Monday, June 10, 2013

Do Songs Trigger Your Memories?

I'm sitting on my couch. Sophie, the mini-wiener dog, is on my shoulder. Crazy little puppy. Anyway, I'm listening to the radio, and Ray Charles's "You Don't Know Me," just came on.


These old songs spark memories--not only memories of actual events, but memories of who I used to be, and I can't help wonder if I shouldn't be that person still.

Did I change so much? Do I still recognize me?

I get caught up in word counts, revising, critiquing, driving the kids, getting groceries, taking a run. I forget I'm more than this moment. And now I'm listening to these great old songs. Memories bombard me, the ones I'd tucked away in hidden pockets.

- Flashes of going to a fancy restaurant with my sister. We try new foods, enjoying the excitement of being out of college and having good-paying jobs. We giggle. No one can bring waves of laughter on quite like my sister.

- I see myself laughing, dancing in my cute dresses at a million and one wedding receptions--my word!--my family and my husband's family know how to have a good time!

- Sad memories come back too. A big fight. The colors of summer, the dark sky, the tang of the air--it rushes back.

- Dancing with my toddler daughter in the living room of our first purchased house. Twirling, twirling, giggling, giggling until we fall in an exhausted heap.

- The insanely huge spider (it had bones, people!) dangling over our heads us as my husband and I walk up the steps of our first home. I can feel our excitement, our anticipation!

- Staring over a table for two in the Florida Keys. Thinking I married the most handsome, incredible man in the universe. I still think so. :)

- Sitting on a quilt in the park with my baby son for an outdoor concert. His white-blonde hair melts me and his blue eyes crinkle as he squeals in delight.

- Sobbing in a parking lot the first week we moved to another state. Had no idea how we would make it in such a different culture. Felt like we made a huge mistake. (We didn't.)

- Driving a car full of school kids to basketball tournaments. The car shakes as they sing along to the Black Eyed Peas. Love it!

I don't spend a lot of time thinking about the past, but sometimes a song will trigger it--and my heart just tugs and tugs, unable to resist looking back.

It's then I remember--I'm so much more than today.

What songs trigger your memories? Do you ever feel not-quite-in-touch-with-yourself?

Have a wonderful Monday!

12 comments:

  1. I can totally relate to this, Jill. Songs transport me quicker than anything (except maybe smells). Yesterday at my daughter's recital a dance team danced to "It's a Hard Knock Life" and I went to Germany when I was four or five and my sister's and I would put on that play for the neighbors.

    Love this post!

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    1. Just reading the words "It's a Hard Knock Life" throws me into my grandmother's living room, wishing I could play Little Orphan Annie! Wish I could have seen your plays. :)

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  2. Just like looking at photos, listening to old songs is a walk down memory lane. Besides the fact, music nowadays can't hold a candle to the old tunes.

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    1. Don't get me started on photos, CJ! It's amazing how memories flood back when I get out the albums!!

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  3. My husband and I were just talking about this. Whenever a song from the 90s comes on we look at each other and ask if it reminds the other of high school. When I was young I used to think it was weird that adults clung to music from their teenage years. Now I understand. It makes you think about who you were once upon a time.

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    1. I understand, too! Music went through a dark period when I was in college--and I didn't really like the songs. Funny thing is, though, when I hear Nirvana or Pearl Jam, I get nostalgic for that time! Weird!!

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  4. Ooh, when I think of "You Don't Know Me" I think of Susan May Warren's book by the same title. :)

    I definitely have songs that trigger memories. In fact, it's probably part of the reason I love Coldplay so much--their earlier albums always transport me back to London. :)

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    1. Anything that transports me to another place (especially London!! What a dream trip!!)makes me happy. I like mellow music like Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews Band... It's all good!

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  5. Jill: I get to reminiscing when I think of family member who is no longer with us. A picture brings back thoughts of when our son was small. Music from my teen years transport me back to high school and college. Being the age I am, I have a lot of prompts that take me back.

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    1. Same here--so many songs bring me back to different phases in life. It's a blessing!

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  6. I totally get this!! Every time I hear Journey's song "Faithfully", I'm immediately transported back to high school, sitting on the band bus headed to a football game, singing it with my friend at the top of our lungs about the guys we had serious puppy crushes on. This post made me think about that guy. I don't ever know what happened to him, but me thinks God had better plans. :)

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    1. Oh, I remember high school crushes and football games and Journey! I could have been right on that bus with you!!

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