On a long road trip with my son, we decided to listen to every artist on his iPod. No skipping. That Ipod had all the things I thought were essential listening for a young adult of a certain age, some history, some context. Rolling Stones, Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Lighthouse, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, U2, Bob Marley and then whatever had been added, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Eminem, Macklemore… Whatever came next, we let it play.

It was a strange and beautiful mix. All those songs and artists had been chosen to have their place. Not an algorithm in site. 

We’ve gone to concerts together, Bob Dylan, Reuben and the Dark. Ludovico Einaudi, Lorde and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  That is such a gift to me.

Years later then he left home, we started a Spotify playlist together, each of us adding what we thought were interesting songs.  I used to play it every Sunday while doing housework, it felt like a way to stay in communication while he was living life oceans away.

Music keeps us connected. Yes, a song can come on and I remember all the words as if it were yesterday.  It’s not just memories, though.  Music connects us to what’s happening now, what people are singing about now, how they are feeling now.

Today I was in a store getting a watch battery installed and they had a great little playlist going, and we all stopped and sang along.  Me and all these humans 40 years my junior.  And we had fun.  Music heals, music frees, music slows and accelerates time.  Music opens us up to feel emotions we may not want to face head on.

I’ve done lots of things in my life, worked in many careers, but music is the one thing that I bring with me everywhere, that I never leave behind. 

It keeps me on the planet, past, present and whatever’s coming next. 

With love,

M