Time After Time

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One of the many things that I hate about ending relationships is losing the songs that go with them. I've always associated songs with different periods of my life. Certain music from the '80s can transport me right back to my military days. I often hear songs from the '70s that remind me of the carefree days of playing Barbies with my sister. I can actually see us on the patio with our Barbie campers on the picnic table, our two favorite Barbies having the pretend time of their lives, planning dates with Ken, cooking meals to share, and dressing in stylish outfits.

With music being so important in my life, it stands to reason that I associate songs, particularly romantic ones, with relationships. So what happens when the relationship ends? I can't stand to hear those songs anymore, which is almost as sad (sometimes even sadder) than letting go of the person I was in the relationship with.

At the moment, I can't listen to Cyndi Lauper and I've always loved her. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Damnit, how could he ruin that song for me? Do guys even like that song? I guess they do. Why should a song about girls having fun only belong to girls? And forget about "Time After Time." It was Randy's break-up song on "My Name is Earl," something we watched together. I refuse to have a break-up song. It's bad enough having relationship songs.

I made the mistake of telling my last boyfriend that I loved that song "Little Jeannie" by Elton John, as it reminded me of happy times in my childhood. So he bought me the record. Yes I said record. I realize that I'm dating myself by admitting that I still listen to records but there's something so romantic about listening to a song and hearing the faint scratch of the needle spinning the record. And just because he bought me a record doesn't mean that I had my last relationship twenty years ago. God knows where he found the record. Amazon, I think. I had just purchased a Crosley radio/record player/tape player and was enjoying listening to my many old 45s and 33s.

Fortunately, just as time heals all wounds, so too can it bring those songs back to me without the negative feelings stirring within me. "Little Jeannie" is still in my record player. Perhaps one day I'll be able to hear it and think of my childhood again, instead of the incredibly sweet gesture of a now ex-boyfriend. Or perhaps I'll just remember it as an incredibly sweet gesture of a now ex-boyfriend and not feel sad about it.