Music as a key to memory
May 13, 2021
One of my clearest memories is an ordinary day in the Sandy house.
I was sitting on the dark brown sofa in the basement, reading one of the Borrowers books. Dad was in his workshop. He had written on the wall (unfinished sheetrock on the inside of the shop): "measure twice, cut once dummy!" Testament to an oops at some point.
The radio was on, and Don't Rock the Boat was playing. The song was released in 1974, which fits the timeframe. I would have been about 9, in 4th grade.
I had a moment of clarity, of being in the present moment - and all was well in my world.
Every time I hear that song I remember, and I smile.
More on the house
It was a new house, in an area under development.
Dad finished that basement: workshop, family room, laundry area, and two bedrooms. As I recall, that was the first house where we each had our own bedroom.
Tammy and Heidi's rooms were in the basement. Heidi's was red, white and blue with the most shocking red shag carpet. Lisa had pink; she painted flowers on her headboard. I think my room was green.
I was sitting on the dark brown sofa in the basement, reading one of the Borrowers books. Dad was in his workshop. He had written on the wall (unfinished sheetrock on the inside of the shop): "measure twice, cut once dummy!" Testament to an oops at some point.
The radio was on, and Don't Rock the Boat was playing. The song was released in 1974, which fits the timeframe. I would have been about 9, in 4th grade.
I had a moment of clarity, of being in the present moment - and all was well in my world.
Every time I hear that song I remember, and I smile.
More on the house
It was a new house, in an area under development.
Dad finished that basement: workshop, family room, laundry area, and two bedrooms. As I recall, that was the first house where we each had our own bedroom.
Tammy and Heidi's rooms were in the basement. Heidi's was red, white and blue with the most shocking red shag carpet. Lisa had pink; she painted flowers on her headboard. I think my room was green.