During this Christmas season I was the subject of an Ink Out Loud column written by my mom, Mandy Feder. I was touched by the overwhelming response from well-wishers, people who hoped I would meet Tom Petty.
This, my friends, is for you:
Exactly like the previous 17 years, I did not wake up to Tom Petty wrapped in paper and ribbons under my Christmas tree.
I thought by this year my hardened-Tom Petty-loving-heart would be used to the disappointment, but the absence still continues to tug at my young soul.
It”s like never receiving that one toy you always wanted on Christmas that either A) your parents weren”t aware that you wanted or B) couldn”t ever afford.
Although I think if my little mommy could afford it, Tom would be with my family and I every Christmas, all wrapped up for me under the tree. He would share in the gingerbread house construction, the yearly tradition of watching the Muppet”s Christmas Carol and sleeping in a giant stocking beside the fireplace along with my sister and I.
And I”m sure we could eventually coerce him into singing “It”s Christmas all Over Again” (one of Tom”s only holiday tunes). Without him the holidays seemed to have a missing element. Yes, I do receive the occasional record, CD, blanket, T-shirt, or coffee mug but it never fills the void for the real Tom.
So to combat this holiday blues, I vowed to make a vital New Year”s resolution. I must accept the fact that I may never meet Tom but appreciate his existence and all the significant gifts he”s given me.
Not just the gift of amazing music, but the memories I”ve shared with family through Tom, such as making the always interesting and exciting concert trips with my Mombo.
I grew up with Tom in the absolute best and worst of times with songs like “Walls” to comfort me when I was down and “I Won”t Back Down” to empower me and help me stand up and change through my hard times and obstacles.
On good summer days we indulged in listening to “Yer so Bad” and rocked out to the ukulele. He walked me through my first heartbreak with “Wildflowers” and defined my college days with “Learning to Fly.”
My roommates and I sang in unison cross-legged on the floor of my first house in college to the sound of an acoustic guitar to “You got lucky” and “Last Dance with Mary Jane.” He was there with “Runnin” Down a Dream” and with the catchy tunes of the Traveling Wilburys on every road trip. And at night he sang us softly to bed with “Angel Dream.”
He lifted me up with his words and helped me overcome. He was there every step of the way matching each mood and experience in my life.
No matter what I went through I knew I had my own personal therapist, friend, comedian and companion sitting in my tape or CD player waiting to understand me and I knew that could never disappear — in my room, my car, on the radio, in my headphones or in my head.
It sounds a bit intense, yes, but everybody needs that small necessary item or comfort in life. Some kids had a stuffed animal, some an imaginary friend, some people a favorite food and some people a sport.
I, too participate avidly in sports, academic events and have a well-rounded variety of activities in my life.
So in this new year, I chose to make the resolution to appreciate this awesome companionship and happiness Tom, someone whom I”ve never met, has given me.
I may never get him for Christmas or my birthday or for any reason at all. True, I may never meet Tom Petty, although, he has met me.
Miranda McLemore majors in biology at California State University, Chico. She can be reached at mirandamclemore@yahoo.com.
