Recently Ms. M and I were on one of our many monthly adventures when she brought up how big a role music played in her life when she was growing up. Her whole family listened to and sang the songs of musical theatre. She beamed as she remembered an audition piece she had done in college of “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” from My Fair Lady.
This love of hers has continued throughout her life. I was fortunate enough to see Ms. M sing and dance in an abstract theatre piece back when we were both working for SANYO.
I also grew up with music in the house. Singing, well, that was confined primarily to the sanctity of the car, where Ma and I would sing along with the Mamas and the Papas and Kenny Rogers – her in perfect pitch and me all over the place. Ma tried to convince me that the song would be better if I chose either the guys’ or the girls’ parts and stuck with it. I was having too much fun singing both to give her a few measures break from my spirited and tune-free performance.
Ironically, it was when I was carpooling with Ms. M that I got used to driving around without music. After those three years of practice, the habit has stuck. Admittedly, when I was preparing for a dance performance, I would play that song over and over as I drove so I could visualize how the dance movements fit with the music. The rest of the time it was either quiet or talk radio.
Now, the soundtrack of my life is audio books. I always have one playing as I am driving around. With the exception of my 80s cardio to help me keep up my pace while race walking, I hardly ever listen to music.
As I was writing this, I heard Adele’s “When We Were Young” for the first time.
The woman is 25. How could she write the anthem of middle age? It does make me happy to know that some music does still touch me.
Today is both Ma’s and Ms. M’s birthdays. Have a wonderful day, ladies!
What are some of your favorite musical memories from growing up? or What is on the playlist of your life’s soundtrack?
Grown Up, Now What? 