I was giving my stove a good cleaning this afternoon and while I was cleaning I was listening to the Adult Alternative music channel on TV. My son was good enough to connect my tv to my stereo speakers while he was home at Christmas. The sound is so much better.
Anyway, I was thinking how lucky I am to be 63 years old and have such a rich history of music. Oh, I know, most young people today have heard all the music from the 50’s, 60’s and on, but they have no personal history of that music as I have. They can’t hear Elvis sing “Don’t Be Cruel” and remember the night they first heard it and what they were doing. I, on the other hand, can remember it well. I was at a party and had a fight with my boyfriend, and that song made a lot of sense to me. Every time I hear a song from one of those eras I remember some of my personal history. I can even remember being very young and listening to my mother’s music, jazz and swing and opera. My father liked country, blues, Tennessee Earnie Ford, Harry Belafonte, and the Kingston Trio.
We were a dancing family. I hope my two kids enjoy dancing as much as I did (do). I danced a lot at home, though it seemed to embarrass my daughter. It is good exercise and sometimes I still stop what I’m doing when I hear a good Rolling Stones song and dance a little bit. I can still dance swing, waltz, two step and do the twist.
I know both my kids love music. I learn a lot of the new things out there from them. My son mixes and DJ’s as a hobby. I like the drum and bass. Some of the other stuff is too repetitive for me, but I can listen and enjoy it for short periods of time. My daughter has sent me CDs that she thought I might enjoy and I think she has good taste.
So, if you don’t have music in your life now, do something about it! It is so important. Play music for your babies and continue to have music in your home for them until they leave and make their own homes. Let them experiment with it and make their own musical history. Try not to judge what they might listen to. Let them figure out what they like and dislike without your judgment. If you don’t like it, ask them to put on earphones or keep the music in their room. Let them make their own choices. You brought them up. Trust that they will make good decisions.
Now, back to the kitchen!
