A reflection on music

In the past few days, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my music collection.  I have a deep, lifelong connection with the music.  I read and listen to music, so I often make connections between that music and book.  I also like to play video games and listen to my music.  I will usually turn down the game music and play something from my 68 gb collection.  Even though we didn't have extravagant things, we always had music.  My parents had great taste in music and passed that on to me.  I started playing the guitar around age 13 or 14 and played almost every day until I went to college.

I haven't always had the greatest taste in music.  Sure, I fell for the popular, trendy late 90s tunes that I could care less about.  I still have a soft spot for grunge, even though I know it's not the most ingenious music.  I just love it.  What can I say?  But I do love the music produced from 1960-1979.  The rock era dominates my collection.

Our family has music traditions.  We listened to music when there wasn't much better to do.  When we played outside or rode bikes, we usually brought the stereo.  Every Thanksgiving we would listen to "Alice's Restaurant."   My dad had a bunch of tapes and Steve Miller and Boston were our most common cleaning soundtrack.  There was always, of course, Christmas music.  My sister Karen hates Christmas music, but I hold a place for it in my heart.  Not the Christmas music, but my dad's quick-witted improv parodies of the music and lyrics.  When my sisters and I take road trips to visit mom who lives about an hour away, we blare our favorite music, both current and past, and sing.  Music is in our blood!

Recently on twitter a game of "desert island" was suggested where I had to pick the five albums I would take with me on a desert island.  What a difficult task!  Here's my 5 (in no particular order):