Jammers

Portage, Tyrone, Nanty-Glo, Colver, this was life on the road.

Weddings, graduations, holiday parties and celebrations, lots of people we didn't know.

La Ritz, Yesterday's Party, VFW & community hosted street dances. A Rock & Roll girl is born!

This is life when your parents own a party store. Yes, let's just put it out there right now. It's true, I was raised a bit different. A DJ's daughter and roadie, a Belly Dancer's sound support, and I've even been known to wear a costume or two while I delivered balloons to some unsuspecting person.

I've Chicken Danced with strangers and ended the evening with new friends.

I've Hustled and Boot Scootin' Boogied, but a line dancing fool I am not.

The YMCA, and maybe I BOOM BOOM'ed too, but the group dancing I will leave to you. Take my hand, I will do The Stroll with you.

I got a song for all of it. The soundtrack to my life is as diverse as me! I could go on forever about music. I feel it more than I do my own poetry. Is that weird? I have a song for every memory.

My first memory is of the radio my parents had that used 8 track cassettes! "Dimensions" LOL, the first song I remember was "Let's Groove Tonight - Earth, Wind & Fire" - I can see and hear it like it was yesterday. I remember watching my stepmom dance to it. The way her face would light up and she would close her eyes, dancing and feeling it.

SHE felt it and I wanted that feeling!

So, my search began with music in my heart, and it helped shut out the chaos around me. Music freed me from the noise growing up. Music has saved me more than once. And to avoid any speculation, it was the 70s & 80s. That is a story that will unfold in its own time.

My first instrument would be the radio, but life had me on a mission and provided vinyl. The sound of the static and the needle when it would skip. Sounds I will never forget. When album covers were the reason to be excited and then when they added the lyrics!! There was no reason for misheard lyrics!

Cassette tapes and Walkman's! Bring back the Boom Box!!! "Let the music play" - Shannon! CD & MP3 players, iPods and now streaming apps and headphones.

I may have lost my love of waiting on the radio to play my favorite song, but I haven't lost the feeling that always came along. I have a playlist called "Total Randomness" with over 2,000 songs and I add to it every day. I just LOVE shuffle! The game is worth the wait, because I never know what's going to play next.

I remember my first introduction to country music. Alabama baby! I was hooked. Then I found Dwight and Garth, Toby and Tim!

Let's not forget Foreigner and Journey, Eagles, Floyd and Zepplin, too. Constant companions through all of it.

There was Roy Rogers, Patsy Cline, Glenn Miller and the Andrew Sisters too. OMG, I wanted to be a Pointer Sister and marry Prince. I had a plan.

80s, hair glam and rock & roll. I remember when MTV and VH1 were all the rage. I knew deep down inside, I was just meant to be in a music video. Life goals, right? Who didn't want to be a hood ornament?

90s grunge. Wasn't that just a whole mood?

After that, I can't say there is much that stands out. These days it all kind of sounds the same but every once in a while, there is a diamond in the rough that just really stands out. The one artist that strikes a chord in every nerve. The artist that doesn't have a single bad song. The artist that does it their own way. Finding this artist is hard on the radio.

You know, maybe someday I will write a song that plays on the radio. Wouldn't that just be something? I guess until then, I will have to be music's voice and keep adding to Life's Playlist. I got a Rock n' Roll heart! (Clapton knew what's up)

Every day is a chance to have a different theme song! Just like every movie has a soundtrack and every show has an opening theme. Every day is a new day with a new song to make a memory to or a way to remember the good in times gone bye.

I am the rockstar in this story. I am the lead singer, writing my own song. Maybe one day, my grandkids will stream one of my songs that play in my head.

Until then, let the poems be written.

Love, Light and poetic playlists.

inRhymes.com

"Life's Playlist" can be found in Life's Vinyl Collection