Jingle All the Frickin' Way!

As I began the four hour drive home for the holiday season kick-off (Thanksgiving), my number one exciting thought wasn't of the upcoming pie, or family time, or Packers victory.... it was of the sweet, sweet jams for the journey north. (No offense, family, noms or Pack!)

While perfectly crafted roadtrip mix tapes do hold a special place in my heart, more often than not, it's the random tune that pops up on the radio that ends up creating a perfect moment.  The melody sets the stage and provides a little wink from the past...

Good times in mirror are closer than they appear.

• Getting picked up from pre-school by my grandma. Wearing my little snowsuit and boots. Laying on the fur blanket she had draped over the back seat while The Casinos serenaded my cold little self with "Then you can tell me goodbye." (Note: that song was the definition of love to me as a child - I was a tiny, hopeless romantic.)
• Cruising around my small hometown with my best guy friend in HS (who got his license before the rest of us) in his little pink car, listening to the local pop station, as he shrieked, "OH MY GOD, THIS is the new Britney song! Have you heard it yet??!" and proceeded to crank up "Toxic."
• The ride to/from visiting my dad. The first leg of the journey with my mama pumping up the oldies and the best of 90s country. (Garth, Elvis, Reba, Cher: all the one-named greats.) The second leg featuring nothing but the best of classic rock. (Breakfast in America for days, friends.)
• Having to drive around the block several times and take the "long way" to Senior Prom because "Bohemian Rhapsody" came on. My date wearing the orange tuxedo from Dumb and Dumber and velvet chucks; me donning a dress in the shade of Halloween. We were the scene from Wayne's World only more dapper. 
• Riding in my boyfriend's car, pointing out various songs and how they'll fit into our Indie Rom-Com movie that I'll create someday. Noting things like, "This will be the scene after our horrible break up, with our side-by-side montages - I'll be quite sad and it will probably be raining wherever you are" or "This'll play during the bit years after the breakup, where I randomly see you outside the bookstore and think how this will be our perfect reunion, and just as I'm about to go out to say hello your WIFE shows up - and then I'll run and hide, hoping you didn't see me, but you TOTALLY did." Not that I overthink these things. Or that I watch too many cheesy movies. Just that, you know, the soundtrack is important. 
• Parked outside the movie theater, about to go see the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie (for my birthday, to boot!). Sitting in my car with the volume on max as my sister and I belt out "Kentucky Rain." Our voices hitting a fever pitch at the best line: "Was it yesterday? NO, WAIT the day befoooooore!"
• The certain death that is any car ride in which "Crazy in Love" starts playing. We, the people of the United States of Bey-on-cé, cannot help but dance and attempt all the booty shaking maneuvers (despite any lack of coordination). A silly thing like a steering wheel can't get in the way. The rules of the road? Pfft, negligible when you got me hoping you'll page me right now.

All those songs (and so many more), make up the soundtrack to my memory. They aren't planned, they just happen, creating little points in time that are just sheer perfection. The best we can all do is to try and connect the dots. So go ahead, turn it up. Make sure they hear you coming. 

What's your favorite car jam memory? 

Anyone else agree that singing in the car is better than singing in the shower? (Despite the fact that you're bound to get caught by that guy who looks over at the stoplight - WHY would you look over? Weirdo! Go live in your hurtling, magical metal music box like the rest of us! Keep your eyes on the road!)