The Music of My Life . . . (JE November 3, 2016)

     Returning from running errands I sit at my dining room table for a few and eat some lunch before heading upstairs to my office.  Just as I finish,  Beautiful Instruments (TV station that plays all day, every day.  Til News Time at 6 p.m.) begins another song.  As I listen, I am taken back.  Suddenly, I am hearing . . .

The Music of My Life . . .

     It’s Friday night, the game is over, and we have arrived at the high school gym.  Me ‘n my Forever Love, L'il Joe.  The DJ plays the current hits of the day and the kids begin to mingle and reach for their partners.  Me ‘n my Forever Love head to the dance floor to the strains of . . .

“Only You”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FygIKsnkCw

  * * * * * *

     And then, suddenly, all too soon, it's time for graduation.  We start attending the local city college (Wayne State U) in Detroit.  After a couple of years, my Forever Love spends the summer as a counselor at a church camp . . . and falls in love with one of the other counselors.  Together they will "save" the world.  Shock turns into heart-wrenching pain and sense of loss.  

     And time passes; slowly, painfully, at first.  But then, a new encounter.  A male friend from church brings a friend to church.  They are sharing a house together. My friend introduces us and the young man named Jerry and I have a 'first date'.  At Aunt Fanny's on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Something 'clicks'.  On the way home, the radio is playing this song.  It becomes "our" song" --

"Let it Be Me"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvA-STM7oJk

* * * * *

     The years pass.  Marriage to Jer, four children, and then . . . divorcing after 22 years . . . struggling on my own for a time.  Finally, a second marriage to "Gary", and seven years later a second divorce. And the song that I will forever associate with THIS relationship is --

"Desperado"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUg10CPelvo

* * * * *

     But through the years . . .always . . . whenever I hear this next song, I imagine Jerry hearing it . . . I imagine that HE is thinking this.  Even though I know it is only and Always on MY Mind.

“You Were Always on my Mind”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u5LZ-DN3iA

* * * * *

     And then, the song which for 21 years always reminded me of a man, a mutual friend of Jerry's and mine during our marriage, and of the attraction – never acted upon – between him and me; albeit he is 15 years older.

“It’s Impossible”

     And now, 30 years later, we reconnect.  He is single, I am single. And we are young and in love all over again. Hard and strong and beautiful . . . "Lovejames" and I.

“And I Love You So”

     Alas, too many years have passed and old age interferes.  Reality intervenes once again.  Several months of a brief and beautiful interlude conclude.

* * * * *

     And now . . . and now . . . life and memories remain.  And I am content. Mostly . . .

"What a Wonderful World"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21LGv8Cf0us