I am once again participating in Sometimes Sweet’s weekly journal prompts, and this week the prompt is:

We all have songs that really mean something to us. Often just hearing it can take us right back to that place and we are able to re-experience the memory associated with the song. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but either way music has the ability to really draw things out of us and evoke deep emotion. Choose a song that has a particular meaning to you. Tell the story of the memory associated with the song, sharing as much detail as you can. Take us there; let us experience it with you.

I’ve always loved music and off the top of my head can think of so many memories that have music associations, mostly just fragments, but those fragments are often filled with such nostalgia and/or happiness that it’s hard to even put into words.  Some of my earliest childhood memories have music in them, and I can probably attribute that to the fact that my parents listened to music so often and bought us read-a-long records as well as awesome children’s records like The Smurfs and Rainbow Brite because I was obsessed with the Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer movie.

[gigya src=”http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”250″ height=”40″ flashvars=”hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=35576869&style=metal&p=0″ allowScriptAccess=”always” wmode=”window”]

When we were younger my mom stayed at home with us and when I listen to Petula Clark and Peter, Paul and Mary, I always think of her because she often had them playing on the stereo while cleaning and making beds. It made doing mundane tasks so much more enjoyable. If I’m really down, I can always count on Petula Clark to put me in a better mood, and I am instantly reminded of sunshine and warm days and the smell of fresh sheets.  It seems so simple, and yet to this day there is no better feeling than opening up the windows on a glorious sunny day and letting in the fresh air and singing along to ‘Downtown.’

[gigya src=”http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”250″ height=”40″ flashvars=”hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=33297183&style=metal&p=0″ allowScriptAccess=”always” wmode=”window”]

When I think of my Dad I always think of bands like The Scorpions, Foreigner, The Eagles and even Bob Marley.  Listening to them makes me think of sunny days, driving with the windows rolled down with no real destination in mind.  When I was younger I would get so excited when my dad when come in early on a weekend morning and ask if I wanted to go for a drive.  Usually the purpose was to get out and just drive and look for photo opportunities, and I still love to do that.  There’s nothing like getting up early just before the sun is up and getting to watch it rise while you sip on warm coffee and simply take in the beauty of everything around you.  Listening to Foreigner usually makes me want to do something with my hands… build something or do yard work or something physical.  I think of my Dad’s work shop and all of his carpentry tools and piles of sawdust and getting to see something go from a pile of wood to something so much more.

[gigya src=”http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”250″ height=”40″ flashvars=”hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=7375819&style=metal&p=0″ allowScriptAccess=”always” wmode=”window”]

I vaguely remember a road trip in which my Dad played Bob Marley and the Wailers (Legend) over and over again.  Ha ha.  Now it is one of my go-to CDs when I need a pick-me-up and one of my favorite albums of all time.  I walked down the aisle to ‘Is This Love.’

[gigya src=”http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”250″ height=”40″ flashvars=”hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=19226272&style=metal&p=0″ allowScriptAccess=”always” wmode=”window”]

I could probably go on and on now that I’ve gotten started, but I think I’ll stop before I get too nostalgic.  Instead I’ll leave you with my first memory that is associated to a specific song rather than just general memories and feelings.  I was around 6 or 7 when I had my first real crush on a boy… Jared.  Our families knew each other because we were in the same congregation, so even though he was a little bit older than I was and his sisters were too, I got to see plenty of him.  Ha ha. I don’t remember whose wedding it was, but I do remember being asked to help hand out wedding favors (with my crush’s two older sisters, no less) and being so excited about the dress I was wearing. I can still picture it because it had a unique neckline that I thought was so fancy, and a floral pattern since this was the late 80’s.  It was a huge wedding from what I recall, and might still be one of the biggest weddings I’ve ever attended. Granted, my perspective might be skewed since everything seemed much bigger when I was smaller. The one thing I remember was the dancing. I wasn’t as shy as a child as I am now, but even then I wasn’t out on the dance floor even though I loved listening to the music and watching everyone else.  Then there was that spectacular moment where I saw Him coming towards me, and my tiny little heart pitter-patted as he asked me to dance.  I still remember the song, and how excited I was, and yet simultaneously embarrassed because it seemed like everyone was watching and I remember one or two comments on how cute we were. Admittedly, it was probably adorable to anyone who was paying attention, and there’s a picture somewhere of the moment, but even as a young kid it was equally mortifying to have my crush called “cute.”  I should probably make a note o fthis when dealing with my future kids.  Anyhoo, without further ado… the song. It was an oldie, and rather fitting – Do You Wanna Dance.

[gigya src=”http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”250″ height=”40″ flashvars=”hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=30322843&style=metal&p=0″ allowScriptAccess=”always” wmode=”window”]