The windows rolled down in the Focus. The cool night air blowing in our faces. The radio turned all way up and we were all screaming the song at the top of our lungs. “every time I do it makes me laugh.”

Walking through the hall, trying to ignore him as he shouted…not sang…the song that had apparently been deemed as our theme song for the day. To him I would say, “I’ll be there for you”, and I would definitely mean it.

Watching him pound on steering wheels wondering how in the world anyone could be so excited about a song even after listening to it ten times…in a row. But it was infectious to not only me…but my gang as well.

 It was slightly humiliating, that everywhere we went there was a camera pointed at us. There was no music, save someone humming or singing softly. But that didn’t stop us, all 7 of us from dancing in the streets.

 Hot and sweaty. Exhausted and sunburned. Riding in the minivan over winding roads after riding a dozen rollercoasters did nothing to ease our stomachs. However, listening to the same song repeatedly seemed to do wonders. Well “I’ll be”, who knew?

 The speakers in my little Saturn could barely handle the volume that was pumping through them. And the cars next to us probably thought we were insane…trying to dance in the small space of that car. But we just couldn’t stop the beat. We must have listened to the song a dozen times. Of course we had the words memorized by now, and we tried to see how high we could go. And just picturing Link Larkin singing that song to us sent us into a swoon. He definitely is the ladies choice.

Running around in my room, jumping off the bed and onto the floor and back again listening to a song that described our current state perfect-Hyperactivity. Fourth graders have the most fun at birthday parties.

Dressing up was not just for little girls. Prom dresses were alll the rage at this sleepover. I can’t seem to remember everything…but for the most part, It’s All Comin Back to Me.

With every episode, I tried to get the beat right. Finally by the end of the season I could clap along with song perfectly thanks to the help of my Friends. I even knew all the words and had my own specific part to sing.

They were all lined up, all a sight in all their suits or tuxes. Everyone’s attention was on them. I guess you’d say, what can make me feel this way? Well definitely that. It was a good laugh, but every girl couldn’t deny that she felt special right in that moment.

I was so embarrassed to sing it in front of her. I was angry that I was being made to. We hadn’t practiced enough. We didn’t have the harmony part down. But she wanted to hear it. It was her favorite song. So she set down her laundry basket and listened to us sing. I leaned on the recliner and averted my eyes. I looked at the ceiling, at the lamp, at the tv, but I didn’t have to confidence to make eye-contact as we made our way through the chorus and verses of “You Raise Me Up”.

It’s amazing to me how songs can bring back a memory…so specific that it can feel like yesterday. It can bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face, or even just a fond thought in the back of your mind. It can definitely help with the homesickness, but other times I think it might make it worse. But as much as I would like to move on to another song sometimes, I keep hitting repeat. It’s automatic. A reflex. Some songs don’t bring back good memories. But they are still memories, and for some reason, I must want to put myself through the pain or through the anger. Feeling something is better than being numb. And I’ll keep listening to the songs, because they are like a photograph. For me they captured a moment in time that I can never go back to, but I can listen and remember every detail.