The Young and the Restless

The Music of Our Lives

I love when I hear a certain song and it brings back a rush of memories. I can close my eyes and it feels like I'm back in that certain time period. Like when Janessa and I were listening to that Deana Carter song during Thanksgiving, I could just imagine us sitting in the bedroom that we shared in the basement. Lounging on our sweet water bed with the pink floral comforter, admiring the flourescent flowers I painted on the wall (I can't believe mom and dad let me do that!), which perfectly complimented the teal green carpet. It's amazing how a single song can trigger so many emotions, visual images, feelings, memories and even scents. Here are a few songs that will always have a special place in my heart:

Two Princes by the Spin Doctors
Two words: Georgia summer. We had just moved to Georgia from Utah and I remember spending hours sitting on the counter in the kitchen with Janessa, listening to this song over and over and over. Don't ask me why we chose that location, but many memories were made while lounging on that cream laminate counter top.

Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sprocket

My mom decided to try homeschooling us (it lasted a year) and so we took a family trip to Pensacola, Florida to buy the books. This was the first time that I had been to a real beach. I remember hearing this song on that trip and I can still visualize that beautiful ocean whenever I hear this song. (I dont know which is sweeter, our ghetto "surround sound" that we hooked up in the van or Janessa's red diamond sunglasses :)

It's the End of the World As We Know It by R.E.M.

One time at a church dance these boys could sing every word to this song and I thought that it was so cool (I mean, who wouldn't?). So I recorded this song off the radio and then (I'm emberassed to admit this) I would listen to a phrase, pause it, then write down the words. And repeated this throughout the whole song until I had every word written down. Then I practiced and practiced until I had the whole thing memorized. That is so pathetic, but to this day I can still sing every word of that song. (hmm, I've got some nicely toned arms in this picture, what happened??)

New Testament Soundtrack

Growing up, Janessa was always the good one and I was always a little on the rebellious side. I remember that we would get in so many fights because she would only let me listen to this music (or any other church songs) while driving to seminary so that we could get in a spiritual mood (it's a great idea now, but come on I was a teenager, give me a break :). I would get so mad. I still remember when she told on me for listening to 99X on the way to seminary. Despite my innappropriate music listening habits, I still graduated seminary and this picture is of my amazing teacher. Every day she would bring in hot chocolate and was just the sweetest lady. She passed away from cancer several years ago, but she'll always have a special place in my heart.

I Can't Stop this Feeling... (or the Hukachaka song)

I'm not sure what the real name of this song is, or who sings it, but I can still remember every word and almost every move in the dance that we made up for it. At EFY they have a talent show and Wesley, Nicole, Janessa and I (with Rachel as our "manager") all went to the thrift store and came up with these hideous disco outfits, put on some pretty scary make-up and did the sweetest dance ever at the talent show. I remember spending hours in Nicole's bedroom perfecting every move to the dance. It was such a hit (in our minds) that we volunteered to perform it at the ward talent show. This time Nicole sported this bright orange corduroy dress. It was hot.

What a Good Boy by B.N.L.

Nicole. She learned how to play this on her guitar and I thought that she was so cool. I remember camping out in somebody's backyard and she was playing this inside the tent (it was the same night Wes got her convertible, remember?) She sang and played it so good and I remember thinking that she could get any guy she wanted. I still think you're cool, Nicole and I always think of you when I hear this song!
The Wedding Singer Soundtrack

I went with some friends to see this movie right before my nose surgery and loved it so much that they got me the CD as a get well present. Now whenever I hear these songs I so fondly remember laying in my bed (the same pink floral, sweet water bed) in so much pain and strung out on meds, just listening to this CD.

