20 years late, but...

Every now and again, I get something I want. I got Luke Skywalker a couple of years back. I got George Carlin. I got John Cale. I got Gore Vidal. Today, I got one more.

I came to punk music late. In my little rural Virginia hometown, I didn't hear much besides the top 40 pop stuff and the top 20 country until MTV.

When I was 12, I heard my first Billy Idol song, then saw Sid Vicious do his version of "My way." All of this was followed by stuff by Public Image, Ltd, Siouxsie and the Banshees and others.

I wanted more, but it was so hard to come by. Late night radio that bounced off the ionosphere from places out of Canada. Rough looking music videos played for filler in the early morning on MTV. None of it was available at Magic Mart or through Columbia House Record Club.

The Misfits were more of an idea than an actual sound for me. I couldn't find their music anywhere. They were practically underground, but I still knew what they were about, and with as little as I heard from them I was still a fan.

I have been patient. It's one of my few virtues, I think. I can be very, very patient. Today, my patience paid off. I got something I wanted. I got to talk about punk music with somebody who is part of it. Still.