Taking Back The Music

I love music. Folk music, roots, anything you can dance to, songs from Broadway musicals, the great rock music from the 60's/70's -- of those things, I'm a fan!

When I got married, I gave the music away. You see, it was my husband's thing, music. And I have a long history of giving things I love away if someone else has a claim. I am not going to go into a long discussion of the reasons or psychological background. I'm not sure you care. I certainly don't care anymore! And not caring might be my salvation.

This year I found myself taking the music back.

I actually went out and bought a CD. Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits. Tunes off her albums with Big Brother & The Holding Co; Me And Bobby McGee, which always reminds me of hitchhiking to New Orleans with my pals Linda & Laura; other great tunes I can sing at the top of my voice in the car. I like singing along with Janis. She had a wonderful voice, but my slightly off key singing doesn't sound bad blended with her. I play it on my car stereo & am impelled to roll down all the windows and turn the volume to stun!

It's not that I don't have some wonderful CD's. I'm listening to Richie Havens Live now and before that it was Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark. They were all gifts from my husband. He has no problem buying music!!! He bought them for me, knowing I would love them.

But I have not bought music for myself, probably not since college. I have not claimed the importance it has in my life, nor let myself spend the money, until 2 weeks ago when Janis jumped out at me. I was wandering around Borders and accidentally found the music. It was not an easy purchase. I spent a long time dithering. I even went over to their computer where you can hear a snippet of the songs on an album. In the end, who I am, the woman who loves music, won out.

It feels like a major victory. And I am at peace.