Friday, November 6, 2009

You Never Forget Your First

I bought myself a present yesterday. I do that all the time on the rare occasion when I feel like I really deserve one. What did I do yesterday to merit a present, you ask? Well, I completed my fifth day of NaNoWriMo and that officially marked more words of fiction than I've ever put to paper before. (I know, right? Cheers! *clink*) It's weird - I'm not particularly proud of what I've written and I'm not even sure if any amount of post-November editing will make me so, but I AM very proud of the fact that I've been disciplined and dedicated enough to do it every day - even when the results weren't exactly (or even close to) what I wanted them to be.

I didn't want to talk about that, though.

I wanted to talk about my present.

I bought myself the CD 'Dreamboat Annie' by Heart. (no small thanks to Mary RC for getting that ball rolling with her post about doing their freaking hair and makeup and throwing me into possibly frightening squealy fangirl overload mode in her comments. Sorry Mary. Maybe sometime I'll tell you how I REALLY feel...) Now this was special, because this was the first album I bought with my own money. And I haven't had it in any other format until yesterday. Oh - for my younger readers - albums were these big flat round black things - bigger than a dinner plate - and we played them on record players, one side then the other. The artwork on them was sometimes amazing and often iconic. They were and are delicious. But that's not what I wanted to talk about, either.

I listened to the CD in the car yesterday and was amazed that I still knew every word to every song. The low notes she sings are still too high for me, but that didn't stop me from singing along to every note. I was alone in the car, no one's ears had to bear the offense. Oh! That was you next to me at that stop light? Well - whatever... Momma was just getting her groove on and you were probably just jealous. Love me like music, and I'll be your song...

Which brings me (quite smoothly, if I say so m'self) to the lyrics. How pretty is that one, by the way? I nearly wept this morning, listening to 'How Deep it Goes'.

Somebody turned on the dirty blues, well I know -
you don't like the blues 'cause the words are always the same
and they kind of remind you...

Somebody turned the blues on me,
well, I don't like the blues -
'cause I can't see through the tears that come,
and make it hard to find you...

Good gravy, kids. That moves me as much now as it did when I was fifteen. And that's exactly how old I felt, listening to it. I was instantly transported to my parents living room, playing albums on their hi-fi and singing every word as if it mattered. I could feel my parents carpeting under my belly as I read every lyric from the album cover and commited them to something deeper than memory. I almost expected my dad to say, "Time to call it quits, Tam, we've got to head to school"
"Just one more song..."

"I'll sing you a song - we have to go." (And for those of you who actually knew both my dad and I at that time - here's an extra little treat for you - he generally sang me Billy Joel's "Big Shot". Sometimes he danced. You're welcome for that visual)

I remember thinking the song 'Magic Man' might have been written about the boy I was seeing, because I truly HAD never seen eyes so blue... I thought about him this morning - listening to that CD - for the first time in over thirty years...

I remember hiking in the Canadian Rockies and drinking from a stream and hearing the lyric 'the time that you drank that water like wine, so sweet and so fine...' in my head and I was transported back to THAT moment this morning, too. I could almost taste that water - infinitely sweeter and more refreshing than any I'd ever tasted before or since.

My children were fighting in the car this morning and I turned up the volume on 'White Lightning and Wine' - mostly just to drown them out - and they not only stopped fighting but decided it would be a great song for their band to cover. Music hath charms...

I suppose I should get back to my NaNoWriMo project. How else am I gonna convince myself I deserve 'Seals and Croft's Greatest Hits' or Carole King's 'Tapestry' or Billy Joel's anything before 'The Nylon Curtain'?

Write on.

44 comments:

Badass Geek said...

That is a great album, and I'm not even a huge fan of Heart. I'm a big Zeppelin fan, and I've got to dig out the LP's I have and listen to them again in their true form.

Badass Geek said...

Also, what's your NaNoWriMo username? I want to be writing buddies. =)

Liz Mays said...

It's funny because I can't remember song lyrics to save my life, but I remember moments of time that go along with them, just like you do.

SparkleFarkel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SparkleFarkel said...

Not enough good stuff can be said about Ann and Nancy Wilson. (Way back ago, I was Nancy to my sister's Ann. I was never so thrilled as when "I" had a cameo appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High!)

