I remember tastes and smells from childhood, but also music. My dad played the violin and had me take it up very young (not as young as Montessori does now) so I grew up with classical music but big bands, Frank Sinatra (my favorite), and others.
When I think of moving near Washington, D.C I know the monuments, and all the weekend educational trips we took. I was too young to be hip but fell in love with Dave Mason, James Taylor, Carole King, Elton John. John Denver, even Johnny Cash who I adore now.
I remember standing in my mod kitchen, white wallpaper with funky daisies and a mod table and twirling chairs, and singing my heart out to “Tiny Dancer.”
Then it was Bad Company and Dave Mason, big time. Also Beatles.
In college it was ELO, Art Garfunkel, Jerry Jeff Walker, Pure Prairie League, Marshall Tucker Band and, wait for this, The Best of Bread. That was the girl thing we did in the dorms. Also we line danced, in the hall, best teacher ever from our B-Ball team, to who knows what. But all the gals danced.
Luckily I’ve evolved/devolved from that. As a former acoustic guitar student, started at age 50 with private lessons, I lean to Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez (but can’t get the chords yet), Bob Dylan, CSNY, and even have an old song book from Peter, Paul and Mary.
Of course I’m limited by what I can play, but keep music I can’t play and even print out lyrics and try to map out the music. But I tend toward songs that tell a story, ballads if you will. With two or three chords came Puff, The Magic Dragon, or my first guitar song, Mockingbird.
Many years ago I led a tone-deaf trio singing Day is Done and Teach Your Children. Stupid kid got ahead of herself and tripped. Now you can give me a song and I can play it, provided I know the chords to play. I just see it in my head.
Should one play orchestral music for one in the womb? I wouldn’t know, except that my dad has always had a talent for music and the arts, and my mother became adept at cooking, never loved it, but was expert in accounting and near the end of her life doing volunteer work helping senior citizens do their taxes.
It’s funny that my husband and I have never talked about alternate lives, probably because we’re pretty stable together, especially given the circumstance of him being laid off last week.
Since I was five I always wanted to cook. Or be a lawyer. I never imagined the path I took or the man I met and married.
If he would have not been MENSA material (yes he’s been invited, never joined) he would have stayed on the farm but his parents made sure both sons went to college and got off the farm. They wanted a better life for their sons. I love them dearly for what they’ve put into these men, these leaders of people, their sons.
There is no loyalty these days with corporations, so there’s a brief blip here and young people (yeah, you’re really reading my blog) know that whatever you do, whatever you post, will be out there forever. Aside from dealing drugs, please try to do something you’re passionate about. If you learn animation Pixar may hire you. If you know math and science you’re headed to college and a great degree. Trust me. I tried to take shop in the 60’s and was forced to do home ec. Dee
Cooking with Dee 