Friday, July 11, 2008

The Sound of Music

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I am a huge music fan. There has always been an eclectic sound track to my life comprised of songs from every genre - I hear a song on the radio and it immediately takes me back. I can remember how I felt when I was of whatever age that song was popular.

I've told stories about what songs were part of my life in some of these Flashback posts already, like in this one where I told you about meeting my hubby and this one where I told you about the Homecoming dance we went to in 9th grade. I could easily do a month's worth of posts showcasing one song a day and reminisce about where I was and what I was doing that made each song significant to me.

Today? I'm-a takin' you waaay back to 1989. It somewhat scares me that this memory is nearly 20 years old, but then, I guess I know I'm that old.

In the sixth grade, my best friend's name was Lois Bielefeld (hi Lois - if you find me, drop me a note!). We actually had our own little Babysitter's Club (yes, inspired by the popular book series that we read and traded with each other) and had real clients who contacted us with real sitting jobs. We thought we were so cool.

Looking back now, I'd shoot my eleven-year-old for putting up flyers in the grocery store with little rip-off-ready tabs making our home phone number easy access for anyone who wanted it. At the time it wasn't so big a deal (though I *am* surprised none of our parents had a problem with it). We thought we were real entrepreneurs, and you know, we were.

The summer after sixth grade was a real rocky one for me. My parents were going through a divorce and I hadn't told any of my friends about it. I don't know why now, but I had been a Catholic school girl up until 6th grade and no one I knew had gone through that before. We were poor and my parents were so wrapped up in their own dramas they weren't really there for me.

So the baby-sitting thing was my escape. I felt grown up and important and made money doing it. I was a good baby-sitter - I had three little brothers (the youngest of which was two at the time) and plenty of experience. I even went through the Red Cross program so I knew first aid and basic CPR.

The money Lois and I and our other friends made that summer was squandered by most of the girls on, well, I don't remember what, but I had a box in my bedroom that was duct-taped shut with just a slit in the top where I'd drop money in, knowing for sure no little brother was going to take it back out.

I saved up enough money to go to Girl Scout Camp for a week. I remember the other girls there complaining about how their parents made them go, and some didn't really like it. I kept my mouth shut about how I'd worked so hard for the get-away.

When I got back from camp I had enough money left to go to a local festival with Lois. We rode the rides, singing Bust A Move by Young MC - one of the first songs I ever knew by heart. I remember we argued over the lyrics, and recorded the song off the radio by holding a tape recorder in front of it. We rewound and rewound and rewound that cassett so many times trying to catch what he was singing that the situation became helpless.

So what music takes you back? Can't wait to hear about it!



12 comments:

Suzie said...

Moonage Daydream 1986 David Bowie. Hanging out with my friends being bad being cool. It was a great summer

Unknown said...

Hey, I thought you might be interested to know that the humane society near you is having an opportunity to photo some wild baby animals. I am so bummed that I can't come down and shoot some but though you might like to and I could live vicariously through you. :) Here's a link to their site if you are interested. I so wish I could go. :(
http://savinglives.wihumane.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=113161

Mama Smurf said...

Oh LORD...That song brings me back to my teen days when me and my friends would go to the 18 and under dance bars for teens.

PS...when I saw the title of your post I immediately started humming Julie Andrews "Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens...." My all time FAVorite movie.

One of these days I'll get back on the FF wagon. I just can't get my act together to go through pictures.

Kat said...

I think I can officially say I know all the words to that song too. Had some problems adding the picture with your email on it. Not sure what I did or didn't do :( Any ideas??

Kate said...

OMG, my almost-6 yo son LOVES Bust a Move! A friend made a flashback CD of 80's and 90's hip-hop/rap music,w hich I've been groovin' to in my mini(van). Now every time we get in the car, he asks to hear it. And he about has all the lyrics memorized! Great. Just what I need. A little boy rapping "You say Neato, check your libido, and roll to the church in your new tuxedo..."

Don Mills Diva said...

I think I was a little older than you when Bust A Move came out but I loved it just as much!

Mindy said...

This post made me think about when my two older daughters were about 12 and 9 or so, they had their own pet sitting/dog walking biz in our neighborhood. They didn't do fliers but many of our neighbors had our phone number back then, my how times have changed.

Breanne said...

I forgot to do it this week - I will do it next week. Thanks for checking mine out!!

Anonymous said...

I was really into Motown when I first started going 'out' to teenage clubs and disco's. Northern Soul was big in the UK at that time so anything with that 'sound' takes me right back.

Happy2bme said...

How can you not listen to 'Bust a move" and not bust a move.... ha ha...great song.

Zip n Tizzy said...

That video brings me back to senior year in High School. Even at the time I was amazed that girls could walk around the halls wearing nothing but mini skirts and those bra tops. Guess I was a prude.
As for letting you move about on your own, I guess it was a simpler time... I mean if rappers were wearing stuffed animals on their pants how bad could it be?
I too turned to babysitting in sixth grade to escape family drama. It was nice to just focus on the kids and rewarding to get paid to play.

Wineplz said...

Man did I love that song!!! And obviously still do since I think I got 90% of the lyrics right! :D Reminds me of a band trip in Jr. High where we drove around to the 4 elementary schools in the area and a retirement home playing. While we were on the bus, we'd sing this song or "Humpty Dance" or something from Bel Biv Devoe. good times. ;)