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

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

Me, My Daddy & The Southern Cross

I want to share something that happened a few days ago, but first a few bits of background. 

In case  you aren't familiar with my Facebook page, for almost a year now I have posted a weekly "Sunday Song". I explain a bit about why in my FIQ, but it was my first regular thing & it pleases me. On the week or two I've skipped it makes me sad when I realize I forgot or worse, when I am just not inspired. 

I love music, and I love talking music. I particularly enjoy how music can be a connection to another time in our lives, or evoke a feeling we might not otherwise understand. We can find a window into another way of life.

Also it is worth noting that I use an old nickname as a pseudonym, so many of my "in real life" friends know about and follow my blog & Facebook page. It so happens that my Daddy is one of them. 

Finally, for those who don't know, my Dad was in the Coast Guard, and for a portion of that time he went to sea on an icebreaker. Long trips. Eventually he came to view being on the water as something one did as a job, rather than recreation. But occasionally, given the right mood & the right music, he will tell his tales of life at sea. The good ones. The ones with all the joy of being on the water, and under the stars.

Oh - one last thing - When my dad says " ! " or " !! " it is loosely translated to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. You know, something you say when you don't know exactly what to say. :)

All that said, this is a text conversation I had last Saturday with my Daddy. I have copied it verbatim.

Daddy: I put on a cd while I was puttering in the garage this afternoon. I would suggest "Southern Cross" for your Sunday song! Made me remember when I first heard it, as well as what was so good about going to sea. Such a great song. Love you
Serendipity: Love you too! Thank you for sharing!! I’m assuming the CS&N version? Southern Cross has always reminded me of you, and when you talked about being at sea. :)Daddy: Yep, <3  (Wow I did it)
Serendipity: LoL :) curious - when did you first hear it?
This Stephen Stills demo version. No chorus harmonies!  Weird:  http://youtu.be/kDoZ3z0ET6YDaddy: With you, in a bar in Shepherds town. It wasn't released until sometime in the 80s. But it is one of a couple that just make me remember why I loved it. Not the actual lyrics but the ..mood?
Serendipity: You mean with Mom?
Daddy: I think you were there too. Not sure where or why but I'm pretty sure. You were surprised I didn't know it.
Serendipity: Yeah, it was released in '82 & I just read it got lots of MTV airplay. So that makes sense. It’s funny, I was 8, but I’d never have remembered that. It’s one of those songs that feels like I must have been born knowing.
We must have been on a trip to Harper’s Ferry. I remember that trip, I think. We camped? I think my memory is of the John Brown museum. Seeing him drop.
Daddy: And it rained? I don't recall all the details. That was a while ago.
Serendipity: It was. We probably shouldn’t speak of how long ago. We shall pretend we cannot do the math. :)Yes, I think that was the rainy trip. Lots of canasta. Lots of mud. Lots of Jimmy Buffett on the portable tape player. Daddy: !
Serendipity: Thank you for texting with me. I know you hate it. The kids are w/o naps & crazy. Phone calls/vid chat seemed... Unwise.
I love you.
In case my earlier description didn’t make it sound happy - my memory of that trip is a very fond one. <3
Daddy: !!

Want to know a secret? I hesitated even asking Dad when he first heard Southern Cross. He is not fond of texting at all, so it was a crap shoot whether he would reply. But he did. With an utterly unexpected answer.  

That's why I love this conversation so much that I wanted to share it. Because this was the first time I ever heard about his memory of this song. It never occurred to me to ask, honestly. 

I have always connected Southern Cross to my Dad & have known it reminded him of being at sea. My memories are of him explaining about the constellation and our looking it up in an encyclopedia (remember those?) to see the stars charted & telling stories from under those stars. 

But here is Dad's memory of the first time he heard the song, and he connects it to me. Me. For entirely different reasons. I won't lie, it makes me joyously weepy. It's the sort of detail we don't often get from a loved one, you know? All those little reminders and happy thoughts that make up the fabric of our love stories. And all our loves have stories, don't they? 

This is why I love music. 

One song. A conversation starter. 

One song that reminds both my Dad & I of each other. 

One song that now has even more lovely & loving memories intertwined in it's melody. 

Enjoy.

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