What is the soundtrack to your life?

Today is the fourth day of a three day weekend...back to the daily grind after this lovely Labor Day holiday…when the weather was beautiful, the days were long, and the company was most excellent! Matt and I had plans with friends every night, which meant lots of good eatin’ (Yeah! Burger, Amuse!, dim sum, and Matt’s own lamb chops), fun events (Dad’s Garage, LSU vs UNC) and fabulous conversations! I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life (new and old)!

…Since we did not go out of town to celebrate this weekend, I decided to finish a couple of lingering long-term projects (including printing/framing wedding pictures and finishing my 'places I have been' scrapbook), then start brainstorming what to do next…I love waking up to my body’s alarm, moving at my own pace, and spending the days doing things that I want to do…There is just something about creating art (even if it takes years) that is so relaxing, yet liberating and empowering!... I like to call it creative meditation... And I think all of us females (and males)need to make the time to do it every once in awhile... For the sake of our sanity and well being...:)

...but anyway...

In between sitting on my bottom gluing postcards to colorful 12x12 paper and watching improv, I stepped outside for a jog through Piedmont Park. This run was particularly interesting for a couple of reasons: 1. It was African American Gay Pride and Dragoncon weekend in Midtown. and 2. My iPhone and Matt's iPod were both dead, so I had no music...

I guess if I'm going to run without tunes, this was the weekend to do it; there was definitely good people watching and dodging! Though the crowd was not good for my pace, it reminded me what a great city I live in... Where else would it be OK even 'normal' to see lots of black gays and lesbians walking next to white guys dressed as Darth Vador holding hands with a – well, I don't know what she was supposed to look like... If only the world, even the country...let's start with our state...were as open minded...this would be a much nicer place to live...All we need is love...

...and I’m off my box...

About the silence...in the last few years, I have really 'gotten into' music (this is in large part due to my wonderful husband Matt). There is no denying its power! Sure, I've always listened to it and had favorite songs. But that's different than really appreciating it for all that it is... The countless hours of energy and talent dedicated to each piece and the widespread affects it can have on every type of person – regardless of status, race or religion... As a result, I usually want music on when I’m lounging (and ALWAYS when I'm running).

So, when I was hitting the pavement without earphones, it was a bit of a shock to my mindset. A completely different experience. As I noticed each and every ankle-twisting crack in this hosting city's sidewalks, I started thinking (yes, I realize I do that way too much already...), "If I were in a movie (starring me), and they were filming me right now jogging down Spring Street -like the intro to Juno- what would my song be? What would be on the soundtrack to my life?" (That kept me busy until I hit the crowds in the park...)

Like I would assume most people do, I have lots of them... the song changing with each phase of my life... or new boyfriend... Conveniently, I had just reviewed my life in cities via my scrapbook ;) - so that was a nice refresher of my experiences and feelings...Ultimately, I think the song that would really be THE ONE for my life- if I had to choose just one- would be Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks (fortunately for Matt, I am now out of my Ready to Run streak:))...

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone…
…She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes…

Some of the others that came to mind were:

During positive phases:

I'm Every Woman by Whitney Houston
I'll do it naturally, Cause I'm every woman, It's all in me

During lost/searching phases:

I'm Like a Bird by Nelly Fertado
I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away, I don't know where my soul is, I don't know where my home is…

During stepping stone phases:

Anything but Ordinary by Avril Lavigne
…I'd rather be anything but ordinary please...

During the single phases:

Single Ladies by Beyonce
Don’t treat me to the things of this world I’m not that kind of girl Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve Is a man that makes me, then takes me And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond...

During depressed phases:
Don't let Me Get Me by Pink
Don't wanna be my friend no more I wanna be somebody else...

And if I had to choose one song for me right now, I would choose Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield...

Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten…

...it's only fitting...:)

Actually, all of those artists have several songs that I lived... I guess it's no coincidence that they are all women...with attitude:) And there are MANY more by other artists that I could relate to at different points in my life, hell, different points in my day. If you’re feeling it, chances are someone has a song about it…and we can all relate… funny how that works…