All I needed was the mirror and a brush to make me feel like the star I thought I was. It’s safe to say that even at a young age I was pretty smitten with music. I remember reading or rather singing the dialogue of chapter books, a loud for my whole family to hear. It was my thing. I’ve always included music in my daily routines which is why some of my best memories are always accompanied with music.
Before there was an iPod, mp3 files, and the such that came with the digital era there was my yellow Walkman, it’s safe to say that I’ve since graduated from a Walkman and have immersed myself into the digital age, but there was a time where I always carried that bright yellow contraption since I got it for my fourth birthday. Of course, I also carried a stash of extra batteries because with how much I used that Walkman it was bound to drain the batteries of its energy. Batteries meet their match in a four-year old girl.
Now what would a four-year old girl be listening to? You know the usual, a mixture of Selena’s Dreaming of You and the Eagles’ Hotel
California. I was either wiggling my butt to Bidi Bidi Bom Bom or bobbing my head to Don Henley’s voice. All the while belting the lyrics all the way to our destination. I was a vampire of sorts draining the life out of batteries with my trusty yellow Walkman, and after a while my parents decided that it would be ideal to play my two favorite cassettes on the car system and not constantly having to buy batteries. On long car rides to Mexico or even a 30-minute drive to visit family in Weslaco always meant I was thoroughly entertained.
My father jokes that the only word I knew to say was ‘higher’ or ‘subale’ for when my favorite songs came on. Music has always been a family affair, and that’s how all of my siblings and I fell in love with music. It’s good family time when everyone in the car is able to sing along to the song blaring from my father’s system, whether it be America, Pink Floyd, The Steve Miller Band, or the Eagles. I always feel at home in moments like that. Perhaps there is a reason I have a playlist called Homesick for when I need a reminder of home.
I may no longer need AA batteries to power my Zune, nor is it the obnoxious bright yellow music player from when I was younger, the music however has stayed the same. My one constant that has a way of taking me home to the days of my yellow Walkman.
The minor fall, the major lift.
-Nessa
