This morning while driving Daughter, the disc jockey was talking about a recent survey conducted about why listening to the radio gives us more pleasure.

There is not a doubt in my mind that this is true.  Listening to music can increase my happiness and productivity by leaps and bounds.

Recently my husband and I discussed what a great movie my blog would make. 

My husband has always told me – forget about writing the book – write the screenplay.

I can envision Tom Hanks playing my husband – mostly because there is a striking resemblance.

I imagine that Kristen Wiig would play me based on the number of times that I have been told I look like her.

The other day we were driving down the road and a song came on the radio.  I was immediately transported to another time and place with a very vivid memory tied to that song.

This prompted me to consider the soundtrack to my lifetime movie.

I have very specific moments in time that are connected to a song.  There are those that come to mind in an instant.  Others are more sly and tend to sneak up and surprise me...

“Cause We Need A Little Christmas”  by Percy Faith – the ultimate Christmas carol played in my home as a child.  It still isn’t Christmas until I’ve played it incessantly while decorating the tree.

“Ooh Child” by the Five Stair Steps driving in my car the day after my grandfather died when I was 18. I still can’t hear that song without thinking of that day.

“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips was the music playing when I had the realization that I was in love with my husband.

“Horse With No Name” by America was the only song that Son #1 would fall asleep to.

“Whip It” by the Dazz Band was Son #2’s favorite dancing song when he was very little. I can close my eyes and look in my rear view mirror to see his little feet tapping to the beat and the pacifier in his mouth also being sucked in rhythm.

My husband and I had probably been married roughly 6 years and our third son had recently been born and we had just moved into our new house.  It was an incredibly busy time in our lives – but one night the song “Breathe” by Faith Hill was playing and the world stood still.  After being with my husband for 20 years now – every time I hear that song -  I still think of that night and how wonderfully perfect it was.

Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff” was a favorite of mine at the time that it came out.  I remember when Son #3 knowing how much I loved that song would so patiently slow dance with me each time it came over the stereo at the precious age of four.  When it comes on now – he and I still look at each other.

About one month after my daughter was born – it was a beautiful summer day and everyone was outside playing in the backyard.  My oldest was 5.  I specifically recall sitting on my screened porch watching them swing while I nursed the baby. Over the stereo – Edwin McCain’s, “I Could Not Ask For More” was playing.  What I would give to relive those few minutes. I often rewind that movie scene in my mind.  It was a glorious day.

The day that my grandmother died – my father called to tell me it would be soon. As I drove across town, “Come to Jesus” was on the radio.  I still can’t listen to that song. I sobbed the entire drive. She was gone when I arrived.

Four months later, I was on a week-long sailing cruise with my family.  My mother called to tell me that my other grandmother was in the hospital and that it did not seem very hopeful.  We put the kids to bed and sailed home in the middle of the night.  To calm my anxiety, I listened to my Ipod.  I’ll never forget that night as Maxine Nightingale’s hit “Right Back Where We Started From” played. I laughed as I remembered my grandmother standing up and dancing to it – her head bobbing back and forth and saying, “Don’t ya love this song? Makes me wanna dance!”  She died a month later.  It’s been several years since she died – but I often play that song and get up and dance.

A few years back before I had teenagers - our family was driving to the ocean to visit my in-laws.  Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up the Sun” came on the radio.  We all sang that song together from beginning to end from the top of our lungs.  I am pretty sure that my teenagers wouldn’t do that again if I paid them.  I love that memory.

What about you?  What would be on the soundtrack of your lifetime movie?

If you are interested in reading about the survey about the radio you can find it here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009161/Why-listening-radio-gives-pleasure-watching-TV-using-laptop.html

"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.  You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body."  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes