Music

I talked about the movies I like, and you all know that I read tons of books.  I don't think we've talked much about music.

My sister asked me today if I was totally country and well, that's my core base but, the answer is I listen to it all.  I listen to it all.

I watched the CBS special a few weeks ago Garth Brooks Live at the Wynn and I was totally taken back to my youth.  My mom, like his dad, was old country, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Mickey Gilley, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, "Haggard '|'and Jones '-'" (If you saw the special, you know what I mean.), Tom T. Hall, and oh man!  I could go on!  I loved that stuff.  I think of road trips with my mom and that old country...just takes me right...to the back seat of that big old blue Chevy.  Sitting on the hump, between David and Val, heading up to my grandparent's farm.  

Jeremy bought me the Garth Brooks Blame It All on My Roots box set and I'm telling you.  This.  Is.  The.  Story.  Of.  My. Life.  Every time I watch the DVD, it brings tears to my eyes. I also was the youngest of 6 kids and I absorbed every note that was played in that house (or the car).  I remember lying on the floor in the living room listening to record after 8 track after record.  Or up with my sister Val in her room, lying on her bed just lost in it all...until Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London came out - dang!  I didn't sleep for awhile after that one and now it's one of my faves, "I'd like to meet his tailor".  Don Henley's Dirty Laundry and REO Speedwagon's Time for me to Fly.  Cruising around Manistee with my brother in my dad's old Chevy with the windows down and whatever cassette tape blaring - The Tubes, J. Geils Band, Huey Lewis and The News, The Police, Aldo Nova, Toto, and I could go on!

I said my mom was country, my dad was hymns, Christmas music, and I'll always remember Roger Whitaker, John Denver, Frank Sinatra and Tennessee Ernie Ford - "Hurry up and shut the Door!".  I struggle at Christmas because I remember singing carols with him, oh his voice!

I was born in 1973.  My eldest sister had just graduated high school and my brother (the last before me) was 9.  If they were listening, I was listening.  Bob Seger, John Cougar, Styx, Boston, Kansas, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Chicago, Simon and Garfunkel, REO Speedwagon, Jim Croce, The Eagles, .38 Special, CCR, Skynyrd, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, Abba, Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, and anything and everything in between.  I followed the hair bands into the 90's Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, and others like The Outfield, and yeah...

Let's not forget the thing that relates to me most and the real reason I begged my husband for this set, my sister Gloria.  She was always up to something and for awhile, she played guitar and she'd come home for a weekend and I was her biggest fan - well, this Garth Brooks show is much like it was to be her audience.  It was her, me and her guitar, Mr. Bojangles, The 59th St. Bridge song, and Billy Joel - always something Billy Joel.  She was my own personal concert in our living room and I LOVED it.  She'd play until her fingers got sore, and I'd listen until I had to go to bed.

Sadly, I'll never, ever be able to collect all of the favorite songs of my youth, of my life but, it's fun to go back every now and again.

I'll leave you with an old favorite of George.  Enjoy!