Music Is What Life Sounds Like

I heard a song today that brought me back to 2009 and the memories of that time started to flood into my mind. It inspired in me thoughts about music that I feel I need to write down somewhere. 

I always thought it would be so cool if my life had a soundtrack, like in the opening credits of the newest movie. When I would walk around, I would imagine the perfect song to play in the background of my life. The sun shining, the loud bass pounding, a strong and happy beat drumming as I embarked on a new adventure. I still love watching movies for that reason, because the songs bring life into a fictional story.

I absolutely love music. It is my lifeline. It has helped me in the toughest of times and has enlightened my mind in the best of times. I feel the beat in body, and love to listen to lyrics that inspire. 

I also love how one song instantly takes you to the moment in time when it was most meaningful and memorable. It's like a personal time portal, where you can venture into the past and fully recollect how you felt, what that moment smelled like, and what was happening in that part of life. 

For me, the songs that instantly bring me back, are the songs of 2009. They are my soundtrack, and in them I find happiness and amazing memories.

In early 2009, I was finalizing my divorce, moving out into a downtown apartment, and discovering life again. My loving friend Susie was my rock, even though we lived in different states. She could not have visited at a more important time in my life. After leaving my house during Christmas she sent me a text that to this day I have not forgotten: "you are stronger than you know". A few weeks later, I received a mixed CD from her that included some Beatles songs on it. To this day, "Blackbird" and "With a Little Help From My Friends" takes me back to that point in time and reminds me that I really was stronger than I knew.

My love for Ingrid Michaelson also came from that CD, with her song "Be Ok" 

I started dating the love of my life in 2009. He introduced a new world of music to me, and also rekindled my love for music that had been lost in the shuffle of my past. I have always had a love for the "oldies". My parents listened to a lot of it and it was around while I grew up. Matty also loved this music, and had a lot of it on hand that we listened to often. Artists like Tom Pettey, The Beatles, The Mamas and The Papas were all brought back to life for me. "Learning to Fly" by Tom Pettey was most significant to me.

"Well I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still

[Chorus:]
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings..."

One band that Matty introduced me to is Portishead. The song called "Sour Times" brings me back to our courtship, and every time I hear it, the chorus rings true "Cause nobody loves me, it's true... Not like you do"

I can't imagine a world without music, it just doesn't make sense! What soundtracks do you have in your memory of life? 

xoxo

Rachel

We all have a weakness...

I am listening to Incubus' album "Light Grenades", and the song "Dig" is playing. I am waiting for my videos to upload, so I thought I would post the lyrics to this song for you all to ponder. I found this song during my pregnancy, and it gave me the chills as I listened to the lyrics. I am reminded by this song, that we are all human, and we all have weakness'. When those we love do things we don't love, remember that we all have something that digs at us, that we are trying to overcome. Oh, and I may or may not have a major crush on Brandon Boyd (lead singer of Incubus). Have you seen his cute face? Nuff' said.

Dig Lyrics
Artist(Band):Incubus
We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify.
Look me in the eye
and ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again.
Yes, you are my friend.

We all have something that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

We all have a sickness
That cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how we try.

We all have someone that digs at us.
At least we dig each other.
So when sickness turns my ego up
I know you'll act as a clever medicine.

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohh
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh

If I turn into another,
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me.
Sing this song!
Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.

Oh, each other
When everything else is gone.


xoxo
Rachel

Date Night!

Last Saturday Matt and I had our first date night since March! Our friend Bree came over and watched Emma for us, and we went out to dinner and then went to see Grace Potter and The Nocturnals downtown. It was a lot of fun, and quite nice to have some alone time with Matt. Dinner was great (Olive Garden never fails us), and the concert was even better! If you aren't a fan of Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, you should be! She rocks out and plays great music. Here's a taste:

Here's a picture of Matt and I at the concert! So much fun!