What song is currently playing in your mind’s jukebox?

Isn’t is interesting how a tune repeatedly flows through your brain? It’s like the music is on a loop that goes and goes and goes…

Unlike all the other members of our family, I’m not a musician. However, I love music. I can be walking through a store and literally start keeping time with whatever song is playing on their sound system.

One of my all time favorite singers is Roy Orbison. Does that date me? If so, so what? The lyrics of his songs are wonderful, and the tunes are very memorable for me. The first time I heard his voice I was smitten by his ability to hit so many octaves. He was amazing, and I can’t stop hearing his song entitled “In Dreams” in my head. More on that in a bit.

Over the past weekend, we attended a Minnesota Twins baseball game. It was chilly and rainy, but the game played on for us. I was waiting for the seventh inning when we could stand and stretch. Finally, it arrived. The crowd stood up as we all began to sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” It was exhilarating to hear all the people singing and gesturing. It made me feel warm. I was reminded of past ball games when I joined other folks in singing that song — a special moment.

Later that evening, we went to have dinner at an extremely nice local restaurant. To match my plate of spaghetti, I ordered a glass of Grenache wine. Let’s just say the pairing was superb, the company couldn’t be better and it ended a very special day.

So, why is it we enjoy music? What’s happening is that our ears are hearing the sound, transferring it to our brain, and it’s there, the magic happens. Our memories began to emerge, the flow from the music sets free a biological flow of chemicals and that makes us feel good. You can continue the research on that issue, but let me just say, that for me, music enriches me. When I see other folks reacting similarly to a song, I believe we are more human and it brings us together.

For me, wine does the same thing. A deep Cabernet Sauvignon is comforting — just like Rob Orbison’s songs. A citrusy Pinot Grigio gets me tapping like a Metallica song. A buttery Chardonnay smooths my day like Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” A spicy Zinfandel pairs nicely with any music!

Like wine, music lifts us and evokes memories. What memory does your favorite wine bring forth in you? What do you feel when listening to that song? What do you feel while sipping that special wine?

A friend of mine sent me a picture of a wine her child picked out for her as a Mother’s Day gift. It was a bottle of La Scolca Gavi Bianco Secco. Can you imagine the memories that bottle will bring to that mother every time she sees it?

Now, back to Roy. For me, the song “In Dreams” relates to many situations in my life. Yes the song is about the loss of a lover, but for me it’s about our children, lost family members, past pets and so many other personal occurrences.

Not to be a downer, but the song reminds me that things, places and people are never gone. They are always in our dreams.

May I suggest you listen to the song?

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!