Songs That Stir Memories (or Why I Was Crying on My Couch Last Night)

Anyone who reads my books (and notices my penchant for rockstar heroes) or follows my playlists on Spotify can probably figure out that I tend to listen to rock music, both current and eighties/nineties. That's my sweet spot when it comes to music.

But last night, I happened to turn on the Country Music Awards and it was the 50th anniversary. The opening of the show caught my attention because they brought back so many iconic country singers from the past, including those who were popular during my childhood in the 80s/90s.

And unexpectedly, I was overwhelmed with all these memories of my family. Listening to these songs in the car with my mom, my grandfather (who was the lead singer in a band in his younger years) singing Willie Nelson songs at family parties and nailing them, learning how to two-step to Randy Travis songs with my grandmother (who I was extremely close to and who we lost to cancer when I was twelve.) It's not that I didn't remember that this music was around when I was growing up, but I think I had forgotten how intensely tied to cherished memories they were. Cue me getting all teary alone in my living room, lol. 

So it got me to thinking about the music that plays soundtrack to our lives. I know we all have those songs. Mine are spread out across genres, but apparently there's more country in there than I thought, lol.

It also had me thinking--hmm, I wonder what my kidlet's soundtrack memories will be when he looks back? His dad playing air drums to Guns 'N' Roses or Def Lepard songs in the car? His mom singing along (badly) with Foo Fighters and Pink and Queen while she cooks? (Because yeah, all that happens. Feel sorry for my neighbors.) Or all three of us singing Michael Jackson together when kidlet went through his MJ obsession phase?

It's a fun thing to think about and, once again, at least for me, reconfirms the importance the little in-between moments of our lives. The good stuff happens in between--those minutes here and there while we're going about our days. The whim that makes a grandmother decide to teach her granddaughter how to two-step in the living room after school one day, not realizing that thirty years later, long after she's gone, that granddaughter will hear that same song and it will bring back all the warmth and love she felt from her back then.

So here's to those moments and finding the time in our busy days to give space to let them happen.

Now, it's your turn. What songs bring back vivid memories for you? Or, what do you think your children's memory soundtrack will be? :) 

Also, if you want a little country music nostalgia, the CMAs put together a  song medley and video of many of the greats. Also, Spotify has a playlist with a lot of the classic country through the years.

Skeletons (and Mancandy) in the Attic

For the past week and a half, kidlet and I have been staying with my parents in New Orleans. I'm happy to be home and back to my routine (and hubs) today, but I did have a lot of fun hanging out back home. And one of the things I had the chance to do while I was there was dig through my parents' attic (I use the term "dig" loosely because its actually perfectly organized up there. My mom's organization skills are like a page out of Real Simple magazine.) And what I discovered was that a) My mom doesn't get rid of anything, b) I'm thankful for that, and c) you can tell a lot about a life going through a few childhood boxes.

So in case you didn't catch my live #tweetsFromTheAttic session on Twitter, I'll share some of what I found up there.

See, I've always been into mancandy. My mom has folders and folders filled with all the Big Bopper and Teen Beat pages I used to have on my wall.

Signs of my New Kids on the Block obsession. The bottom pic is trading cards. And no, I didn't really have backstage passes (above). I'm sure I ordered those from some magazine at some point.

The book that made me want to be a writer

Some of my favorite middle grade books

The first sex scene I ever read. It left quite an impression. I remember being shocked they could actually write that stuff in books. (I was 13.)

Where I first learned I loved a good horror story.

Yes, they made books. Of course I had them. (And can you believe in the first one, Baby was Francis Kellerman not Houseman. They actually set it up that her dad owned the resort. *shocked face* What were they thinking?)

Proof that vampires existed before Twilight ;)

Found a notebook where me and my stepsister filled out answers to questions. This is "What would you like to do for a living?" My answer is #1 - "writer/editor" and hers is "pharmasist". (She may have needed a bit of an editor there on spelling, but she was 10 so we'll give her a pass.) So at 14, I had a plan. I probably didn't realize it'd take another 18 years to reach that goal. :)  (And for those wondering, my stepsister is an accountant, not a pharmacist.)

And look, I told y'all I was really serious at 15 about querying that first novel (the New Kids fan fiction.) Luckily, I never got further than buying the 1995 Writer's Market book. :)

Look, my natural haircolor. Haven't seen that in a while...

Alright, so that's what I found in the attic. It's kind of scary how much you can distill about a person from a few boxes. But it's also kind of cool to see that my journey to becoming a writer started all the way back then. I was always preparing for this career, even when I didn't realize it.

So what would you find in your childhood boxes? What do you wish you would've kept? Would people be able to figure out who you are now based on what was in those old boxes?

Made of Win Monday: Shows That Bring You Back

Image by Brian Gurralo (click pic for link)

Welcome to the very first Made of Win Monday. This day is going to be reserved for simple things that are awesome because sometimes it's easy to forget to appreciate the little things.

Now, I'm a sentimental person by nature. I hold on to way too much, and I love things that drag me back to good memories. Music would be the obvious one, but another thing that does this for me is watching old TV shows. If I'm feeling out of sorts or down, nothing can cheer me up quicker than pulling out old episodes of a show that flips that sentimental switch inside me.

And those are also the shows that I tend to buy box sets of on DVD. So what are my shows?

To bring me back to high school...

My So-Called Life

Dude, I was DEVASTATED when this show was cancelled after one season. I actually wrote a letter to the network. I think that may have been my first act of "activism" in my life, lol. Beyond the fact that Jared Leto was the hottest thing I'd ever seen on TV, the show spoke to me in a way nothing else did at the time. (I was 15 when the show aired.) I've since heard that it would've been renewed but Claire Danes didn't want to do another season. (Claire, you wound me.) But anytime I want to be brought back to my innocent, angsty teenage years, I break out My So-Called Life.

College

Dawson's Creek

This show started during my first year of college. I remember me and my college roommates gathering around the TV on Dawson's Creek night eating french bread pizza (about as gourmet as our cooking got back then.) This show had everything I could want--angst, love triangles, romance, and teenagers who used big words like I did. I own all the seasons on DVD and every few years I break them out and go all the way from season 1 through 6. It makes me all warm and fuzzy just thinking about Joey and Pacey. Hmm, maybe I'm due for some reruns again.

The Show I Grew Up With

Friends

Ah, Friends. This show was on from the time I was 14 until I was 24. That's a huge portion of my formative years and part of me feels like this show is part of my DNA. Quotes still come to my head on a regular basis. (Does "I didn't get a cat" mean anything to you? Here's my fave scene of all time.) I also had the Rachel haircut (bad decision) and one of those huge coffee mugs even though I didn't drink coffee. Maybe I should seek therapy. I do resemble Chandler a bit too much I fear. But I have the box set of this one too. It's like balm for my soul.

All right, so those are my shows that can bring me back in time. What are yours? Do you have any shows you just HAD to own so you can access them anytime you want?