A happy mistake.

Whenever you travel with a toddler, you are bound to forget something. I mean, with all the gear you have to lug around with a child, it's just gonna happen. We've found ourselves short of diaper wipes, the boy's woobie, enough juice, favorite toys, an extra pair of pants (always needed on flights) -- you name it, we've forgotten it at one time or another. And yes, we've survived. But often, barely.

But when I realized halfway to the airport that I'd forgotton Munchkin's Sesame Street Platinum hits CD, I was sure we were in for real trouble. How would we manage?

I think I've discussed how Munchkin will not travel by car without a demand for "Es-seet!" And since the sound of Ernie singing about his rubber duckie fetish for the 11 millionth time is far superior to hearing our son scream until he pukes, we have begrudgingly complied with his wishes.

But now we were in for a true test. We were going to be driving several hundred miles in a rental car without any Big Bird. Could we, as a family, survive the experience?

As it turns out, we could and did. Thanks to Sirius.

Our rental car was equipped with satellite radio. We don't have it and haven't heard much about it over here so we were curious. Mostly desperately hopeful that somewhere on those hundreds of music channels, there was an official Sesame Street music station.

And there might have been. But I never found it. As I flipped through, I had to stop at channel 24, Lithium, a grunge, 90's alternative rock station. And once the dial was fixed, it never strayed again for the rest of the trip. Luckily, Munchkin was so entertained by my reaction to hearing the music of my youth (and attempting to head bang a few times) that he promptly forgot about his Elmo fix.

When I first found the station, it was playing Sonic Youth's "Bull in the Heather." And throughout the rest of the trip, we were treated to songs we had almost forgotten. Porno for Pyros. Paul Westerberg. Godsmack. Alanis Morissette before she went to India and forgot she was angry. It was heaven.

As soon as I got home, though I knew I couldn't recreate the Lithium experience, I decided to download what I could to make my own playlist for the car. Here it is:

1. James - Laid
2. Porno for Pyros - Under the Tahitian Moon
3. Filter - Hey Man, Nice Shot
4. Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls
5. Veruca Salt - Volcano Girls
6. Soundgarden - Outshined
7. House of Pain - Jump Around
8. Tori Amos - God
9. Paul Westerberg - Dyslexic Heart
10. Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome
11. Sonic Youth - Bull in the Heather
12. Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy
13. Cake - Sheep go to Heaven
14. Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know
15. Alice in Chains - Would
16. Lit - My Own Worst Enemy
17. Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
18. The Wallflowers - 6th Avenue Heartache
19. Cypress Hill - Rock Superstar
20. Lo Fidelity Allstars - Battle Flag

This is my youth. My years in college and right after, when I had some disposable income and no strings attached. And while I drive, I remember that I had my very own Wayne's World/Bohemian Rhapsody moment to "Flagpole Sitta" on the way to Mardi Gras with my friends. I remember the sheer disbelief I felt the first time I heard "Sheep Go to Heaven" -- I ended up snarfing beer out of my nose. And sure, this is bordering on TMI, but I had the hottest sex I can remember to "Under the Tahitian Moon."

It's amazing how music can recreate that heady feeling of freedom. If only for a moment, until your kid throws his sippy cup at the back of your head and screams for the muppets once more.