Why do I often feel like writing when I can barely keep my eyes
open? When my rational, organized, motivated mind gets sleepy, my
creative mind has a few moments where it can sneak in and take control
before the entire system shuts down.
Today I was
thinking about how music is so tied to memory, and then I thought about
how it is more than just music, it is sound. The sound of your mother's
voice, the sound of your baby's cry, the tornado siren, the school
bell, the sound of caulk on the board, the vibration of the diving
board, the phone ringing - all bring a vivid picture to mind, an instant
reaction, an automatic time travel, mental teleportation to another
time and place. If you indulge your imagination, you can drag it out
for a few more moments and experience again times gone by. The
unpleasant ones are a shock, a startling emotional jar that you can't
slam the door shut on fast enough.
I listen to a lot
of audio books. It's funny how the sound of the stories become attached
to the location where I heard them, or the activity I was doing. For
example, I was listening to this book I didn't really like, but was
persevering to at least finish it while I was helping my husband do a
final clean on a wood floor job of his. I was on the floor, scraping
bits of dried glue while I listened to that lame story. Every time I
drive by that house, I think of that stupid book! It's stuck. That
memory is all tied up in the sound of that story. Too bad it wasn't a
great book that I would love to remember. When I mop a certain hallway I
think of this fantasy novel about fairies. It's kind of nice to be
reminded of a pleasant little story while doing such a boring household
chore.
I can't tell you how many times I have been in
a store and snapped to attention when I heard a child call out ,
"MOM". It's not my child, but the sound of a distressed child calling
my "name" gets my attention. It's an automatic reaction. A baby crying
will do similar things to me. It's a deep response, at my core, the
need to respond to that sound.
There is the song one of
my yoga teachers used to play during the final relaxation phase. Five
notes in and I'm relaxed. It's awesome. I should keep that song cued
up and ready to play when the day gets too tense and I'm ready to
scream. Instant relaxation.
Kashmir, that takes me
back to one of the most enjoyable times of my life. Band practice, in
the basement of our house in Utah. I hear that song and I am happy.
It's pretty awesome that song is as long as it is. Keep the good vibes
rollin' ...
There is nothing like the sound of a good
rain storm to put me to sleep. It can be 2pm, and I am in the middle of
a project, if the rain starts, I want to go to sleep. It's auto pilot,
rainy day, sleep mode for me. Riding in a car has that effect on me
too. If I am a passenger I will likely fall asleep. I think that might
have less to do with sound, and more to do with all the Dramamine
induced sleepy car rides of my childhood.
When I fly I
often fall asleep to the sound of the flight attendant's voice telling
us about seat cushion floatation devises and wake up to the sound of
the wheels dropping. More sound induced conditioning. Just like that
dog of Pavlov ....
Often as I work I listen to music.
It keeps me company. The memories the songs evoke bring old friends
along to hang out while I sit here at my desk. Without them, the
silence is deafening, the solitude suffocating.
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