my story

jrms09
jrms09 Posts: 16
edited October 2006 in Words and Music...Communication
i am only a sophmore in highschool, and until last year ( freshmen year) i had never heard of Pearl Jam.

I live in Louisiana. and on august 29, my life changed.. huriccane katrina. My house got a good amount of damage. it was really bad here. so my mother sent me to live with my father in missouri.

i had to go to school up there. Everyone treated me "differently" because i was a "refugee" . Everything was spinning out of control.

at that time in my life i only listened to like hip-hop and stuff. until the first day i walked into my english class in missouri.

the class room had Pearl jam posters all over the wall. I had no clue who this band was or anything.

days turned into weeks turned into monthes. my english teacher would give us a page with Pearl Jam lyrics on it. we would read through it, pick out the metaphors and similies. try to figure out what the lyrics really meant.

the first Pearl Jam song i ever heard was "Black", and the we did "jeremy" and "even flow".

"pearl jam is pretty deep" i thought, their songs have meaning. I learned so much in that class, that class and pearl jam inspired me. i finally felt like i had something in common with the people in my class... Pearl Jam.

i dont know how, but i couldnt of found out about pearl jam in a better time in my life.

Pearl Jams' music helped me through a hard time in my life. Thi swhole story may seem corny, but if you had an idea of what i went through, it would make since. Pearl Jams' music helped me fill a "void" i had.

Isnt it just amazing how music can change a connect some many people.

i guess i just felt like i should share that with someone.


whats yalls story
A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
_____________________________________________
You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • comebackwoman
    comebackwoman Posts: 7,271
    Thanks for sharing - that's an amazing story. Somebody nominate that teacher for "Teacher of the Year" or something!

    Pearl Jam came along at a time in my life when I really needed them. Words truly have the power to heal. I believe that. They validate our experiences and allow us to express our emotions - which is what healing is all about.

    I'm glad you too found some solace with Pearl Jam :)
    There's a light when my baby's in my arms :)
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    comebackgirl wrote:
    Thanks for sharing - that's an amazing story. Somebody nominate that teacher for "Teacher of the Year" or something!

    Pearl Jam came along at a time in my life when I really needed them. Words truly have the power to heal. I believe that. They validate our experiences and allow us to express our emotions - which is what healing is all about.

    I'm glad you too found some solace with Pearl Jam :)


    yeah

    isnt it so cool how music can be so powerful
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • comebackwoman
    comebackwoman Posts: 7,271
    jrms09 wrote:
    yeah

    isnt it so cool how music can be so powerful

    Really cool. Have you gotten to see them live yet?
    There's a light when my baby's in my arms :)
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    no!!

    and i am sure no one will be performing down here for awhile.

    i dont think they r even coming to louisiana

    but my cousin says that pearl jam is one of the few bands that sound the same live as they do on cd.
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • comebackwoman
    comebackwoman Posts: 7,271
    They're even better live. It's really amazing. I hope they come back and do another leg of the tour. There's nothing like seeing PJ live. It will be a living changing experience for you.
    There's a light when my baby's in my arms :)
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    i dont know when or how

    but i will seem them perform one day.. i hope
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    whats yalls story????
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • MichaelMcKevin
    MichaelMcKevin Posts: 1,161
    jrms09 wrote:
    whats yalls story????

    Christmas Day 1993: I was 7 years old and very into music for someone my age. I used to stand on top of my parents bed with my cheap acoustic they got me and pretend i was on stage. I used to do a "Pete Townshend-esque" strum and break all my strings off. Anyway, a lot of time was spent sneaking around to watch MTV when my parents weren't around and I'd seen the evenflow and jeremy videos.

    So on christmas, i was at my aunt and uncle's house and all my presents were unwrapped and i was looking through my Uncle's cd collection near the tree. I remember telling him i liked the 2 songs I heard on MTV and he told me i could take the cd home with me. Even though it wasn't technically a christmas present, it's still the best gift i've ever received and to this day, Ten is the first cd I've ever owned and i've still got the same copy. It's got scratches all over it and it still plays perfectly the whole way through ( i think that cd was destined to withstand anything for me).

