MCA

I teared up
when the DJ on KEXP
said that MCA died
of cancer.

I first heard
the Beastie Boys
in sixth grade when I was eleven years old.
My cousin taped
"Licensed to Ill" on a blank Memorex cassette for me.
She included "She's Crafty", too.
I learned all the words.

In college, my brother
had "Ill Communications"
on a tape. It was green.

I got "Paul's Boutique"
from Cellophane Square in Bellingham.
"Check Your Head" and "Hello Nasty"
were on CDs
and Aaron downloaded
"Hot Sauce Committee Part Two"
a few months ago. We watched the
video together on YouTube.

I'm 37.
The Beastie Boys have been
part of my life for 26 years.

Adam Yauch
you will be missed.