MUSIC.......#3 on my list of loves.

Other than God and my family (past and present), nothing bring me more joy that listening to music.

I grew up in a home where music was a constant. Either someone was playing it (piano or guitar) or someone was listening to it (Mom-dancing and singing in the kitchen, Dad-Sunday nights, lying on the living room floor, siblings- radio all day and long into the night). It was an ever-present force in my life. Even in a time when nothing, or no one, could reach me, it still found a way to touch my soul. It inspires me to move, boogie, dance, sing, laugh, cry or.....sometimes I simply sit still and absorb an array of feelings I can't explain. It's amazing.

Today I was warped back in time to some of my earliest childhood memories. Back to the days of reel-to-reel (It's like a movie reel but for music) and record players. Back to Xanadu. I don't remember the movie well (in fact, do I even remember it at all?) but I can tell you exactly what our record sleeve looked like. And the music.....oh, the music. My heart pitter-patters at the very thought of it. "I'm Alive," a song from that soundtrack, jumped to the forefront of my mind this morning. I had........I mean, HAD to hear it. (Thank you I-tunes......I love you.....I REALLY love you).

I succeeded and I bought it.....that's right, just like that. Now, while this behavior is not all that unusual as of late ( I can now justify these types of purchases because I use them in my aerobics classes....and believe me, I'm so gunna' use this one), I don't usually do it on Sunday (the whole "shop" thing and "Sunday appropriate" music thing). Well, today I defied all rules. I listened to it and I listened to it and I listened to it again.......and again.......and again and the strangest thing happened. My heart, my soul, my ever living being was filled with so much ...... happiness? ..... joy? ......(I really CAN'T explain it) and basked in it.

".....Men (and women) are that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25

I count myself justified.



Now.....I don't know if you noticed the "playlist" now added to the blog. I have protested these for a long time. (Background: I really, actually, find it quite annoying when I am blog stalking, while the kids are taking naps or in bed, and I pop onto someone's blog and this random music starts blaring from my speakers (because my kids have been playing with them) and then the kids wake up and start screaming.....etc. (No offense to anyone who has one....it really is just my fault for not checking the speakers first). But I couldn't keep from doing it after today.

In light of my new career (teaching aerobics) I find myself listening to A LOT of music (if you have no idea what "career" I am talking about, visit my other blog at www.melanielovesdinner.blogspot.com ). Although it does get a bit tiring sometimes (I find myself counting BPM's (beats ber minute) all day long, and in my sleep, to the point that I CRAVE silence), I have never been more inspired in my life. I have found so many long-forgotten "treasures" and revisited so many memories from my childhood that I just had to share them with y'all.

I hope you find as much true enjoyment from these songs as I do. Dance.....go ahead.......do it, even if you are at work (Andrew, what would your co-workers have to say about that?). Let the music take you wherever it may. But...Don't forget....you must listen to "I'm Alive" IN IT'S ENTIRETY before leaving here today.

Many of you won't appreciate it but........my family will. Come.....THIS IS FOR YOU, GUYS! Take a walk with me down memory lane. I LOVE YOU, I MISS YOU!

(Now......the playlist DOES NOT start on it's own so you have to hit play in the top left hand corner.)