Can I get a goddamn timpani roll to start this goddamn song?

I wake up every day at 6:20 and I leave the house at 6:27.

I trudge through snow winter after winter and meet my bus at 6:30.

Only because I have been too lazy to get my permit, never mind my license...

My bus driver, Kathy and me, we call each other "sunshine."

We sing in unison at 6:30, "Good morning sunshine!" as if nothing could make us happier this early in the morning.

It's precious, really.

I've always been well-acquainted with my bus-drivers, with the janitors, etc.

I dunno if it's just that I find them more interesting or what, but I've known most of them

better than I know some of my teachers.

I've learned important life lessons and I've learned to appreciate.

I came from Somerville in 5th grade and I just couldn't relate to most of the kids that I went to school with.

I've always shared my room with my sister.

My mum's always worked 2 jobs.

My dad has never had a steady job.

We never did little league.

We never played instruments or got lessons.

But, we were happy.

We've been happy.

There are highs, there are lows.

But I think that I had a pretty kickass childhood.

When we lived in Somerville, so did pretty much all of my father's side.

We split 3 gigantic homes between approximately 30 people.

We always had someone to play with.

Cousins, grandparents, sisters, brothers, uncles, mothers.

Our whole neighborhood watched out for us, their yards were our adventure grounds.

Now, we live on route 2.

My little sisters [my parents procreated in two batches, me and Sabriya, and then 9 years later, Diba and Nashaat-- if we were the experiment, I guess we succeeded] have never felt that sense of community.

I don't think I'd be the same if I hadn't.

I found myself by guess and check, by figuring that I wasn't like my cousins or anything.

I tried to be, but I wasn't and then when I figured that out, they helped me and kind of fostered my growth.

Anyways... I'll give you stories of my childhood from time to time.

This is just the introduction, so please, please, gimme that goddamn timpani roll.

Bright Eyes - Let's Not Shit Ourselves [To Love And Be Loved]