My Life in Songs...

I just recently finished reading Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. It follows the life of two best friends, Kate and Tully, through their 30 year friendship. The story uniquely chronicles their life by the music they listened to. Reading this book made me want to think back to the songs that chronicled my life... what was the song, and what was going on? Clint Black has an old song that says "ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory... take you to another place in time... completely change your state of mind." Music has helped document times of our lives even when we weren't aware of it. I've been thinking over this for several days and I had a hard time narrowing down my list... but here it is...the short list.

1981(ish) - Lolliwinks
A children's album that I played over and over and over on my little purple tape player. Oddly enough, it was a group of "elves" that sang some pretty catchy tunes. I have no idea who purchased this for me, but they're the first songs that I remember really singing. Was I the only little girl who knew every word to every song of the Lolliwinks?

1986 - Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album
This album was Richard's first tape he ever purchased. Richard would have only been 10 yrs old in `86, and I can't imagine that a 10 yr old was THAT in to Bon Jovi... so maybe he got it later (86 is when the album was released). However we listened to this all the time as well. I'll always be a Bon Jovi fan because of this single album. You should hear me sing "Living on a Prayer" on the Rock Band game....

1987 - Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
What little girl could forget the heart throb Patrick Swaze in this movie? This soundtrack was my first tape to purchase with my own money. I remember listening to the music and wishing I was "Baby" in the movie who got to dance with that fine specimen of a man. If only all family vacations could be so magical.

1990 - The Thunder Rolls, Garth Brooks
I only mention this song because I remember falling in love with it as it played in my friend's mom's jeep as we drove out to her ranch one weekend. Lauren had everything I ever wanted. I thought her parents were rich, and she always had the coolest things. Now, looking back... I'm glad I'm not her. I'm glad I wasn't given anything I wanted, and I'm glad my parents raised me the way they did.

1990 - Amazing Grace
My granddaddy Hicks died May 5, 1990. One week after his 70th birthday. I remember in the paper they got his age wrong... they said he was 69. We sang Amazing Grace at his funeral... I will never hear that song again without thinking of him. Naturally when I do think of him, I end up thinking of all my grandparents who have passed. I miss them. I wish they could have met Derek & Lainey.

1992 - November Rain, Guns and Roses
I'm not sure what spurred it, but once my parents decided to load up the suburban and drive out west. It was one of two family vacations we took as kids. Richard had this single and I listened to it over and over as we drove through West Texas. The instrumental part of this song was so beautiful, and it reminds me of the mountains of Alpine. We went to McDonald Observatory, and stayed at the KOA in Fort Stockton. Little did I know, 15 yrs later I would live out there.

1993 - Life's A Dance, John Michael Montgomery
My best friend through Jr High and High School was Karen. We were inseparable. In 8th grade they made some memorabilia book and asked... "Can you imagine...." and for Karen and I it said "Can you imagine Angie without Karen, or Karen without Angie." I specifically remember walking around the Jr High dirt track teaching her the words to this song. As time would unfold, we did "separate" in college... and no longer keep in touch. However, this is one of the many songs that remind me of the sister I never had.

1993 - Jupiter from The Planets by Holst
This was one of the songs our marching band played my freshman year of High School. I fell in LOVE with Friday night high school football games & marching season. The magic of the lights and sounds. The fun with friends in band, and the late night bus rides home. Richard and I were really close in High School, and this song reminds me of him.

1999 - The Arms of an Angel, Sarah McLaughlin
What a year this was for Texas A&M. Bonfire fell on November 18th and changed the history of A&M forever. It was a somber and surreal time to be living in College Station. It was my first year at A&M & because bonfire fell, I never got to see the real one on campus. This song was remade with clips of new reports and testimonies.... and was played over the radio over and over again.

2003 - I Want to Love Somebody Like You, Keith Urban
Before Derek and I started dating, this song made it big. It was the fall of 2003, and I remember driving around in my truck with the windows down, Gracie in the back, singing this song THINKING ABOUT DEREK. I would have never guessed in a million years that I would have married that guy... my Flowering Plants lab partner.

2008 - Medley, Third Day
This song is old, but I put it on my mp3 player and listened to it when Derek and I were running last fall. This song reminds me of when I first found out my dad had cancer. There were lots of runs that were fueled by the fear and uncertainty of the word CANCER. Many miles passed by as I listened to this song and prayed. Our prayers were answered when my dad made it through his surgery, and has now finished his chemo treatments.

2009 - This Little Light of Mine
Derek and I picked this song to be "Lainey's Song." We sang it to her every night before bed during the last few months of my pregnancy. We still sing it to her today to calm her down when she gets upset. By about the second line, she's stopped crying and is okay. However, I specifically remember singing this song to Lainey with tears in my eyes and her in my arms, all alone in my hospital room after she was born. I could have never understood the love a parent has for a child before Lainey was born, but at that moment it all made sense. I love that girl so much that it hurts.

SO there it is. I know the list isn't that short, but I promise I only hit the high points. What were some of your songs?