Dancing in the Rain to the Music of your Life

Some people listen to music every day, some people can take it or leave it.  I, however connect with it.  Music has been a part of my life for as long as I remember.  Music to me is the one thing that can bring me to a place in every single point of my life.  When I was a little girl, driving on the country roads with my mother singing to Carly Simon and Juice Newton.  Listening to Johnny Cash at the Lunch Table with my Dad after Paul Harvey on the farm.  When Uncle Doug would show up on the farm blasting his Rock and Roll, I will never forget him gifting me my first cassette tape of Blue Oyster Cult.  Godzilla was my favorite song at 5 years old.  

Maybe I'm a strange breed.  Every day of my life involves music.  This past weekend I was blessed to see one of my favorite bands from Austin, TX for the second time.  The Band of Heathens.  I was introduced to them through some musician friends of ours.  Now, let me take a few steps back.  These musician friends of ours probably wouldn't even be friends of mine at all had I not taken a minute to introduce myself to them because of the fact that I am a severe creeper when it comes to me loving live music so much.  I am kind of a groupie.  When a band or musician comes around that I love, I sort of become a stalker.  I would venture out to say that 98 percent of the musicians in town know who I am, if not 100 percent.  Why?  It was my dream to become a performer.  I love to sing.  After my high school graduation I shot myself in the foot and gave up on that dream.  That story is for another time.  When I meet all of these musicians, it makes my eyes shine and a smile come to my face to hear how they get to do what they love.  Mind you, some don't do it full time, but just even doing it at all would be fun.

Seeing The Band of Heathens this weekend really got me to thinking what music has done for me in my life, especially recently with some times I have spent with some of my very best friends and even by myself.  I can always go into a release of my mind listening to The Band of Heathens.  They are so mellow and I can just connect with their music.  The band is so genuine and personable.  They talk to their fans, they thanked us for driving down to the show again.  Remember who our friends are and take the time out of their schedule to at least say hello.  We go to other concerts, pay money for big name bands, who we love as well, but have never been to a concert where we get an experience like this.  

Once a year I attend a Singer/Songwriter's Festival in Deadwood, and it is fantastic.  Musicians are everywhere.  Through the festival I have met a few more musicians because of my severe stalker status.  I also just go to enjoy the music.  It might surprise you who has written some of your favorite songs once you attend a festival like this.  I've seen rock and roll band members who write country and pop music and cried tears watching artists like Michelle Branch sing acoustic right before me and then talk to me like I'm one of their close friends.  

This.  This is the music of your life.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  If you sit and really think about it, every person can connect a time in your life with a song.  A memory with a song.  I know one memory that I will always connect with a song is the memory of my dear friend Tami.  When 5 to Life would play, we would wait for them to play Journey.  She and Kendall and Leon and I would get right in front of the stage.  We used our drinks for microphones and sang at the top of our lungs!  It took a long time after she passed away for me to hear that song.  I remember the weekend after she died someone played it on the jukebox and I had to step outside.  It wasn't fair.  I never wanted to hear it again.  I even requested my musician at my graduation to not play it at all.  Well, I basically threatened him.  Now, it's me playing it on the jukebox.  Memories and music are a good part of your life.  You dance to the beat of your own drum.  If you aren't dancing to the music, what will you do?