Congratulations on your treat. It's MAJOR!

M said...

God, way to go on NaNoWriMo!! You inspired me to do it a few months ago when you started talking about it, and I'm WAY behind! I think I'm only up to 2000 words or something, and it's not moving any faster. It's hard with a baby in the house, but I was hoping to get it done. I'm still shooting to finish, but we'll see how it goes. Three cheers for you!
Yay! Yay! Yay!
M :)
http://Mandthe2Henrys.blogspot.com
http://HomemakerPhD.blogspot.com

Mama-Face said...

Hey, that was memory lane for me as well! I remember buying my first stereo system. It had a turntable AND a cassette player! I have this vivid memory of putting my REO Speedwagon record on to play.

I used to lay on floor and listen to music for hours. Especially after a breakup. The Cars, The Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Eagles, crap...that was the great age of music. My kids like the music from our day. Styx, Police, Journey, on and on.

Thanks for the Memories. Oh, I can't wait to read your submission for NaNoWriMo...what does that stand for anyway? :)

Unknown said...

Oh my Darling.......music from our youth.......nothing could be better.
I have Tapestry, and Rhymes and Reasons..........when I ditched my "albums" I made a list and I have been purchasing them on CD over the years. I still need to replace the Steely Dan and Todd Rundgren....that stuff lives on forever!!!

Rosa said...

Oh you deserve them, all right. Every last one of them. I have the same flashback effect when I hear Boston. "We were just another band out of Boston...." I can even hear the exact spot during Rock and Roll Band, where my sister's album had a skip in it. Remember skips?! It's like I'm 15 again.

Housewife Savant said...

I heart Heart.

Allison said...

It's so crazy how music brings up those memories so clearly. I'm always amazed when I hear a song I haven't heard in almost 20 years and I remember the lyrics like it was yesterday!

Good going with the NanNoWriMo and I'm seconding Badass Geek, what's your username so we can be writing buddies?!? I bet you'd never guess mine (it's Tatertotmom. How original!)

Pam said...

Congras on 5 days of writing! Good for you. I would have given up after the first two paragraphs.

Isn't it amazing how song lyrics can transport you to another time and place? I can't think of anything else that does that quite as well as music.

Carma Sez said...

I love Heart. May you enjoy your new present-And continue to use it to drown out the fighting kids!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Heart is awesome. Music memories are the best!

The very first 45 record (yes, I'm THAT old) I ever bought was Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline". I smile every single time I hear it.

xo

Lynn said...

I'm impressed.
I have no discipline.
Isn't it amazing how music sucks you back through the time tunnel?

Anonymous said...

Magic Man ROCKS!

And this post was so nostalgic. Even though "Dreamboat Annie" wasn't the first record I owned (it was Thriller, but heaven help us if another person laments that album this year), this post reminded me of my relationship with Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits. A hit-in-the-gut memory with each song. I have to go dig it back up...

Anonymous said...

You are so right...you never forget your first. My first album was Alvin and the Chipmunks I think...but my first CD was Losing my Religion by REM. LOVE IT!

Claudya Martinez said...

Write on and on and on!

BONNIE K said...

My first was Tapestry. Not long after getting it, I went to a party where the party-givers parents were out for the evening and we all somehow got booze and congregated in the basement and listened to Tapstry. And then Stuart B threw up all over the bowl of potato chips. That's my memory of my first album. Kind of have mixed feelings about it...

Mike said...

Billy Joel's anything befor the nylon curtain! hahahaha!

You know what was a great album, the first Cars album! All tracks were winners!

dkWells said...

Congrats on the NaNoWriMo. We at the Knights of Moleskine Spirit and Ale have talked about taking that project on for two years. I emphasis talk! You're walking the walk, girlfriend!

I Love Heart and that LP. I believe it's their best. It was the summer between my Senior year in High School and College that this came out. It always reminds me of one hell of a party I had at my house that summer while my dad was in Hawaii.

Doesn't qualify as my first, that honor goes to The Beatles Rubber Soul. But, I date myself.

Sir Hook Who's Never Too Old To Rock N Roll of Warrick

P.S. Going to see Lynyrd Skynyrd tonight!

Unknown said...

I *heart* Heart! Great post.

La Mere Joie said...

