I Must Be Allergic To Duran Duran

1982 was a pretty big year for pop culture. Both “Fame” and “David Letterman” made their television premieres, while we said goodbye to the “The Lawrence Welk Show.” At just seven years old Drew Barrymore hosted Saturday Night Live, while Joe Montana was the Super bowl MVP. TIME Magazine named ‘The Computer’ as its 1982 Man of The Year. And Duran Duran led the ‘New Romantic’ music phenomenon across the pond with the success of their ‘Rio’ album.

It was a fairly busy year for my family as well. Like Duran Duran we also migrated across the Atlantic, moving from London back to Texas. That year I lived in 2 different countries, 3 different cities and attended 4 different schools. We finally settled in Nashville in the middle of my sixth grade year and it didn’t take long to size up the social scene. There was this super pretty, slightly edgy, avant-garde girl named Katie who was running the show. Everyone loved Katie and Katie loved Simon Le Bon. And I mean she loved him.

A crush on Simon Le Bon…really? Wasn’t that eyeliner he was wearing? And what was up with that hair and those ruffly shirts? I didn’t get it. I was sweet on Willie Nelson and Captain Von Trapp for goodness sake. But I knew dissension would be social suicide so I bought the Rio album and threw myself in the mix. Katie was sweet and really funny so I was thrilled when she finally asked me to sleepover. We spun those Duran Duran tunes and danced upon the sand until the wee hours. I was feigning a deep love for Simon Le Bon and making a new best friend in the process. Life was great.

Until I got violently sick and my mom had to pick me up early.

My friendship with Katie sort of melted away after that. I switched schools, we lost touch. I saw her once in high school and she had cropped her beautiful blond hair into a punk-like bob and streaked it pink.

So here we are 25 years later and guess who played in Austin, Texas last night? Duran Duran. A few weeks ago a friend invited me to join a group of girls for a birthday outing…dinner and the Duran Duran concert. I was so excited! I have only recently come to know this cool crew of chicas and was thrilled at the chance to spend more time with them. Plus, after all this time I thought it would be fun to give Duran Duran another shot. I brushed up on my lyrics and charged the camera battery.

But apparently it was my fate, once again, to trade The Reflex for The Reflux. I woke up yesterday with a violent case of stomach flu and had to miss the show. After 25 years I think it’s pretty clear I’m just not meant to be a Duran Duran fan. I probably should stick with my Texas music roots…country, rock and blues. I’m a little old for the New Romantic music movement anyway. Nonetheless I was so blue to miss the chance to spend time with a fun group of girlfriends. It was like 1982 all over again. And isn’t time such a funny thing? A quarter of a century passes in the blink of an eye, but when you have the 24-hour stomach bug, time can’t seem to move fast enough.

But time does press on. My old friend Katie has ditched the pink streak and now hosts a television show called CMT Insider where she interviews country music stars like Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley. Not exactly my flavor of country music but I do think it’s funny I spent so much time trying to impress her with my fake Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo airs and she ends up making a splashy living in country music. Good for her.

And hey-- she may have a fancy career in television, but I have lost five pounds in 24 hours and my stomach is the flattest it’s been since high school. I am going to enjoy it while I can because I’m certain tomorrow I will once again be hungry like the wolf.

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