Diary 💗 Walking home to The Shins

Breaking rules, snowy sidewalks, and sleeping lessons

“Time to put ze earphones on!”

A man with a German accent is the first thing you hear in my favorite Shins song, “Australia.” Then a little kid quickly shouts back, “No!”

That small moment of defiance has always felt so inviting. The first time I heard it, defiant was the last word you’d use to describe me.

I was 16 years old and 100% focused on school. S…