Owl City

We were very busy at the start of 2020: classes and activities every day. Covid dropped us to nothing. Nada. Home every day, and sick on top of that—we went through a nasty unidentified illness, not life-threatening but sleepy and in pain for ten days. When we recovered enough to look around, everything was online. We had food in the house and an internet connection. What to do with it?

My daughter found Owl City’s music, starting with “When Can I See You Again?” from Wreck-It Ralph. That’s on the nose…

Owl City, the musician, saved our lives during quarantine. “Fireflies” and “Alligator Sky” are two of our favorite songs, along with “Fiji Water” and “Cinematic”. “Fiji Water” is about taking the potential for fame by the horns and wrenching it around to fit you, not being ground up by other people’s expectations. “Cinematic” is about reaching for the best you can do, with confidence that it will be good; you have supporters who love you.

Scouts were the first to start meeting in person again. We listened to Owl City for half an hour on the way there and half an hour on the way back, every week. “Where was I when the rockets came to life? And carried you away into the alligator sky?” “I'd like to make myself believe That planet Earth turns slowly” “I've been to the dentist a thousand times So I know the drill” “May the Force be with you—knock ‘em dead! … Follow your dreams, cause life is cinematic”

My daughter’s first trip far away from home was to an Owl City concert, after Covid had eased. She met good people there, some from overseas, some from the western U.S. The friendships found in Owl City fandom have sprouted into longterm friendships; she recently went to see some of them again. I’m grateful for this music. It led to good people, and it encourages us.