Sometimes it takes a simple statement to spark memories.

Waking up today, April 5, 2011, I thought it would be just another day in the monotonous routine of sleep/wake/work/home/sleep. This was not to be.

I awoke to read about this being the 17th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain, one person who left an indelible mark on my life, and one who continues to reach countless numbers of people daily. His music will live on forever, despite his not being here. This got me thinking.

Seventeen years have passed. Half of my life. Where was I seventeen years ago? How had I changed?

I was a naive Freshman in college, green to the ways of the world, not yet exposed to the harsh reality of what the "real world" could bring. My petty job, making a solid $4.25 per hour was enough to survive on, and still have money left over for whatever my mind desired. Life was sure different then.

My beloved Green Bay Packers had been establishing themselves as a growing power in the NFL, with a star quarterback who brought excitement, hope, and optimism to a fan base that had desperately been seeking something to cheer about on a regular basis. Life was sure different then.

Baseball was my true passion, something I simply could not live without. Every day I would find a game to watch on some channel on TV, and it did not matter which teams were playing. Baseball was pure, unspoiled by the rich excesses of owners and untainted by cheating players. Life was sure different then.

Basketball was THE THING in Chicago. Granted some famous player was in the midst of a retirement/suspension/grieving period because of the loss of his father, but the Bulls were still competitive in the East, and my brothers and I would watch every game together, hoping for a little magic to take place every night. Life was sure different then.

A full generation has passed since April 5, 1994. Life was most certainly different then. While I may not think the same way, or have the same interests, it is these memories who made me who I am today. I may not always remember, but I will never forget.