I Can Still Hear The Music

I can still hear the Music

Joe Anderson was awakened by alarms screaming in his ears while he gasped for air. Struggling to breathe he became dizzy until a soothing voice said “relax, just breathe” as the nurse adjusted the oxygen tube under his nose. Then she turned off the alarms, and left.
Joe could feel the cool air traveling down his throat into his lungs, literally a breath of fresh air that would keep him hanging on. Lying in bed he tried to move his fingers, but could not. The only muscles that worked moved his eyes back and forth, but they would not focus.
Off in the distance he could hear the sound of music as he strained to move. The song immediately took him back to 1968 as a picture unfolded before him. Across from him a girl about 18 years old with short black hair moved as she gyrated to the rhythm of the music. The slender Thai girl had his full attention as they both danced to the music. He was a young airman staying over night in Bangkok on his way to Ubon Airbase. The Thai band shouted out “Here She Comes Now Singing Mony Mony”, as the two of them moved across the floor oblivious to everything around them.

The song ended as Joe lay there smiling at the memory the song evoked, then the next song started, and his mind was off again as he was transported to the beach in Hagar Shores Michigan in the summer of 1988. He was playing volleyball with his children and their friends on this beautiful sandy beach as the radio played a song called “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, and Joe was happy as he saw the whole day unfold before him to the music playing in his head.

The next song had him on stage at his youngest daughter’s school. She was 10 yrs old, and here was her dad on stage with her principal, and two friends in poodle dresses lip singing to the song “My Boy Lollipop”. They move back and fourth across the stage trying to move their feet in time to the music as they lip sing the song, but at least two of them have no rhythm making it difficult for the other two. In the audience Joe can see all the kids laughing hysterically as the four on stage stumble through their routine, and again he smiled.

Ac Dc “ Shook Me All Night Long” is next. It is Christmas Eve 1993, in New Hampshire. The D.J. is blasting the music as Joe is dancing with his family and their friends in the clubhouse at Steele Head Resort. After skiing in Vermont the day before they are celebrating with friends they met from Canada. He watches his second daughter with her best friend playing air guitars as they all laugh, and sing the song. This brings another smile to his lips.

The music now changed to a recent song, and he found himself sitting at a table tapping his fingers to the pounding beat of “ I’m Bringing Sexy Back” as he watched his son and daughters dancing with the bride and groom, and he realized how much they take after both he and his wife, and how they embraced music in the same way as he and his wife. They danced with abandon letting the music fill their very being, unfazed by how they might be perceived, just enjoying the moment. Joe smiled as he watched from the sideline knowing that they have found the joy of music just as he had.
Song after song brought back fond memories to Joe, as he lay there unable to move. As he slowly faded into a deep sleep he thought to himself,
“ I can still hear the music”.

Robert L. Murdoch 07/20/09