Chuck E's in Love - Rickie Lee Jones

It was 9th grade at Sunset Lake Junior High. I had a friend named Kim who was going out with Mike Alred. For whatever reason, I connect this song with the two of them...mostly Mike though. Mike and I became friends and stayed that way even after him and Kim broke up. I must admit that I had a mighty big crush on Mike at different times during the next 2 years. We used to hang out and talk on the phone. I'm not sure if he was ever interested in me or not. If he did, it was probably at a time when I had the hots for someone else. Then Mike moved away. Funny thing is that he ended up going to high school with my college sweetheart. Here's to you Mike, where ever you may be.

Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again

This song reminds me of my old buddy Ron Strickland. We pledged a business fraternity and it did take a while for our friendship to grow. I guess you could say that we weren't really what you would call two natural friends. Ron went into the Marines right out of school to become a pilot. We kept touch throughout his training and I was one of the few from the fraternity that was invited to his wedding. I think that is the last time I saw him. He was going to be stationed in Japan.

Anyway, he actually had a cd player in his car (this was back in the mid/late '80s when they first came out) Ron had this album on cd. I think of him everytime I hear it.

Ron...I hope you are still out there and you're like you used to be.

American Pie - Don McLean

This song takes me back to my college days. I think about those spring days when the days start to get warmer. The days where we would wear our shorts again and we opened our windows to let the warm in. The guys would be out on Tucker Beach throwing frisbee and the girls would be laying out in the sun. Inevitably, someone would have their music blaring out the window. This song would float through the air. I just thing of spring and being young when I hear this song.

The Outfield - Your Love (1986)

This song reminds me of my old friend Jonathan. Now Jonathan and I have never met face to face. When I was working in the law office, he was working for the people that developed our AP/AR billing software. He helped me out learning how to use the program and all my other questions. Meanwhile, we hit it off in a BIG way. There was lots of phone flirting and some online flirting as well. We were both married, so it really couldnt' have gone any further. But, I can tell you there was a real connection between us. Now, I don't believe we would have ever made it as a couple. But, if I really believed that we all have past lives, I would have guessed that we were connected to each other somehow in the past.

I think of JB when I hear this song because of the line "I like my girls a little bit older." During one of our many talks he told me that his wife was a few years older than him (like me) and that most of the girls he dated were older...hence the thinking of him with this song. :)

Here's to you Jonathan. I do miss having you to talk to. :)

The Carpenters - Rainy Days And Mondays

Since today is Monday and it has been raining all day, I thought this would be a very appropriate song to talk about.

Even though this song is rather sad, I always find such comfort in it. Sometimes it feels good to feel a little melancholy. This is my feel good melancholy song. :)

Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK (Studio Version)

Picture this...9th grade...Sunset Junior High School...I was quite the athlete. Played 3 of the 4 sports that were available for the girls. My basketball coach was Mr. Buchan. He was just out of college. Very nice guy. I was one of his favorites. We had a school newspaper and one time they had a thing where you could pay $.25 and then the newspaper would list a song for you to dedicate to someone. Well, Mr. Buchan did that. To one of my friends he dedicated the old beach song "Be young, Be foolish, but be happy". Very appropriate. What does he dedicate to me???? This song. "Anarchy in the UK"! WTF?? I never understood why this particular song was dedicated to me. I like to think that maybe he saw me as not having to follow the crowd. That I could be my own person. I will never know, but its one of the things that I REALLY wish I did know the reason why.

But I also have to say, in my yearbook,this man wrote one of the most wonderful things anyone has ever said about me. I still remember what he wrote to this day...Tamara...a beautiful name for someone who is beautiful on the inside and the outside. I've never known anyone who wanted to win so badly, yet kept in mind it was only a game. Stay free... Jim Buchan

Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday

This song reminds me of my first real boyfriend, Andy. We dated in high school. He was my first love. We dated for about a year and a half. The boy was VERY jealous. I gave up my friends for him. If I left to go out with my mom, I had to call him to let him know or I would get yelled at. He wanted a girl that didn't drink. That didn't cuss. That didn't flirt. That didn't talk back. I was all of those things... for a while. But he broke up with me our senior year in high school. It was tough. I had given up my closest friends, so I really had to make more. But while it was tough, it was such a growing experience that helped sooo much. I learned to do things on my own. I learned to make myself happy. And let's just say, I never again have gone out with anyone like him. When I got to college, I did all those things he hated. Man, it was liberating.

Back to the song...there are certain lyrics out of this song that really describe how our relationship was. WAS being the key word...

He wants me
For only part of the time
He wants me
If he can keep me in line....

I'm so glad I'm not that girl anymore.