I have been away, but I wanted to start coming back to this little spot. I'll restart this by posting a little something I was asked about one day, a soundtrack of my life. Just a top 5 songs that are of importance to your life and how. Well, 5 was impossible and 10 wasn't exactly cutting it so I upped it to 20. There sooo many more songs I could have used, but these 20 reflect my feelings pretty well, for now. The soundtrack always changes, ya know.

Soundtrack Of My Life

1) Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
I think this is pretty self explanatory. It relates alot to my
brother and father whom I truly wish were here in the flesh and
not just in spirit or mind.

2) Optimistic - Sounds Of Blackness
I have a never say die attitude. There is always a silver lining
in things to me. It may be dark, but ultimitly I know I can
Make it work out. Just have to stay positive.


3) I Am That I Am - Peter Tosh
Maybe I am getting older, but this song appeals to me more and more
as time goes by. It has to do with people trying to get me to fit
their image of what they feel I should be. I am that I am as Mr Tosh
says.

4) Redemption Song - Bob
Again, my brother and father. There not words to express how invaluable they
in my growing up into.. umm... me.

5) Ride On - AC/DC
It's a slow song. To me it's a person who is drifting through life.
The recounting of the lower points, the state of being alone, yet
still keeping their chin up.. looking to improve things for themselves.

6) Home - The Wiz (soundtrack)
This is the humbler. It reminds me of family. With all my travels, this
always helps put me back in Austin.

7) Time - Pink Floyd
I have an issue with Time. Never seem to be early. I am always
battling time. Either to be on time or not too late. More time
would be great, but I look back and see the time I have wasted.
Depressing song when reflecting.

8) Man In The Mirror - MJ
MJ in the last of his great days. I look at myself in the mirror
on a daily basis and I still see the 6 year old, the 13 year old,
the 24 year old with his dreams and thoughts, but no actions.
Everyday, I say I am going to make that change and set the world
on fire... sigh.. sometimes I do. But each day, I look in the mirror.

9) On The Road Again - Willie Nelson
My theme song!! I love to travel. There is something about seeing
places away from where I am and learning new things which grabs me.
I love Texas, but I hate the thought of not getting out of state
and taking in new things. Within state as well I should add.

10) Strange Relationship - Prince
My birthday mate wrote a song that seems to fit a number of my
relationships to a "T". I have some odd moments which I could
never truly explain. This song does it for me.

11) Spain (I Recall)/This Time - Al Jarraeu
A number of my earlier memories are based upon hearing music.
Al Jarreau was what my father played when driving my brother
and I to Austin in the old Datsun 710 (?) station wagon. We
loved to hear George Benson, but he normally would play Al and
these two songs just sounded cool and were always my favorites.

12) Tommorrow - Annie (soundtrack)
It *IS* a kiddy song. I was in the school play in 5th grade and
missed out because of the freakin chicken pox. As depressed as I was
I knew I would get past the stupid condition and be able to play during the
summer if I kept looking ahead and not get stuck on what was on me.

13) Oppurtunities- Pet Shop Boys
Hmmm... now this is a strange inclusion. To the point, it's me. The song
is about team work. Partners. I do my best work when I have that partner.
I get things done. Not another mother, but someone who wants to work towards
a common goal or goals together. Normally, I like to think of myself as the
brains and the looks.

14) I Ain't No Joke - Eric B & Rahkim
My "Monday" song. It gives me that take no prisoners attitude I need to get
through the day. Talk about walking in with a chip on your shoulder. I try
to play it on those "special" Mondays and Wednesdays.

15) Blues Medley - Little Milton
This is a 16 minute song which combines the soulful playing of a guitar
and the pitty filled voice of a bluesman telling about his lady leaving him
and his struggles (actually three songs meshed nicely into one). It just strikes
a chord with me.

16) Voyage To India/ Secret Life Of Plants - Stevie Wonder
Picture a spring morning in the late 70's. A father and his two young sons are
walking around a store trying to find a perfect Mother's Day gift. The boys
continually pick out toys they know their mother would love to have (as well
as ones she would let them play with as well). The father picks this new record
with a faded green front and green writing. The boys make fun of it but the father
says mnother will love it. The weird sounds from this record plays through the house
for the next few years and it becomes "THE" Stevie Wonder album to you. Years later
You present this cd to your mother on Mother's Day (LP's having become a thing of the past)
and all those memories from the day you shopped for this as a kid comes back.
This is just that cd that makes me think of my family when I hear it.
Voyage To India I chose because it is like taking a journey... A journey somewhere
exotic. Great answer...

17) Soon Forward - Gregory Issacs/ If I Didn't Love You - Dennis Brown (Reggae Sunsplash '81)
These two songs are the ones which take me back to landing in Montego bay and to laying out
by the pool or the sea drinking rum punch. They are Jamaica to me.. just relaxed, perspiring
under the occassional sea breeze. No worries mon, no worries.

18) Silent Night - The Temptations
Christmas can not happen w/o egg nog and the Temps version of this classic. I do not make it a
season without it. Again, the memories from it. Looking at Christmas lights in the
back of a cold car wishing never to have to go back to Timberline Drive. The
worst part of growing up was listening to it in the car alone and thinking about
how it once was. How Christmas was once a wonderful time for four people and a dog.

19) My Love, Sweet Love - Pattie LaBelle
This song was played at my wedding. This was my favorite song on the Waiting To Exhale
soundtrack. When it is played, memories of the wedding preperation and short
lived union fly through my head. Just that one song makes me think of that time.
Oh well..

20) Could You Believe - Al Jarreau
This song stirs sadness for me. It's a beautiful song, especially the live version. The lyrics
"could you believe in a dream if I tell you that it's true" hits home with as I think
back to that Datsun and my child dreams of one day becoming an adult who could drive
with his brother and dad in the car to someplace. Just the men going someplace. Now,
it happens but only in spirit. It's just very haunting for me... I miss the guys.