Inspiring Serendipity: a How To List

I've mentioned this a time or two before, but music has always been my first love. 

Not that I'm musically inclined, mind you. My memories have nevertheless always seemed inseparable from the soundtrack.

At this point, I could ramble on in 20 directions - each path a song, each inspiring another story, or chapter, or cinematic photo montage. 

Instead, when asked what music inspires me, I've done what I so often do with difficult questions - I made a playlist. 

In point of fact, I attempted to compel a Top 10 list of songs that define and inspire me. I was going to make this a #10Thankful-type post. I failed. 

After several days of editing my various go-to song lists, I finally whittled it down to 20 videos on a YouTube playlist. 

Unlike days of old, when I used to make mix tapes/cds for my beloveds, I'm not breaking down all the deep musings that went into these choices in a lengthy set of liner notes. 

At least I'm not today. 

For now, I'll let this collected hour and twenty minutes of music speak for me. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on these songs, or even which songs you turn to for inspiration. 

I've given this playlist the  title of "BeFierce BeKind BePositive." You can see more of my favorite songs, as well as my own videos on my YouTube Channel. 

Why I Remember All Things Wonderful "When I'm with You"

One night, *cough* a decade or more ago, Amy and I sat at my kitchen table drinking frozen strawberry margaritas and throwing out song lyrics that tickled our brains. 

We sang. We told stories. We ran to the interwebs for help when we couldn't remember what lyrics went to some vaguely remembered video. 

Fast forward to one night when I was playing a version of Name That Tune on my Facebook page. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of this song, any lyrics, or the band. I knew the lead singer was in a couple of one hit wonder hair bands. 

That's all I had, so that's all I texted my friend with. 

Remarkably, in a matter of minutes, after a few faltering text, she had the band name. Then the song title. 

Relationship shorthand, it's a beautiful thing, am I right? 

So on one level, "When I'm With You" is a lovely power ballad that evokes heady days of my youth. 

In the grander scheme of things it reminds me of the beautifully random, decades long conversation I've been having with dear friend. 

Friendship + Music + Shared Memories = Everything Wonderful

How "River" Brought Me a Sister

A few days ago I posted Robert Downey Jr.’s version of River as my #SundaySong on my Facebook page. While the song is very important to me, I focused more on how his version is gut-wrenchingly beautiful, & the video I picked is fantastic eye-candy. 

I want to expand on the significance River holds for me, but first, a bit of background. 


If you know me at all, you know I have serious love of RDJ. Most of which can be traced to his joining the cast of of Ally McBeal. If you never watched the show, know it had it’s highs an lows, but his character's love story with Ally is the one she was meant to have. His performance is fantastic, but on top of that, he sang. And he sang River on the show, and later it was on the Very Ally Christmas album. Anyway Robert Downey Jr has a voice I adore, so this is by far my favorite version of the song. 

But that’s not really why it’s important to me. 

Long ago & far away I was a photography student in small college in West Virginia. For lots of reasons I was a bit older than most of my peers, yet tended to have a bit less confidence. 

One day I was working in the dark room & noticed a page of notebook paper posted on the bulletin board. On it was written few lines from the song River, by Joni Mitchell. Now, I will admit I only really knew the song because the Indigo Girls covered it. Never the less, I knew the next lines & wrote them underneath what was posted. 

As it turns out, it was SisterCat who had written the lyrics out & she was curious who'd replied. Although we'd known each other before, and frankly I don’t think either of us gave a hoot either way about the other. So our real friendship can be traced to those lyrics tacked up in the darkroom - a totally random urge by her, and by me in replying. 


It is hard to imagine what my life would be, were it not for the wonderful woman that is SisterCat. For one thing, she's hella fun & we've had amazing adventures & equally amazing chats in her kitchen. But she has saved me in ways large & small more times than I can even recount, and certainly more than she even knows. Moreover, she's stood by me, held my hand, rubbed my feet, and given me an alternate perspective, even a good talking to.  All without ever judging me or loving me any less. 


And whenever I have need to skate away, my river leads right to her door.


On Friday I will pack a small bag and make the 6 hour trek down to her house on what has become my annual holiday retreat. At some point in my drive this song will play & I’ll again ponder what I ever did to bring such a friend into my life? I wrote a few bits of a song on a sheet of paper. 

Serendipity indeed. 

When I'm With You

One night *cough* a decade or more ago - Amy and I sat at my kitchen table drinking strawberry margaritas and throwing out song lyrics that tickled our brains. 

We sang. We told stories. We ran to the interwebs for help. 

Fast forward to one night when I was playing a version of Name That Tune on my Facebook page. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of this song, any lyrics, or the band. I knew the lead singer was in a couple of one hit wonder hair bands. 

That's all I had, so that's all I texted my friend with. In a matter of minutes, after a few faltering text, she had the band name. Then the song title. 

Relationship shorthand, it's a beautiful thing. 

So yeah, it's a lovely song that evokes heady days of my youth. 

Moreover, it reminds me of the beautifully random, decades long conversation I've been having with Amy. 

Friendship + Music + Shared Memories = Everything Wonderful