Jock Jams CD

So my sister and I had the pimpest ride in high school. It was a Ford Granada. The name says it all. I don't even know how to explain the beauty of this car. It was a 1970's beige nightmare. The heater was broke so we had piles and piles of blankets inside and I would always hide under the blankets when we would pull into the parking lot at school and my sister would get so mad. The radio was also broken. Every station was so staticky, but we discovered a cool trick that if you tune into a certain station and honk the horn, then the horn would come out of the speakers. Since the radio didn't work, we got this little portable radio that we hooked up to the cigarette lighter. It was pretty much as ghetto as they come. So I was so excited to find this CD with all of the classic hip hop songs (you know the ones that get played 20 times at every church dance) and every morning on the way to high school, we would drive by my brother's middle school and hold our portable radio on the roof of the car, blasting "Jock Jams", with the horn blaring out of the speakers and yell at him. I don't know why we never realized that we were emberassing ourselves more than him. (I could not find a picture of the Granada anywhere, I can't imagine why we never took a picture of it...so I settled for the next best. Yes, that is really us. Yes, we really looked like that on the first day of school. Yes, I know we looked hideous. Yes, I know blush is not meant to be applied 10 layers deep. Yes, we are sporting some serious red fros. Yes, I can not believe I am actually posting this picture. Now just picture these fine beauties in the Granada and I think we have a deadly combination on our hands. Somehow I think that the radio out the window wasn't the true source of emberassment for my brother. I can't blame him). Sorry to drag you into this Janessa, I probably should have asked permission to post these, but I knew you would say no, so I went ahead and just posted them :) Love ya!

Gettin Jiggy With It by Will Smith
Jason and I went wakeboarding together the first summer that I met him and that's when I fell for him. We were riding home in his friend's truck and this song came on and Jason was doing this little dance thing with his hands, I can't explain it but he seriously looked so cute doing it. Whenever the song comes on now I make him do that same little dance.

Mayonaise by Smashing Pumpkins

When Jason and I were dating he loved Smashing Pumpkins. He used to play this song all the time on his guitar and there is something about a guy playing the guitar (especially my guy) that makes me melt. I can still picture us (you probably can too, Kelly :) sitting on the little couch in the kitchen of my dorm at Heritage Halls while he seranaded me...If that's not romantic, I don't know what is.

Particle Man by They Might Be Giants

While we were dating Jason would take me snowboarding all the time at Park City. The radio loses reception while driving through the mountains to get there and his car (good old Euzer, rest his soul) didn't have a CD player. Jason had this one cassett tape and since that was the only source of music, we would listen to it over and over everytime we would go up there. I particularly remember listening to it while driving up there one night to go stay with our friends at a cabin. Do you remember, Tara? We went snowmobiling and you got mad at Nate because he refused to go since he had just wrecked your parent's snowmobile? Jason and I had the best time dating...so many fun memories.

Everything I Do, I Do it For You by Bryan Adams

Jason is from Vegas and so we would go down there alot while we were dating and I would always lay on his lap and fall asleep while he was driving (not very safe, I know, but I was in love and didn't care). I remember one time while we were driving home this song came on and I was looking up at him and he told me that was the "solidifying" moment when he knew we would get married. Awwww, too bad it's such a cheesy song :)

Rainbow Cadillac by Dannity Kane and "the" Blackeyed Peas song (you know which one I'm talking about :)

Jodee. Everytime I hear these songs I think of driving in the car with you. The Rainbow Cadillac reminds me of driving to the city when we visited you in San Francisco and Blackeyed Peas reminds me of our girl trip when we kept getting lost because I was navigating. Don't forget the nasty truck driver and running across 6 lanes of traffic with your pregnant belly and my high heeled shoes!

Let's Get it Started by Blackeyed Peas

My kids!! Every Monday evening when we drive home from Kylie's gymnastics class we roll the windows all the way down and blast this song while the kids and I are all singing and dancing. It doesn't matter how hot or cold it is outside and it doesn't matter how many strange looks we get, it's just one of those moments where you're having too much fun to care.

Oh what fun memoris....there are so many more. I could go on forever, but I think I've sufficiently managed to emberass myself enough for one day.