When was the last time you heard an old song that triggered a flood of thoughts of your past? All of a sudden, you find yourself transported back to a group of friends, a particular party, a memorable point in time which then makes you wonder all the more about where those people are now, and whatever happened to so and so...... It's a trip when that occurs. You could be in the process of tackling some mundane everyday task and then all of a sudden, your thoughts are whisked away to rememberland.
What about a new tune that seemed to jump out of the speakers and grab hold of your attention? You know those songs that pierce you in a way that a thousand others never did? Was it the melody that made you want to get up and dance? Did the words somehow capture your own feelings or questions about life? Did it remind you of another song or a particular person, or was it just the perfect background music to the activity that you were pursuing?
There is no doubt in my mind that music plays a key role in shaping both my life memories and my present memory making moments. There are songs that are very meaningful just to me for various reasons. Then, there are some that I share with people I care about because our relationship or experiences together include a particular soundtrack.
Yesterday, driving to work with my family, it happened again. Jackson Browne's song, Running On Empty came on the radio. It was a huge hit in my teen years and I can't remember the last time I had heard it over the airwaves. I hadn't thought about the song in years. And yet, as soon as I heard the first couple of notes and recognized Browne's distinctive voice and sound, I perked up. Suddenly, I'm singing the words, and wondering about my high school friends with a smile on my face.
Last summer, while attending my camp reunion, the Camp Director, who was my first true mentor, with whom I remain close to, told me that whenever he hears Harry Chapin's anthem "All My Life's Circle," he thinks of me. I had introduced years ago at a Sunday chapel and had taught it to the camp. For the 20+ years that followed after I had left camp and moved on, Chapin's song continued to be sung at campfires and quiet singsongs. To be linked to a song memory made me feel linked in time to a special place and more importantly to a special person in my life. What an honour.
Songs definately add zest and vitality to our lives. Some encapsulate important times in our past, and some that are playing now help shape our thoughts and moments as we live them. A melody can trigger strong emotions. The right phrase can capture exactly what you may be thinking.
Enjoy the music in your life............and take time to enjoy the memories that arrive with the first note of a familiar tune. And never hesitate to test out your vocal chords!
What about a new tune that seemed to jump out of the speakers and grab hold of your attention? You know those songs that pierce you in a way that a thousand others never did? Was it the melody that made you want to get up and dance? Did the words somehow capture your own feelings or questions about life? Did it remind you of another song or a particular person, or was it just the perfect background music to the activity that you were pursuing?
There is no doubt in my mind that music plays a key role in shaping both my life memories and my present memory making moments. There are songs that are very meaningful just to me for various reasons. Then, there are some that I share with people I care about because our relationship or experiences together include a particular soundtrack.
Yesterday, driving to work with my family, it happened again. Jackson Browne's song, Running On Empty came on the radio. It was a huge hit in my teen years and I can't remember the last time I had heard it over the airwaves. I hadn't thought about the song in years. And yet, as soon as I heard the first couple of notes and recognized Browne's distinctive voice and sound, I perked up. Suddenly, I'm singing the words, and wondering about my high school friends with a smile on my face.
Last summer, while attending my camp reunion, the Camp Director, who was my first true mentor, with whom I remain close to, told me that whenever he hears Harry Chapin's anthem "All My Life's Circle," he thinks of me. I had introduced years ago at a Sunday chapel and had taught it to the camp. For the 20+ years that followed after I had left camp and moved on, Chapin's song continued to be sung at campfires and quiet singsongs. To be linked to a song memory made me feel linked in time to a special place and more importantly to a special person in my life. What an honour.
Songs definately add zest and vitality to our lives. Some encapsulate important times in our past, and some that are playing now help shape our thoughts and moments as we live them. A melody can trigger strong emotions. The right phrase can capture exactly what you may be thinking.
Enjoy the music in your life............and take time to enjoy the memories that arrive with the first note of a familiar tune. And never hesitate to test out your vocal chords!
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