Songs & Memories

For me, a song can trigger a memory. I hear an old song and I’m immediately there. Back in time to an earlier age. Suddenly I am sixteen again. I can picture my surroundings, feel the emotion and live the moment all over again.

I hear “You’re Just Too Good To Be True, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” and I am suddenly in the second grade, standing in formation on the playground at my elementary school as entertainment for a PTA meeting. We were demonstrating our expertise of the President's Physical Fitness Initiative. We did jumping jacks, sit-ups, squats and much more. All while wearing our crisp clean solid white t-shirts, shorts, socks and tennis shoes.

To this day, when I hear any version of this song, I want to do jumping jacks.

The majorettes at my high school burned a permanent scar in my mind with those flaming fire batons while doing a routine to “Disco Star Wars.” They would start the routine. Then the football stadium would go dark. In an instant, there were fire batons flying through the air.

As yearbook photographer, and being close-up, I had given friends instructions on how to extinguish me if by chance I got hit by a flying fire baton and burst into flames.

“Take The Long Way Home” comes on the radio and I’m suddenly driving the one hour drive to junior college, listening to Supertramp on my 8-track tape player, that I had worked hard to install under the dashboard. Three friends in the back seat. Two friends in the front seat with me. I never could figure out why everyone in the back seat was always so cold in the Winter until I discovered the back window in the old Buick was leaking and the floorboard would freeze in cold weather.

That pretty much explained it.

Tell me a song and what it makes you remember. From the mind of me.