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Mike Brown the REMIX, Hunter April 17, 2007 - 4:17pm. |

Usually I try to give lists of do's and do not’s, tips on what's and how's, and rules with can's and cannot's. Instead, I'll just share a brief story about one of my "relationships" with an older woman during my days at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
She and I never "dated." Don't get me wrong - we did spend lots of time together. Our quiet time consisted of hanging out at her place. We'd get comfy on the couch and watch a DVD I borrowed from my roommate at school. We'd joke with each other while scarfing down the most delicious Philly cheesesteak sandwhiches!
Regardless of what we had in common, we loved each other's company. There was never a dull moment because we always had fun. We could always make each others laugh.
One of my fondest memories was those long trips back and forth from her apartment to my campus, laughing, smiling, and holding hands.
Our relationship existed in the perfect gray area that every woman my age tried their best to avoid. No, we didn't have any strings attached, but we never denied our intimate connection. We were happy being "us," even though we never implicitly defined what "us" meant.
A little over a month passed by without seeing each other – she was extremely busy with her career and I was swamped with school work. So to catch up on lost times, I took a trip to her apartment for the weekend.
We shared the same laughs as we did before. We shared the Philly cheesesteaks as we did before. We even shared the same bed as we did before. The only change was the increased intensity of "I miss you" sex. And like we did before, we talked music on the way back to campus.
She told me how much she liked this independent artist, Teedra Moses. She loved her voice and the realism of her lyrics. "You hear this, Mike? This song is us," she said. "I really like you – I truly do, and I know we'd be great together, but uggh --" She began laughing. When she stopped, she sang along with the CD :
[Verse 2]
Here's it is, I'ma make it plain, I'ma lay it on the line
Mostly I feel you're just a waste of my time
But oh, (I want you), I (I got to have you)
Oh, (Really do need you)
Oh, but it's the way that you love me
That keeps me thinking papi, Oh I
[Chorus]
Oh, papi, I sit and think about All of the
Things, that we go through and I
Wonder why I stay with you but there's
Something in your backstroke
(And it keeps me in the mood)
Something in your backstroke
[Bridge]
And it keeps me in the mood
And it keeps me in the mood
And it keeps me in the mood
And it keeps me in the mood
I can do this forever
But right now I'd rather just
Give in and get your love tonight
We both laughed and continued to hold hands until we arrived back at NJIT. After that night, my older woman and I didn't "date" again. Maybe it was our hectic schedules. Maybe it was the hundreds of miles between us. Or maybe, it was the song that eloquently described our gray area… whatever it was, it was over.
Now I don't want this blog to give the impression that a relationship between a younger man and older woman will end in bittersweet sorrow. It's just to say that in relationships with a younger man and older woman (or any other for that matter), both should what they're getting into and why. In my case, I loved the fun and departure away from life at school. In her case, it was all about that "Backstroke."
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So your backstroke is like THAT, Remix? LOL. What city do you live in again? ;)
No, but on the real--that's the best thing about music. When another poet's words can perfectly capture the way that you feel. Be it about love, a past relationship, or any memorable experience. The only thing about that, though, is that whenever that does happen, that memory, person, etc. is forever entertined with that particular song.
Sometimes it's a good thing: T.L.C.'s "Diggin On You" will always remind me of a particular childhood roadtrip, Jay Z and Eminem's "Renegade" always takes me back to the sense of hopeful optiminism and wonder that I experienced the first time I heard it at an Alpha probate show during my freshman year of college. But other times, it's not so good: I can't hear John Mayer's "Comfortable" without thinking about my ex-boyfriend and Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" isn't so lovely to me anymore (due to reasons I'm not at liberty to discuss).
But I can relate to Teedra and her need for the backstroke. (See above question. LOL)
Mike,
I love Teedra Moses and this song is so much more powerful with the melody in the background so this doesn't even give it justice.
I feel like this whole gray area situation isn't even just about and older man or woman. Nowadays monogomy is so incredibly tricky especially when you're in school or you're extra focused on career. I wonder if it's a trend to be "buddies" or if it'll last...

Robyn Flipse
Mike Brown the REMIX
Katie Reynolds
Brad Karsh
Maria Pascucci
So, eloquent. So, sweet. This story reminds me of a time when I "dated" a younger man. He was fun, smart, tall (very necessary)and rather charismatic, I must say. Alot like you, Mike Brown ;) The time we shared was alot like the time you shared with your "older woman". We had silly moments. We had fun moments. We had intimate moments. We had bittersweet moments. All in all, they were memorable moments. Funny thing is, I never expected to enjoy a man so much younger than me but I did (maybe a little too much). I think what made it a blessing and a curse was the fact that it was so carefree. You know, Mike, there was something about this young that made me feel like a high school freshman fawning over the hottest senior. You know the feeling, like the anticipation of speeding down that first drop as you climb the steep incline of a roller coaster. But there was also something about this young man that frustrated me beyond words and that is where Teedra Moses spoke directly to the situation.
Well, Mike, it sounds like you shared something unique and special with this "older woman". Maybe your paths will cross again. Who knows, maybe there's still "something in your backstroke" :)
BTW, there's something to be said about a comfy couch, DVD's, and Larry's (oops) I mean cheesesteaks ;)