I spent plenty of time this weekend behind the steering wheel of my trusty Nissan Frontier, providing significant amount of time to enjoy the songs on my Spotify “Liked Songs” list. There are more than 1,400 titles on the list. I did not drive far enough to listen to them all, but I did drive long enough to have the music showcase for me how fortunate I am to have the wonderful life I have had for oh-so-many years. Of course, I do not need to drive long to get that reminder.

I heard songs that I remember my mother singing to or humming along with as they played monoaural on an old tube radio, or while they played on the AM car radio as she drove; tunes from my youth when I spent time alone on my bike or in my room or shooting pool, while thinking, thinking, thinking; songs that re-kindled memories of the dating years and the emotional roller coaster that is the form of travel during those times; music that played well at a volume that likely explains part of the reason I have hearing aids today; lyrics that told meaningful stories and those that, as I look back on them, made little to no sense, but we all loved them then. There were so many memories. How blessed and lucky I have been.

I heard music that transported me to conversations, events, and good times with my parents, neighborhood friends, school buddies, work colleagues and myriad others along the timeline of life; that took me to places I have been and the journeys that took me there, whether by foot or road trip, or metaphorically; that brought me images of people’s faces, smiles, scowls and frowns, and laughter…plenty of laughter; that led me to places where I strived and failed, or challenged and conquered. There were so many memories. How blessed and lucky I have been.

I smiled when I heard songs that became key to my son-raising years; those that marked my career stages that are to me what geological periods or the civilizational development periods to geologists and historians. I think less in defined segments of years and more in the sense of periods with a common element or activity. One phase of life might be 22 years and another only three. The songs brought all the phases back for me to review and appreciate.

My eclectic taste in music reminds me that life is not just one way or another. It is a complicated mix of people, events, activities, emotions, locations, joys, sorrows…and music helps create landmarks to stop and review anew the times in which so much has happened. The view brings perspective.

Amidst all that I remembered and reminisced about while driving was a gift wrapped in the lyrics of the decades: gratitude. For all the ups and downs, wins and losses, joys and sorrows…I am thankful for it all. The music lets me not just know it, but feel it, too.