Childhood Music Memories…

“Come on baby light my fire” – the phrase stops time and takes me back to the summer of 1987. A hot Oklahoma week at a rundown church camp – seriously, I think the cabins had dirt floors! I was eleven and my “camp boyfriend” who I had snatched for the week was twelve. Funny though because we looked more like counselors; he was really big at 6”2’ and I was already 5”6’ with a C cup. For some reason, at the A-frame (which was literally just that, wood framed out in the shape of an A with no walls or AC) the P.A. system was left on around the clock. My camp boyfriend (who I had just met a couple of days before) would grab the microphone and sing this to me…. solo style! I think it is CRAZY I even remember this stuff.

Before Boner (yeah, that was his nickname…I think it was during the Kirk Cameron years if that is any excuse) sang this song to me, well…I had never heard it before and now for some strange reason, whenever I hear it I am instantly taken back to another time and place and only that place, despite the numerous other times I have listened to it since.

Music is such a useful tool in life!!!! Numerous studies have been performed on its ability to help patients suffering from pain or who have poor memory. Many observations prove that music can serve as well as or better than sedation to relieve pain as well as help evoke long forgotten memories of Alzheimer and dementia patients. I am just thankful it can take me back to my days as a carefree innocent youth. "Try to set the night on fire..."