They say that the sense of smell evokes memories more than any other sense.
Not for me. For me it’s my sense of hearing, and specifically listening to music.
I was reminded of that this morning when an old song came on the radio while I was making lunches for my kids. How it took me back! It seemed so odd to think about a childhood summer while I was making a PB&J for my own 6-year-old in 2010.
My dad is the one who introduced my brother and me to his own love of music. He pretty much grew up in a small town record shop in the ’50′s. His family owned the music store where his passion began, and continues to this day.
I love music, too. I’ve been told I ran up to the speaker while listening to “Maggie May” and at the part in the song where Rod Stewart sings “show your age”, I held up my fingers and said “2! 2!” And, I actually remember sitting on the washing machine, belting out “American Pie.” Not to mention the duet of “You Light Up My Life” that my cousin, Kristin, and I would perform while sitting at the foot of the jukebox in my grandparents’ basement.
My kids are influenced by my music just as my dad’s music influenced me. When my oldest son was a baby, the only song that would calm him down was U2′s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” And every night my boys go to sleep to Van Morrison’s “Moondance.” They sing and dance to Michael Jackson, insist on “We Will Rock You” over and over, and even play the Twilight Soundtrack on repeat.
I’m glad my kids have music in their lives. I’m sure memories are being instilled in them right now.
I know they are in me. ::S::
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Me too. And I am fascinated by this. Hearing an old song, one from my life there, and not my life here, can literally change my mood. Listening to The Replacements takes me right back to Minneapolis. Weirdly, most of the songs that affect me are sort of Cold War songs; the ones I remember about that time, like 99 Red Ballons, I Hope The Russians Love Their Childeren Too, Forever Young, can completely change the way I view the world.
Liked this post, FWIW.
Craig
Neal actually sings American Pie. He uses a baseball bat as a microphone and a badminton racket as a guitar. Cracks me up.
No matter how many times I hear Broken Hearted Savior, I am ALWAYS taken back to our unforgettable Grand Canyon day.
Video, please! Would love to see him.
Sigh….me too!