While traveling through the Connecticut countryside, Hubby found a radio station that played only songs from the 1970s. Many radio stations play oldies including the songs from the 80s and 90s, but those were eras when I was working two jobs and raising 5 children without a whole lot of time to listen to the radio. With this new radio station discovery, Hubby and I bopped and sang with the songs like it was yesterday.

“Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by the Temptations came on the radio. I thought of this song as a tribute to my dad, who was always on the go, always moving, driving, not staying in one place long enough to gather moss.

The next song was “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things” by The Cowsills, the singing group of six siblings from Newport who inspired the television show “The Partridge Family.” I laughed when I remembered my first introduction to this song. My mom had purchased a small record player for me for Christmas when I was about sixteen years old and with it, one 78 rpm record of this song. I loved the music, and even though it was my only record, I never tired of hearing it. It reminded me of the time my mother stepped out of her comfort zone and purchased an expensive gift for me for Christmas, although that generosity faded when it came time to purchasing additional records. So, when it was played in the car on that radio station, I joyfully bopped along to the music and sang it at the top of my lungs. (Poor Hubby had to listen.)

“Knights in White Satin” by the Moody Blues was the next song to be played. When Hubby and I attended the senior prom for Veterans High School, that was our first slow dance. From that time on, Hubby would pull me up onto the dance floor at any wedding or celebration where the song was played. While I cannot remember the words of the song, the déjà vu feeling is of romantic warmth and contentment.

“Dancing Queen” by ABBA played next, and it again reminded me of the prom where we shook our bodies clumsily through the fast songs, all gangly arms and legs jerking with the beat. As foolish as we looked, we were joined by others equally twitchy and imaginative. It was such fun letting loose and dancing the fast dances, but my movements while riding in the car were stymied by the close quarters, limiting my enjoyment.

I have seen and loved the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”, so when the song was played on the car radio, my admiration for Queen came flowing back to me. To think, that iconic song was almost not produced because it was considered to be too long. Freddy Mercury was such a talented composer and lyricist, writing a song that didn’t seem to make sense, but sure was fun to sing. Hubby was amazed that I knew all of the words.

“My Sweet Lord," by George Harrison, then filled the airwaves in the car. I LOVED that song and sang it with enthusiasm at the top of my lungs, aggravating Hubby immensely. There was something spiritual about it, with the music invading my soul and warming it as I looked out the car windows and admired the beauty of nature. Most certainly, the exquisiteness of the sky, with the bright yellow sun streaming through the clouds, was heaven inspired.

In thinking about music to reminisce by, the most sentimental song I danced to was "Sunrise, Sunset." It was with my dad at my wedding. My dad was generally anti-social since his wartime service in World War II, so partying was not an attribute of his. I was thrilled when he agreed to do the father/daughter dance at my wedding. We took the dance position and moved in time to the music, all eyes and smiles on us. It was such a sentimental moment for me, and I started to cry. He gave me a kiss on the forehead when we were done and went back to his seat. My mother told me later that he was embarrassed and thought I was crying because his dancing was so bad!

Even though I generally abhor riding in the car, I was disappointed when we reached our destination and the music stopped. I was having fun reminiscing. There was, however, still the long ride home…