Lauren (Stahl Me). The 2022 version of a mix tape.

When I started dating after my divorce, my best guy friend (and maybe favorite human on the planet) – who I trust with my entire being – said something I will never forget.

“If he doesn’t make you a playlist within one month of your first date, he is not worthy of you.”

It was such a random, specific comment. I replied, “Like, he is just supposed to make me a playlist organically?” And he said, “Well, yeah! You can’t tell him to do it.”

I rolled my eyes and was like, “Okay, whatever, Cory. That will never happen. I will just be single forever.”

Insert Brad.

On our first date, we bonded heavily over music. I mentioned that I liked Fall Out Boy, and based on the look on his face, I thought he was going to ask me to marry him then and there. Afraid I was overselling my “coolness,” I quickly backtracked and said, “I am really into basic white girl things, too, like T. Swift.” Well, turns out, he and Taylor Swift share a birthday, and he knew her middle name and some deep tracks.

The next day, I was traveling out of state to accept a job interview four hours away (I ended up declining it), and he texted me, “Do you have four hours’ worth of road trip music for this evening?” I told him I did not, and the next thing I knew, he curated a playlist for me.

It is called “Lauren (Stahl Me)” which is BEYOND adorable, because the third track on it is called “Stall Me” by Panic! At the Disco. It’s a bop, too.

The playlist (all of our playlists to one one another MUST be listened to in order):

Be Calm by Fun. Lisztomania by Phoenix Stall Me by Panic! Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional Wild Heart by Bleachers True Romance by Motion City Soundtrack Submarines by Lumineers Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man Free / Into the Mystic by Zac Brown Band You Make My Dreams by Daryl Hall & John Oates Crush’d by Say Anything Hum Hallelujah by Fall Out Boy Heart Beat Here by Dashboard Confessional Stop Making This Hurt by Bleachers Motorcycle Drive by Third Eye Blind

Come on home and let yourself heal / You could sleep a thousand years / And I won’t let you disappear / Let your heart beat here

A few weeks ago, I asked Brad if he would make a playlist for me by 11/15 with the theme “starting over” – the anniversary of the day I started my life over. I kind of forgot I requested that, but on 11/15, he sent me a playlist titled “Next Chapter:

Feeling Good by Michael Buble Who Says by John Mayer Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles First Day of my Life by Bright Eyes Maybe Tonight by The Summer Set Rain King by Counting Crows The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy Birthday Party by AJR Weightless by All Time Low Learn to Let Go by Kesha New by Ben Platt Heart Beat Here by Dashboard Confessional (a repeat from the playlist above) Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes by Fall Out Boy Begin Again by Taylor Swift This is for Real by Motion City Soundtrack The Resolution by Jack’s Mannequin Even If It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack

Somewhere in your room, I left my virtue and my favorite shoes / I don’t want ‘em back, never give ‘em back to me / You can walk a mile in ‘em, tell me how they feel on you / I’ll be busy being so brand new

I don't do a lot right, but choosing someone who makes me playlists is one of my best decisions. Good call, Cory.