    I'd like to hear more stories... it seems Pearl Jam fans have the best ones.


    PS. I wish i had your english teacher in high school
    Camden I '06, Camden II '06, Bonnaroo '08, Camden I '08, Camden II '08, Philly Spectrum II/III/IV '09, MSG I '10, MSG II '10, Made In America '12, Wrigley '13, Brooklyn II '13, Philly I '13, Philly II '13, ...
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    i was lucky

    i think i got one of the most amazing teachers out there
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • heartdesire
    heartdesire Posts: 430
    I think you do have one of the most amazing teachers out there!!! That teacher definitely needs to be nominated for "Teacher of the Year"!

    So sorry you had to experience such a catastrophic time. Glad you are safe and doing well.

    Music is powerful and it is an amazing "connector". PJ along with other music has really saved the day for me quite a few times.

    jrms09 you'll get to see PJ one day soon and it will be an amazing show for you! Believe it!!!
    "i'm a dedicated insomniac" ~ ev nyc beacon 6/22
  • Nothingman54
    Nothingman54 Posts: 2,251
    Better late than never. LOL. Alot of teachers use PJ songs in class. My gf came home from class (college) one day and they discussed PJ songs. Pearl Jam has saved my life many times..... and my soul. I heard Black 11 years ago and thats when it happend.
    I'll be back
  • Mickey1794
    Mickey1794 Posts: 104
    Your story really inspires because I too am a teacher and I use PJ songs for an extra credit assignment -song of the week. When I was a teen a went through some very hard times also and PJ helped me through all those times. I tatooed the Alive guy on my 18th birthday-long time ago-but feels like yesterday. Still everytime I hear a song like Black its like hearing it for the first time and it feels good to my soul. I want to share that feeling with my students.
    11/5/93 Indio, CA;11/6/95 SD; 7/13/98 LA; 10/24/00 LA; 10/28/00 SB; 4/1/03 CO; 6/2/03 OC; 6/5/03 SD; 9/2/05 BC; 7/9-10/06 LA; 10/21/06 Bridge; 12/9/06 Oahu; 10/27/07 Bridge; 4/12/08 Eddie; 6/30/08 Mansfield; 9/30/09 Universal; 7/9/11 Eddie; 11/23-24/13 LA; 11/26/13 Oak.;10/22/13 CO
  • AngelofIndifference
    AngelofIndifference Posts: 89
    Your story gave me goosebumps! Welcome to the family :)
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    AngelofIndifference wrote:
    Your story gave me goosebumps! Welcome to the family :)
    thanks

    i appreciate it
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • Thin Air 211
    Thin Air 211 Posts: 114
    I'm going into my freshmen year this fall...I hope I get a teacher like that! :)
    `~.:.~`.History doesn't make something right`~.:.~`
  • Ahnimus
    Ahnimus Posts: 10,560
    My friend gave me an old cassette of Ten, it was when I was 13 or 14, just listened to Weird Al Yankovic up to that point. I went and bought the Ten CD 3 times because people kept stealing it from me.

    I own Ten, Vitology, Versus, Dissident: Live in Atlanta, No Code and Yield ;)
    I'm not as hardcore as most fans up in this place.
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • sweetlitlrocker
    sweetlitlrocker Posts: 32
    GivenToCarve wrote:
    Ten is the first cd I've ever owned and i've still got the same copy. It's got scratches all over it and it still plays perfectly the whole way through ( i think that cd was destined to withstand anything for me).

