It must be really confusing, when you are a little one, to figure out how everything works in the world to which you are so quickly introduced.
You see it as babies develop. At first, they whap the side of their head with that thing attached to the end of their limb. Pretty soon, they figure out that hands are very helpful. They can chew on them. They can use them to entertain or feed themselves.
And one day, they use them to type blogs…
The same conundrum applies to the use of language.
We read a lot of stories – numerous books – to our two and we also played lots of music for them. I was reminded of a pleasant memory from when Holly was a tiny tyke, the other day, when I heard the Billy Joel song, “Pressure” on my Sirius/XM satellite radio.
The song came on the radio and, eventually, we got to the line in which he says “All your life is Channel 13. Sesame Street. What does it mean?”
I smiled as I flashed back 20 years…
One day, that selfsame song was playing in my car back in the 90s and the little one was soaking it up. You could see the wheels turning as a precocious toddler listened to the lyrics. Words like ‘paranoid’ or ‘crusade’ (from the song) probably didn’t register. But, give her the words “Sesame Street,” and it’s another story.
“Sesame Street!” she exclaimed, and she chuckled.
It was like validation; recognition. “That’s something I can relate to!”
There’s something for everyone.
She had a similar reaction to another Billy Joel song - we must have had a specific CD going - from the same era, “Allentown.” When he sang “iron, coke, chromium, steel,” she picked out the one item that didn’t pertain to some unknown metallic structure. She laughed out loud and said “Coke!” (You know…the real thing!).
That was something she knew and something she loved. She laughed out loud a lot during that era!
Her musical merriment wasn’t just limited to one singer. Upon hearing the Blues Traveler song, “Run-Around,” she adored the line about coffee and tea!
We embrace the things we know. Titan, for example, can refer to a truck, a Greek God, a football team or a supercomputer. It depends on context.
Volunteer can be a trusted helper, giving of their time, or the college football team about which you are tremendously passionate.
You get the picture.
Anyway, it was a pleasant memory during an otherwise mundane afternoon commute. It’s funny how music helps you pass the time.
It also takes you to fantastic places; sometimes allows you to travel through time.
JG
Originally posted 10/1/2014
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