have to do it. Today’s theme is “A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget.” I’m sure if any of my friends from college are reading, they can already guess where this one is going. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t always escape this song and then it brings it all back. (Plus some of them still like to bring it up for some reason.)

There was a guy I was madly in love with during my freshman and sophomore years of college. My dad later told me it was because he resembled Eric Nies from the original Real World. It took me some years to acknowledge that, but yes, he did. Plus he was a teen model, talented musician and singer, and often a lot of fun to be around.

He was also often in trouble back in those days and almost got me into trouble several times. I got very lucky, because had I followed through on some things, I likely would have never been a teacher. I am not getting into any details, but suffice it to say that I did have to send him to jail at one point. I remember the detectives telling me it was a good thing I turned him in, or I would have been there as well as an accessory.

Ugh. It still makes my stomach churn.

And he still hates me for what I did, even though that was the wake-up call that he needed to finally get his shit together.

But I digress.

So anyway, we did date for a while. And then it was one of those on-again-off-again kind of relationships that I despise, yet found myself in a lot. Pretty much when he was bored and in between other women, he would come around my way. But I was convinced in my head that he really loved me as much as I loved him and just didn’t know how to handle those emotions. [Ah, the naivety of a teen.]

So when “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt came out, I felt it described our situation. And I was apparently the only one who felt that way. And I was teased mercilessly for it.

It’s a damn good song, though. I was never really a fan of the band, though I did see them open for Bush back in 1996. I did always like that song.

I actually still do. It’s just that it’s permanently tied to this stupid mistake that I made in my life.

But as I always say, those mistakes are the ones that are teaching moments and without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today. So my mid-40s self has forgiven my late teens self. And … yeah. There you go.

“Don’t Speak” is a track on No Doubt’s album “Tragic Kingdom.” You can purchase or stream on Amazon here.

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What’s your song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget?

Find the whole 30 Day Song Challenge here.