I bought a record player last year.  Periodically, I peruse record stores – I especially like the second-hand shops –  and have re-purchased some of my old favorites. These albums evoke memories of my youth through college years – the times before MP3 players and digital downloads. 

The first days after getting a new album (or cassette tape) were spent playing and replaying the same music over and over again; when side 1 was finished playing, I’d flip the record or cassette over and listen to the other side. Thinking back, I can recall specific moments in time – laying on my bed or driving my car – wallowing in a breakup or dreaming of a new romance.  These memories are linked to the pieces of music and are ingrained into my memory like the tracks ingrained in an album.

There’s a comfort to these old songs. I know the words and beats and I know which song is next. They have become familiar and welcoming like the face of an old friend. I know them. They have helped me along in my life.

Freddie Mercury Fan Club

Before COVID hit, a friend and I went to a local concert. It was a Queen tribute band, Almost Queen.  If you run across them, I would encourage you to get tickets. I don’t say this lightly: they are awesome!  My friend and I along with a crowd that ranged in ages of 20-somethings to 60-somethings belted out the lyrics along with the lead singer, Joseph Russo – who does an amazing job at recreating every nuance of Freddie Mercury’s vocal range and physical idiosyncrasies.

This specific mimicry is amazing and made everyone in the audience believe that the spirit of Freddie Mercury was alive in that moment. However, it made me think about the nature of live music. Why the experience of seeing a performer live is so impactful.

We all know our favorite recordings – but frequently in live shows, artists mix things up a bit – they experiment and give the piece a new twist – flex their creativity and give their art a different feel. Additionally, sometimes there are the mic problems and lyric flubs….all of these elements create a truly unique experience. 

That’s the beauty of live music – it’s unpredictability.

This is also true of life.

Sometimes I have an idea of how things are supposed to go…. I make a plan or set a goal. Frequently, my plans go awry – LOL. But, I have come to the conclusion that doesn’t mean the plan was wrong or that, “Heavens! I’m a bad planner!” I just accept that I’m alive and part of this world. I make mistakes and I learn as I go.

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m the plucky sort.

Which leads me to my conclusion: despite our mistakes, the show must go on!

And I say to my heart: rave on!

Mary Oliver