A gift arrived today. A gift from ABOVE...yes. Yes, my friends, our upstairs neighbors dropped off a gift (really a loan) that will solve all the world's problems. The gift is called:
What To Expect: The Toddler Years
Finally, a manual. Because we are slacker parents, we immediately noticed that we are 346 pages behind already in the book. We gave up reading after Avery turned 1, feeling glib, and well, have been slowly sliding into a sea of toddler induced chaos. But now, a manual. We are saved.
But this is not a post about parenting (not needed! we now have a manual!). This is a post about memories. Music induced memories. On my way to work this morning I was flipping through my iTouch and as I listened it was like many scenes from my life were scrolling by. So I thought I would make note of it for the future, whenever I might want to take a trip back in time. Here goes:
Goin' Back To Cali, LL Cool J: flashed back to 2008 on a flight to - you guessed it - California where I was sitting 2 rows back from the Man himself, Mr. LL. Oh yes. At the end of the flight I told him that thanks to him I had been singing Goin Back to Cali the whole 5 hours. He was amused. And shorter than you would think. But just dreamy, in general.
American Boy, Estelle and Kanye West: Watching the 2009 Grammys with my mom.
City of Blinding Lights, U2: Going for a run in LA in 2005 when my husband, then boyfriend, was working on the Crescent Beverly Hills (sweet little hotel). Had a great run. Felt like I was in a Gatorade commercial.
Blow Your Mind, Jamiroquai: Summer, London 1993. My first experience really living in a city. And wow did we jump right in. I was there working in Estee Lauder's London office for the summer and my parents had to drag me back (there is a full post to be done about that summer). But a friend's boss was dating a member of the band, and she said, "You know, I think these guys are going to be a hit." Oh London. Such fond memories. The summer I discovered platform shoes, how to get into a club by skipping the line, that the English really do cover everything with cream and that the word "Brilliant!" really is, well, brilliant. We saw every show, we danced on tables, I think we worked at our respective internships, we partied very briefly with Kate Moss and we drank champagne in the Kensington Gardens. I could go on. I will stop here...
U Know What's Up, Donell Jones: Summer 2000, working at 360HipHop. By FAR the best job I have ever had. Where else might you run into Ice Cube on your way to refill your coffee?
I Remember You, Skid Row: 1989!! High School! OH, the hair, the men in tights, the white boots and tiny skirts of the pom squad. Those were the days.
SOS, Rihanna: 2006, our wedding. We had a strategy for music - no slow songs, a dance floor slightly too small to make it feel like a packed party, and we dictated the first five songs to ensure everyone was dancing. This was the winner, SOS. Even the old ladies were boogy-ing down. Future brides, take note - NO SLOW SONGS. Total wedding dancing buzz kill! And I tell ya, that floor was rocking the whole night. Worked for us, or maybe it was the liquor...
Country Grammar, Nelly: Actually, I hate this song but it reminds me of a night, Summer 2000, when my friends and I were totally unsuccessful sneaking our way into some swanky all white, or black or gold party out in the Hamptons. After our rejection (FOILED! So much for that London training) we drove to our local haunt, and well, I met up with my now husband (who had also been rejected from the same party where he was coming to meet me). See, it was fate :-)
What are your music memories? Isn't it amazing how just a few notes of a song can take you right back? I think that is one of our nicest traits as humans.
What are the five most beautiful words in the English language, you ask? I will tell you. Pour...Some...Sugar...On...Me.
And for the record, we had the two most fun weddings in history. I'm just sure of it.
Posted by: [email protected] | March 31, 2010 at 07:27 AM
love this post! so many music-induced memories -- too many to name! i thought of you the other day while listening to Bon Jovi's Dead or Alive!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Kat | March 31, 2010 at 11:19 AM
I've really been enjoying your posts (connecting through the LinkedIn status updates). I, too, always seem to be amazed at the ability of the iPod to bring a smile to my face when it shuffles up something I haven't heard in a while. So many music memories from high school and college. I seemed to disconnect when I entered the workforce, so I've had to rediscover the nineties. It was the digital file format that brought me back - I had an account on Napster as soon as they signed the deal with the record labels, but quickly abandoned it for iTunes. My favorite music memory is the Pixies - anything from Doolittle. Reminds me of seeing them in concert at the Ritz with my wife. It was so loud she got sick, but otherwise an amazing experience.
By the way, see me in ten years for "What to Expect: The Middle School Years." Unfortunately, its the screenplay to a horror movie
Posted by: Mike G. | April 01, 2010 at 05:09 PM