Songs that Bring Me Back
It was a day of reminiscing thanks to our local Grocery Outlet. Not the most glamorous store but I like checking out random home goods, cheap cheese, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (really is there anything else needed in life?) Strolling down the aisles with my two kiddos, my ears perked up when I heard Helplessly Hoping by Crosby Stills and Nash & Young. My mind went back to my crummy high school job, selling insanely expensive teddy bears to kooky old ladies who spent hours sitting with the bears on the shop floor to examine each bear candidate up close and personal. My coworker and I played Crosby Stills and Nash nonstop that summer to help balance out the saccharine sweetness of the shop.
Then the next song came on.
This track fast forwarded my mind to my first year out of college, working as a graphic designer while my newly wedded husband well into his last year of law school visited me at my office. I remember the day vividly. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and my chest felt heavy with doubt. We were young, only 21 and had just learned that we were pregnant and I was so scared. Don’t get me wrong, I had always wanted children, just we weren’t expecting one quite so soon. Hubby handed me a brown paper bag. I doubtfully pulled out a cd, unwrapped it and popped it into the cd player. Hubby entered the track number and Danny’s Song by Kenny Loggins began playing. “Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey…”.
So much has changed since I was a kid, but the songs keep playing as new challenges get hurled my way. And I’ve become that crazy mom who gets teary in the frozen food section of the supermarket listening to sappy ol’ songs.
“People smile and tell me I’m the lucky one, and we’ve just begun..”
Gotta favorite song that reminds you of something? Leave a comment.
7 Comments
Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.
I, for one, admire a woman who cries in the frozen food section – of course this comes from a woman who tends to be moved to sobs quite easily.
When I was young I cried when things didn’t go ‘well’ – now I cry because I just plain have it so ‘good’.
Well said Angela!
Life is really good isn’t it?
Shopping tip: GO has microfiber towels and washcloths that work really well! Thanks Angela for showing me GO in the first place.
I love this story and I LOVE this photo! For me, songs are such a symbol of where I was in a particular point in my life – sometimes happy, sometimes not so much. I was just at the Salem Art Fair, watching the CET performance and they played 2 songs that whisked me back to childhood…The theme from “Charriots of FIre” and “Nadia’s Theme”. Both songs I love and reminded me of how I felt hearing them as a child. Mmmm…good stuff!
Can you tell I was pregnant in the picture? My tired eyes give it away.
Yes, Chariots of Fire totally brings me back. Nadia’s Theme reminds me of the The Young and the Restless.
Those are some goodies Jen! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t care much for music, but if I was in the same situation I would’ve gone with a different Kenny Loggins tune: Danger Zone! ….. One more reason I don’t have kids. “Highway to the danger zone.”
“Highway to the Danger Zone” was used for the conception song. I feel the need…the need for speed…Wait, that quote doesn’t work in this context, does it?