Thirty three years of song

Did you ever stop and think how much music makes an impact on your life? How when you hear a song it takes you back to a different place and time? Evokes a smell? Makes you smile? Makes you giggle? While listening to the radio this morning, an idea popped into my mind. So, in between folding Adam's uniforms and baking a cake, I decided to "blog it out". These are some of songs that take me back to another place and time, bring back a smell or make giggle. I hope that some of these bring the same kind of memories to you and make you feel all of the emotions I did.

1. You Are My Sunshine: Oh my! When I hear this song I am three again and sitting on my Pap's lap..in the car..up front. I don't ever remember the car having a radio, but I pretty sure it did. Anyway we didn't need it because we would make our own music to with this song. I can't remember if we sang the whole song or just the first verse over and over again. At the end I would always get a kiss on the top of my head. And then we would move on to another song. Funny, how I don't know what the other song was, but I can remember this one clear as a bell. I know this one so well that my cell phone plays this tune when my Mam calls. I guess some memories never die.
2. Hit Me with Your Best Shot by Pat Benetar: I don't remember doing it but my Mom says this was the first song I learned fro the beginning to end. I still know all the words.
3. Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi: I think I was five or six when this song hit the air waves. On Friday nights we would go the the Pizza Hut for dinner and they had a juke box. I can remember begging for a dollar to play five songs. I would get the dollar but Mom always wanted one of the songs to be this one. I felt so grown up, walking over to the juke box, inserting the dollar bill and picking the songs. We would sit, eat pizza and listen to Bon Jovi. To this day when ever I hear this song on the radio, I can smell pizza.
4. Shameless by Garth Brooks: Thank you Mom for implanting another memory into my head. I believe it was the early 90's when Garth hit it big on the charts. I was ten or eleven and we had a Chevy Spectrum hatchback. It was a brand new car but cost extra to get the radio. We did get a radio, but for a couple weeks before that we used an old jam box with batteries. My God, I think this tape was wore out before we could even play it in the radio. Listen, rewind, listen, rewind. Always rewind just enough to the beginning of this song, never any more. I just heard this song the other day, and I looked over to make sure it was coming out of the radio.
5. Don't You Want Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane: I went "all the way" with a boy for the first time when this song was playing. Enough said!   
6. When a Man Loves a Women by Percy Sledge: This was the first dance song my ex-husband and I danced to at our wedding. To this day I cant listen to it and its been almost three years. Horrible that he could take one of my favorite songs and make it seem so disgusting to me.
7. Summertime by the Fresh Prince: Love this song! I believe this song is summer in it purest form. From the slow rap melody to the words, its all about summer!
8. Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block: Bubblegum at its finest! I was sooo in love with Joey McIntyre. I had him on my wall, on my school folders, I even had trading cards. God he was dreamy! I would listen to this tape for hours on end. I pretty sure I liked the whole tape but this song stands out in my memory.
9. Don't Be Fallin' in Love as She's Walkin' Away by Zac Brown Band: This song reminds me of Adam. He waited three years for me before he asked me out. Three years! I'm glad he finally did because we will be together three years in January. Everyday he makes me smile. Together we are a great fit. I am very blessed to have him in my life.
10. Women Like You by Lee Brice: If the above song makes me think of Adam, this song makes him think of me. The words to the song are so true its scary.

I hope I have inspired you to take a trip down memory lane the next time you hear a certain song. Let you mind remember the good times and the bad. Let yourself smile and giggle. Let yourself get teary eyed and weep. Music makes us alive and healthy. Its everywhere not just on the radio. So, kick back, prop up your feet and let your mind wonder. I can almost promise you it will be the best free vacation you have ever taken! 

If you've never owned a pet..

If you've never owned a pet, then you are surely missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures. I can't begin to describe the calming joy that they bring into your life. Here are just a few of the many joys that a pet can bring to your life:

A steady rock when the waves are rough. 

Someone to open presents with.

Someone to sunbath with.



Someone to guard the house when you are gone and a warm kiss, wagging tail included, when you return home.

Someone to nap with on lazy Sunday afternoons.

Someone  to remind you to stop and smell the flowers every now and then.

But most of all just the simple joy of being, whether it be a comfy chair or the cold tile floor.

  

Just enjoy everyday and every breath. Soak up the sun and dance in the rain. To often we try to keep up with the Jones' and miss the little things that make life worth while. We need to take a cue from our furry friends: SLOW DOWN! Who cares if the Jones' have a big house, four cars and a swimming pool. You, my friend, have a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food on the table. But most of all you have more love then they will ever have, you have pets. They love you unconditionally and give more than they receive. In my mind and many others, a house is not a home without a pet. So the next time you have a bad day, hug your pet. Trust me, it is the best medicine in the world!