The Stuff That Triggers Memories

It is funny what kind of stuff sparks old memories in our minds of years long past. Today, it has been music that has brought a tear to my eye... :)

Rewind: I'm an active online radio listener...it is what gets me through the day. Every once in a while, I find myself singing a little too loud and the next thing I know, a coworker is peeking through my door and shaking their head with a smile. :)

For the last couple months, I've been addicted to Slacker.com. WAAAYYYYY better than Pandora. Anywho...

This morning, two successive songs brought huge smiles to my face. First, "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

When I was in ninth grade, I developed a HUGE crush on a boy two years older than me. Trust me, when I say crush, I mean CRUSH. I was completely smitten by him. When I'd see him in the hallway, I'd try my hardest not to make eye contact due to the fact I would blush ridiculously with embarrassment. In senior high band, I'd go in every day and hope to the dear Lord above Mr. Larsen would never call on me. Travis was a stud football, basketball and baseball player...a great musician and loved Jesus. All I ever wanted (at the tender age of 14).

After many months and many dances, my friends finally convinced me to ask him to dance. I was soooooooo nervous but I did it! And guess what song it was....What A Wonderful World. I could barely breathe. I'm sure he tried to talk to me but I was so nervous that I don't remember even opening my mouth. But, the one thing that I do remember is how good of a dancer he was and how great he smelled...pathetic I know. So, when I heard that song this morning, I couldn't help but laugh a little because the flood of memories filled with my friends and I giggling, me swooning and that first dance all came back to me.

My other song is "More Than A Feeling" by Boston. This song has two memories with it...we'll start with the first.

During my two years in Ohio, my dear friends and I became hardcore Rock Band players. I LOVE THAT GAME! Give me that microphone and I could sing for hours (which we've done before!) The Boston song was my song...absolutely loved it! My favorite memory with it, however, doesn't involve me but my wonderful love Andrew. I believe he had a few too many beers at the time and was on a singing roll (not his strongest point...trust me). The sights and sounds of him singing this song was unbelievable and I don't know if I want to forget them or relive that moment. :)

My other memory of this song doesn't really involve this particular song but the genre it represents. My dad is a crazy person when it comes to his classic rock. Even on quick trips to town, he would blast either a CD or the radio whenever a solid song from the 70s came on. Some of my favorite memories of my dad and his classic rock were the many road trips we took as a family when I was young. Driving through Montana or Idaho or some other random state, he would go to no ends to find that perfect classic rock station when he was in the right mood. And when he found it, it was like a party to my 8-year old mind.

There would be those evenings when dad would drive late into the night when the rest of the fam slept and I, sitting in the front, would try my darnest to stay awake while we jammed to classic rock.

Those are the memories triggered for me this morning and it was a wonderful thing.

To Travis - I'm so sorry for being that weird, awkward girl in high school that blushed at the very presence of you. I'm glad we're friends now. :)

To Andrew - I have no words.

To my dad - Thank you for the great memories of early morning sunrises on the road and the love I have for your generation's music. It truly is classic...long live rock and roll. :)