There are so many songs that remind me of a time, a place and a person. Josh Groban’s song, “Awake” reminds me of my husband and the summer of 1992. Music has been a stream of my consciousness since I could remember. When I was a little girl, the song “Amarillo by morning” by Georg Strait was the saddest song I ever heard. If I want to remember a something, I look for a song. I look for the feelings it inspired and that leads to memories. Sometimes I can’t remember a face or a time then I would hear a song and everything comes flooding back.
I love music for that reason. It was late in life I learned to play the guitar. I want to pick it back up because there is something vital, life giving and life altering, that creating music inspires. Sometimes it was the only way I could find a way to express those convoluted thoughts, feelings and memories. I like to think of music as that thread between me and others. Sometimes words fall flat when trying to express what I am feeling but a song can express it perfectly. Music courses through everything. Even in the day to day world music can be found. Be it in a hum, a whistle or just softly sung notes.
“Meet me in Montana” by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond, that’s another song. It reminds me of my uncle. He loved Montana. Thinking of him makes me realize how often he spoke of Montana and how much it was a part of his life and everything he loved. Despite the fact he lived there only briefly. I remember thinking Montana was this mystical and magical place all because it was wrapped up in a song. Montana was the place to be, at least, according to my uncle. He’s gone now but “Meet me in Montana” remains and in so many ways so does he.
That’s the power of music.