    I puchased "Ten" as a tape circa 1992... I don't think I even knew what a CD was then! However, it met it's demise in the "great truck melt", I do believe. (Tapes really WILL melt in your automobile in the summer!) I have the CD now. My teachers never gave us Pearl Jam lyrics, but I did have to write a final exam (in English class) to U2 lyrics! I'm so glad things are looking up for you. I lost a home in Hurricane Andrew, so I can relate to some of what you are feeling. Despite all I lost, I always turned to (and still do) my music. It will always be with you no matter what- in your head, in your heart. Music is EXCELLENT therapy! Rock on, and know that there are people out there who are thinking of you and care about your situation!
    "Music is excellent therapy."
  • jrms09
    jrms09 Posts: 16
    sweetlitlrocker wrote:
    I puchased "Ten" as a tape circa 1992... I don't think I even knew what a CD was then! However, it met it's demise in the "great truck melt", I do believe. (Tapes really WILL melt in your automobile in the summer!) I have the CD now. My teachers never gave us Pearl Jam lyrics, but I did have to write a final exam (in English class) to U2 lyrics! I'm so glad things are looking up for you. I lost a home in Hurricane Andrew, so I can relate to some of what you are feeling. Despite all I lost, I always turned to (and still do) my music. It will always be with you no matter what- in your head, in your heart. Music is EXCELLENT therapy! Rock on, and know that there are people out there who are thinking of you and care about your situation!

    yeah

    this past tuesday was the one year aniversery of katrina,,,, it is still so bad here. ansd school was soooo hard that day.. every1 was crying....

    it so weird how it is so bad here andkatrina happend a lil over a YEAR AGO!!
    A piece of my heart goes out with every single one of them. A PIECE OF MY HEART!!!
    _____________________________________________
    You think you know. . . . . But u have NO idea
  • redvedder
    redvedder Posts: 56
    I think you should email your teacher a link to this thread, I bet he would be happy to know that he a) turned you on to Pearl Jam and b) that the band means so much to you.
    It is true that their songs really can save lives- and hearts. I hope things are better for you now than they were this time last year. And, I hope you get to see them live one day soon - there is nothing in the world like it! :)
    "Oh dear dad, can you see me now? I am myself, like you somehow."


    CAMDEN 8.29.98{}CAMDEN 9.2.00{}SPECTRUM 4.28.03{}CAMDEN 7.5.03{}CAMDEN 7.6.03{}WACHOVIA 10.3.05{}CAMDEN 5.27.06{}CAMDEN 5.28.06{}CAMDEN 6.19.08{}CAMDEN 6.20.08{} MANSFIELD 6.28.08{}EV @ Tower Theater 6.12.09{}SPECTRUM 10.28.09{}SPECTRUM 10.30.09{}SPECTRUM (RIP) 10.31.09{}MSG 5.21.10{}EV @ Tower Theater 6.25.11{}Alpine Valley 9.3.11{}Alpine Valley 9.4.11
  • danika_bookworm
    danika_bookworm Posts: 162
    GivenToCarve wrote:
    Christmas Day 1993: I was 7 years old and very into music for someone my age. I used to stand on top of my parents bed with my cheap acoustic they got me and pretend i was on stage. I used to do a "Pete Townshend-esque" strum and break all my strings off. Anyway, a lot of time was spent sneaking around to watch MTV when my parents weren't around and I'd seen the evenflow and jeremy videos.

    So on christmas, i was at my aunt and uncle's house and all my presents were unwrapped and i was looking through my Uncle's cd collection near the tree. I remember telling him i liked the 2 songs I heard on MTV and he told me i could take the cd home with me. Even though it wasn't technically a christmas present, it's still the best gift i've ever received and to this day, Ten is the first cd I've ever owned and i've still got the same copy. It's got scratches all over it and it still plays perfectly the whole way through ( i think that cd was destined to withstand anything for me).

    I'd like to hear more stories... it seems Pearl Jam fans have the best ones.


    PS. I wish i had your english teacher in high school

    Hey, I've had the same experience when I was also 7 in '91. I really had a few friends (up until high school), and I always tuned in to my dad & mom's CDs. It's really amazing how I discovered PJ because we had only one channel on TV then... I guess fate has really planned to connect PJ and me... Anyway, it was my older cousin who brought PJ to me in '91, and I really think he related to PJ because he had a lot of problem then, with his parents breaking up...

    Years ago my parents separated... PJ was there... I fell in love with someone... PJ again. I can really say there's always a Pearl Jam song for every emotion I've ever experienced!

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