Prescription.

Music, for better or worse, has always been my constant companion or my escape.

When I was a little girl, I listened bravely to the art rock that my sisters played, desperately wanting to be a part of their much older and sophisticated world. Basically, I skipped right over the British equivalent of Barney and headed right for Soft Machine. In retrospect, this was probably good. Music soothed many sad times. When my sisters would leave for college and I'd be an only child at home, I had a stack of records left behind.

On a recent trip to my doctor I was asked, "How long have you been depressed?" I could answer this question quite clearly: "Since I was about six." Despite the many wonderful, warm memories of my childhood, a loving family, and very secure environment, I have a very distinct recollection of being about six years old and sitting in the bathtub and feeling a wave of crushing sadness. And not six-year old sadness, like some kid stole my Sindy doll. I'm talking about worry and angst. Over what? No idea.

So music it was. Music has always at least temporarily silenced the Crunge--the sadness, the panic over polar ice caps and Mad Cow, the radio interference that often jams the regularly scheduled programming in my head, and the feeling that no matter how hard I try or work, I will always be unworthy.

I'm grateful that for approximately 4-minute intervals, everything can be good and happy and love can make it all right, or that I can go to the darkest places imaginable, because in another 2 minutes and 20 seconds, I can purge off the bad and move on to the next place for another 4 minutes.

So on this rainy and miserable day, Interpol is just what the Doctor ordered. Or is Interpol really the opposite of what the Doctor would order? Anyway, I find them cathartic. I have to think these guys are a lot darker than I am. Though I did hear once about the bass player Carlos D. being spotted at Bed Bath and Beyond in New York. Can you imagine him stocking up on dust ruffles and giant vanilla candles?