I Have a Variety of "Obsessions." This is About One of Them

I just read, well--skimmed, really, a book about obsession. The author claims that to be modern is to be obsessed. We're proud to be obsessed with our TV shows, jobs, and lovers--if it's really true love, that is. If you're not obsessed with something you lack passion. You're a dullard. I talk about a lot of obsessions here on my blog. I always feel a little bit bad when I do. Like you're all, "Great. Another post about [super heroes, X-Files, sugar cereal, NASA, old cartoons, Doug Fabrizio, etc.]" Now that I know it's totally modern, I guess I don't care anymore.

In other words, how many different ways can you start a blog post about Robert Plant? At least three. I find Robert Plant endlessly fascinating for many reasons which I love to talk about on this blog and in real life. I can't say enough about Led Zeppelin or, for that matter, the Honey Drippers. Sure, sure--in my youth I thought he was a sexy guy. Sure, sure--in my youth I threw my bra on stage at one of his concerts. But it's much more than that. He loves Lord of the Rings. He's so restrained on his album with Allison Krauss. He looks good in Levis. He loves Utah (At this point in my life I don't have time for people who hate Utah). He probably made a deal with the devil. His young son died.

I don't necessarily think Robert Plant and I have a lot in common. And I don't necessarily think he would find me interesting. My hope for Robert Plant is that at some point we could enter into a mutually beneficial co-dependent relationship wherein he becomes a father figure to me and I act as a place holder for his son, who would turn 37 this year. Just like me.

A few months ago I read Bumping into Geniuses by Danny Goldberg. That movie, Almost Famous, is loosely based on him. He represents and writes about rock stars. Goldberg writes that at Led Zeppelin concerts during those long and, in my opinion--very boring, drum solos, the rest of the band would go backstage to get a drink or something else R rated. But Robert Plant would stand offstage and watch John Bonham, his childhood friend, for the whole solo. I don't know if you know this but those solos are really long. I think that's nice. And kind of a cute image.

So normally I would read something like that, think about blogging about it, and decide not to because I already talk about Robert Plant way too much. Then I thought, why shouldn't I just do whatever I want?