Oh, what a great album, um I mean, cd! I love Heart! Reminds me of my youth!

Melissa B. said...

Love the description of an album. I've got about 750 of them in my basement. Can't bear to part with them. Oh, and I have a turntable, too, so sometime you should come over and we can listen to my copy of Dreamboat Annie. Deal? Deal!

Becky said...

Of course you knew every word!

That stuff never goes away:)

Alicia said...

oohhh i love buying gifts for myself :) and man...i don't think i've ever owned an album...but i do like heart!! have fun reminiscing!

Sandy said...

The music of my youth still sooo speaks to me. I listen to XM radio and love the stations from the 60's. Classic Rock on FM now plays 80's. That is so NOT classic rock.

I can listen to certain songs and tell you exactly where I was and who I was with when they played. What memories.

And I STILL know all the words (although I can't remember my doctor's name half the time) and I can still identify a good rock song in the first 5 notes when it happens to turn up on the radio.

Betty Manousos said...

I always remember moments of time that go along with the lyrics.
First time here.
I can see we have some common blogger friends.
Your blog is just interesting!
I am following you. Hope you visit my blog too.
Have a lovely weekend!
:)

JennyMac said...

they are from my hometown and I remember listening to them when I was growing up. They still rock.

And Bravo to you!!!

AiringMyLaundry said...

I agree, music does have charm.

I love it.

The Redhead Riter said...

Music is the beginning, middle and end whether it is played softly or LOUDLY!

So great that you are writing! I bet it is waaaaaaay better than you give yourself credit. Don't be so modest!!! You're awesome ♥

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

I love Heart!!!

Chris Mancini said...

Dog and the Butterfly laways did it for me. And I never even had a dog.

Traci said...

Tapestry, baby, Tapestry.

Congrats on your accomplishment. Swim in the joy of it -- don't second guess your effort. Yea, you!

Stacy Uncorked said...

I LOVE Heart! I think I'll have to go get that CD, too...and annoy Princess Nagger as I sing to it in the car! ;)

Margo said...

love heart, and White lightening and wine totally took me back just now- because I haven't heard it in ages. I'm all nostalgic from doing nanowrimo too - making up stuff is a blast, but it's all tied up with the past and nothing puts me in a certain state of mind faster than the right song. Now if I could just shake it off long enough to get off the internet. Buddy me on Nanowrimo if you want - "Margo M"

Macey said...

I heart HEART.

MaryRC said...

I only know every word from Magic Man, Crazy on You and Dreamboat Annie from that album, but like you the HEART LP is my "I know every word" album also I love Desire Walks on, I totally loose myself in "Back to Avalon" I do think of all its the one I relate to most and seems to fit in so many of my turning points in life. I also love "Straight On For You" great groove, the best bass line and "Back on Black" freakin rocks... Ann's voice is superior in that track!

My Heart Sister... hmmmmm

sorry i didnt get here sooner, i hardly get the computer Friday through Sunday...

sheila said...

Ahhh, brings back memories for me too. In fact, I bet that almost every old song I hear conjers up something. Like Freebird. Reminds me of 1:37am on Fri and Sat. nights leaving the bar. Ahhhh, good times. But OMG, soooo long ago. lol

Mammatalk said...

Good for you for sticking with the NanoWriMo. Someday when I get these little ones in school, I would love to participate. Kinda hard to write when a diapered munchkin is always pulling on your leg or arm...

Sandra Wilkes said...

I love the description of your dad singing...and dancing. What a way to get into the lyrics! Nice post. Glad you rewarded yourself! Keep writing. I'm doing the NaNoWriMo.... thing too!

The Grown-Up Child said...

You go with your writing! I hope to see you published one day.

Oh yeah, and I *love* Heart.

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

I love the visuals you create when you're writing. I DO know what albums are and I Do remember spending hours listening to the songs and scrutinizing the artwork. I vividly remember sitting for hours, looking at Queen's News Of The World album and being horribly fascinated by the artwork. It was my baby-sitter's album and I am sure she brought it over each time she sat simply because she knew I would be so quietly preoccupied with it!
:)
I love how your writing is so good that I can your memories clearly, as well as my own.

kanishk said...

what's your NaNoWriMo username? I want to be writing buddies. Work from home India