The office is done for 2005. We knocked off early to have some drinks and then I joined the BDP office for more drinks. It was really a fun night. We were dancing to some early 80's song which has no association with me other than horror, and then it got worse: Mariah Carey and her holiday song. Don't know what the name of it is, (All I Want for Christmas maybe?) but it's toomeys 'favorite' and we danced to it. Following it was his 2nd favorite song, some Christmas tune that I cannot identify, but hope to post a link to soon; traditional type Irish Christmas made into a pop tune. Mark, Sarah, Toomey and I danced in a sort of supportive circle of friends while trying not to get bounced around by the rest of the dance floor. I sort of reminded me of a rugby scrum. Honestly, it was fun being in the circle watching them all sing to a song that is as ingrained in their past as Feliz Navidad or Santa Got Run Over By a Reindeer (dance version) is to us. It was great and just what I needed for the day to end well.
FYI, at 4 am after many, m a n y , free drinks, typing, isn't my strongest skill. In fact, it's painful and I would wait until tomorrow to post this except that I have something that I want to discuss/ask with the 2 readers that I have.
Moving right along...
After 'beat up the American' kabobs(long story), Mark put me in a cab home, which is the part of the story I'm most interested in. On the radio was 'Mr. Jones' by the Counting Crowes. Hardly that significant except that it always and irrevocably reminds me of my brother. I went to visit him in Florida when he was stationed there and in just about every bar we went to, this song was playing. It's undeniable, when I hear it, I see my brother dancing and singing along and I am magically transported to a bar in Florida.
The same thing happens with my sister. The other day, the radio station we were listening to here in Dublin was playing Breathless by the Corrs, which was the hot song when I visited her in Zurich. Every single place we went was playing it and when I got home? No air play at all. Also, anything by Daft Punk is tied to her, because she bought the CD for me over mass protest. (hers, not mine) I like the, I don't care what anyone says.
I think it has to do with the fact that both times, both songs, that is my favorite version of my siblings. I love the Melissa I discovered in Switzerland. Not that I don't love her now, but that was the first time I've ever seen her truly happy. Dear god, she was down right bubbly and I loved seeing her so genuinely happy with life. And that was the song that was playing while I was being introduced to the adult her. The same with my brother. I visited him in Ft. Walton Beach and it was the first time I saw him really happy. Maybe it has to do with being seen on and living on your own terms. I dunno...
But, I associate songs with my family. When ever I hear, any version of Songbird, I'm so consumed with thoughts of my mother I almost cry. (that's a good association, by the way; we're close and happily so) I hear that sound and all I can conjure in my mind is my mother playing the piano and, if I'm lucky, my sister singing. It's something that will never go away and I love that. And if you've ever hear my sister sing... ahhhhhhhhhh...... :-) like a warm breeze of a field of wildflowers.
My dad is another story. While I was in New York for Dan's wedding, I realized that while Jenn's family eats, our family dances, a fact made ubundantly clear upon her scream when Dad took her out for her first jitterbug as a Cowan. (and I love that she's a Cowan now) My dad can DANCE... he's amazing and he's ruined me for any other man. I simply can't dance with other men. We grew up dancing. Our uncle is a polka recording star and he played at every family function I can recall. My grandfather played the fiddle. My mother plays 5 instruments by ear and sings. We grew up listening to the sounds of the 50's and 60's, watching my parents dance. It's ingrained in us. My dad and I took dance lessons one year, which is my favorite version of my dad. Every Tuesday for 6 weeks we'd go to the YMCA and for 2 hours we'd Foxtrot, Waltz, and Cotton Eyed Joe. (incidently, my favorite version of Ron) We suck at the Cha-Cha, but that man can rock anything with a 8 count. Teach him how to Lindy and he'd be unstoppable. So it's not a song that I associate with my Dad, it's dance moves that I've found in only one other person on earth. And he was as astounded as I was when we discovered that we were natural dance partners.
So, my question is this: I know that music can transport you to a time and place, but does it transport you to a person? I have very strong associations of a person and a thing, be it ,music/scent/taste/etc... Is anyone else wired this way or am I just going it alone in this respect?
12 comments:
simply irresistable
garret black
As faithful reader number 2, I'd have to say most definitely Beth. I have strong associations with music and people. That is one way I never forget these people who have ventured away from me. I don't really get transported to a place whenever I here music, but I envision images of the people I was with when we enjoyed the tunes. You are not alone. Glad to hear that your holidays have started and that you are enjoying yourself. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It happens that way sometimes to me too. Don't worry you're not so weird. Just remember the only "normal" people are the ones you haven't really gotten to know yet.
-Hippie
We all associate things with memories, its in all of us.It is a form of synesthesia. Whenever I drink a class of Frascati it brings me back to the roof terrace at the Hotel Tizano in Rome, or when walking in the rain and a bus passes by I get flashbacks of a cold wet day in Verona. Life would not be fun and complete without it.
I guess I'm stealth reader #3. "By Your Side" by Sade was the song that played in Kari's room immediately after Katie was born. A little misty now just thinking about it :+)
-Luke
Grab a tissue Luke. That's sweet. But who is Long Forgotten Friend there? Were we on the same Rome trip?
I was one of your pen pals when you studied in sweden.
So you'd like to stay long and forgotten then? Are you the owner of The Happy Book or are you the one that traveled to Rome twice?
I just remembered you like to play games so I thought having you guess would be fun. I'm the one who went to Rome twice and also the one with the "bad timing" (A"T"C).Your name came up in a conversation with a former roomate of yours who I teach with at school. Just wondered what happened to you. I'm glad to see you are doing well and sharing your experiences as I once was honored with in your writings with me.
I wondered if it was you. Nice photo, by the way, but where's your bio? How long have you been teaching? One shudders to think of the conversation, especially given the irony. :-s
That picture is 2 years old. I've lost weight since then. I've been teaching since the Fall of 2003.I do not have a bio because I'm only an adjunct professor. I'm currently applying to other schools to receive a tenure track position. My time to teach here is limited due to the fact of my degree. If I do not get another teaching gig this year I'll be going back to school for a post-professional degree. I'm thinking of going to the AA. What do you think?
I think London is ungodly expensive. But my prof in grad school was from there and he got amazing work out of me so it might be worth it. You had more talent than I did, it'd be interesting to see what sort of work you'd do there.
I'm thru commenting on the blog, send me an email here: archgeek@hotmail.com?
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