In Bloom

one

fan’s written

ultimate +

pilgrimage

designed

by

alyson

to

aberdeen

stejskal

Part I. from the muddy banks of the wishkah

2

arriving in aberdeen

4

breakwater oysters

Part II. retrospect

6

bruises on the fruit

8

kurt’s house

Part III. something in the way

10

young street bridge

12

endless, nameless

ABERDEEN A N I R VA N A FA N ’ S M E C C A One fan’s ultimate pilgrimage to see where it all began

In a small, dreary logging town in the aptly the

named

Grays

turbulent

Harbor

history

of

County a

band

lies that

singlehandedly changed the face of music.

Over

the

have

slowed

years,

enthusiasts

the

down, like

influx

of

but

die-hard

myself

still

tourists Nirvana make

the

ultimate pilgrimage to Aberdeen just to get a glimpse into the past to see where it all began.

02

ARRIVING IN ABERDEEN //

03

first thing’s first.....

Before I started my lengthy journey I decided I needed some food.

As I drove into town, I stopped to take some pictures [naturally]. As I was taking photos, I

happened

to

stumble

across

Breakwater

Seafood & Chowder, and thought to myself, this could either be a crappy dive or a diamond in the ruff

[pearl in the oyster if you will].

It was the best meal of my life.

And

what

made

it

even

better

was

eating

amongst the Aberdeen locals, some of them well into their 70s and 80s. I kept wondering if they had known Kurt growing up. If they were friends

with

his

parents

and

grandparents.

Had they had a conversation with him before?

Did they know what he was really like?

Before I left, I had to use the restroom. It just

so

happened

that

the

women’s

restroom

was out of order, so I had to use the men’s room.

I

couldn’t

help

but

wonder

if

I

was

using the same bathroom that Kurt Cobain had years ago... Weird.

04

BREAKWATER OYSTERS //

The best damn fried oysters in the Pacific Northwest.

THEN, I JUST DROVE AROUND

R E V E L I N G I N T H E M O M E N T,

LISTENING TO IN BLOOM AS

A STORM APPROACHED

06

BRUISES ON THE FRUIT //

IN BLOOM Sell the kids for food Weather changes moods

We can have some more

Spring is here again

Nature is a whore

Reproductive glands

Bruises on the fruit Tender age in bloom

He’s the one Who likes all the pretty songs

He’s the one

And he likes to sing along

Who likes all the pretty songs

And he likes to shoot his gun

And he likes to sing along

But he knows not what it mean

And he likes to shoot his gun

Knows not what it mean

But he knows not what it mean

And I say

Knows not what it mean

He’s the one

And I say

Who likes all the pretty songs

He’s the one

And he likes to sing along

Who likes all the pretty songs

And he likes to shoot his gun

And he likes to sing along

But he knows not what it mean

And he likes to shoot his gun

Knows not what it mean

But he knows not what it mean

And I say yeah

Knows not what it mean And I say yeah

07

I

WENT

TO

THE

LITTLE

YELLOW

HOUSE ON EAST FIRST STREET WHERE

KURT

GREW

U P.

TRANSPORTED

IT

BACK

IN KURT’S SHOES.

WAS

IN

LIKE

TIME.

BEING

I

WAS

KURT’S CHILDHOOD HOME

E 1 S T. S T R E E T

ABERDEEN, WA 98520

A

few

home

10

YOUNG STREET BRIDGE //

blocks is

the

from

Kurt’s

infamous

childhood

Young

I was finally able to see the exact

Street

same picturesque spot that Kurt saw.

Bridge. Subject of numerous tales of

It definitely made the song and the

Nirvana folklore.

lyrics more meaningful.

I couldn’t believe I was standing on

I have never felt more serene as I

the muddy banks, standing underneath

did standing underneath the bridge.

THE bridge. The same secluded hideout

I

that inspired Something in the Way,

of faded blue Keds sneakers that I

that may or may not have housed Kurt

was wearing that day. Dirt from the

Cobain during his time in Aberdeen.

muddy banks still caked on the sides.

still

have

the

threadbare

pare

I

don’t think I’ll every throw away

those sneakers, no matter how dirty or

old

or

unwearable

they

may

be.

I walked all over Aberdeen in those shoes. I was in Kurt’s shoes while I was wearing those. It’s something I’ll never forget.

11

SOMETHING I N T H E W AY

Even

though

it’s

been

years

since

Kurt’s

years

since

Nirvana

more

than

20

and

20

death, played

their

last show and sang their last note, the history and legacy they left is still

alive.

and

well

The

raw,

in

It’s

certainly

Aberdeen,

youthful

alive

Washington.

energy,

and

even

the cloud of pain and heartbreak, is still palpable.