Erin Akin Carroll

When you’re walking through the grocery store, pushing your buggy, do you hear music in your head that puts a bounce in your step? Or when you start off your morning walk around the neighborhood, do you like to start with the same song every day because it makes you strut? No? Just me?

I always think of this scene when I think of a person having a theme song.

If a song played every time you walked into a room, what would it be? If a song played every time you took a step, what would it be? I call it my “walk into the room song.”

About three years ago, I wrote a similar post asking for y’all to tell me your song. But since there are some new readers, I thought I’d open it up again.

My walk into the room song is American Girl by Tom Petty.

Other good songs that come to mind are Float On by Modest Mouse, Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone, I Don’t Feel Like Dancin by The Scissor Sisters, Let The River Run by Carly Simon, and Wanna Be Starting Something by Michael Jackson. They’ve all got a nice “walking” beat.

Can you tell I’ve thought lots about this.

So, tell me. What is your “walk into the room song?”

First of all, thank you all so very much for all of your advice on yesterday’s post. I’m really excited for our trip now!

Because TC and I have been obsessively watching Friday Night Lights for the past few weeks, it’s kind of on our brain at all times. I think about the characters, the story lines, and when someone graduates or moves on, I can’t stop thinking about them and wishing they’d come home to Dillon.

If you don’t watch, you definitely should! We got a BlueRay player as a gift from my parents before Hayes was born and we’ve been streaming the episodes from Netflix Instant.

Friday Night Lights has the normal themes you’d expect: Small town folks always come home or never leave. Directness from the football coach gets through even the hardest head. High school sweethearts don’t always last past high school. Adversity can be resolved by the end of the week with a W on Friday night.

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But in addition to these basic themes, there have been a few more subtle themes. I’ve learned a few lessons from Friday Night Lights and thought I’d share them with you.

Warning: there are some hints at spoilers

Lesson #1: Never talk to the cops. This leads to misunderstandings and t-r-o-u-b-l-e. You may think you’re being helpful, but all you’re really doing is helping the cops make their case against you! If some of those characters had paid a little closer attention in their Civics class and studied their Bill of Rights, so many mishaps could have been easily avoided.

Lesson #2: Never talk to the press. Under any circumstances. I cannot stress this enough. This may be even more important than Lesson #1. We learned this lesson from Smash, Mac, and the kid in one of the first episodes who beat up Matt Saracen’s friend.

Lesson #3:  If you’re going to kill someone, make sure your dad is a cop. And don’t wear jewelry!

Lesson #4: Stand by your man. Tami Taylor is such a great, supportive wife and would definitely win the Tammy Wynette “Stand By Your Man” award if they gave it out in Dillon, Texas.

Lesson #5: If you’re going to hook up with your high school boyfriend, make sure your dad isn’t on his way to pick you up! And lock the front door. Julie Taylor, Julie Taylor, Julie Taylor. Where is your head?

TC and I may have to dress as Tami and Eric Taylor for Halloween. I have a major crush on Eric Taylor. I think Tami is the bee’s knees. Tim Riggins is the best bad boy ever. Tyra Collette is beautiful and misunderstood. And sweet Matt Saracen is every mother’s dream for her daughter.

And I know this is silly, but Tami and Coach are amazing parents. The show is so well-written and right in line with the way most parents would respond to their high school children’s antics. I am often choked up by just the parenting aspect of this show.

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What lessons did Friday Night Lights teach you?