Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Teaching History (with a Cyndi Lauper song)...

The first album I ever bought
Cyndi Lauper / She's So Unusual
Yesterday I was driving had 2 of my kids in the car with me and a song came on the radio … I was immediately transported to my past.

What song do I have to thank for the time travel?
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper.

{flashback to 1983 …}
I was in the 5th grade
I was employed as a paper carrier for the Tri-City Herald
I had my own money -
I bought the record
I dreamed of being Cyndi Lauper …

My wonderful visit to the past came to an abrupt end when I heard -
“Mom what are you smiling about ...
Do you like this song?”

My response:
“I love this song! Let me tell you about 1983, and how fun it was to be
a girl with a paper route and a record player!”

Cheers to time travel via the songs from our past!
:)
Don't you love how you can teach history with a song?! Me too.

8 comments:

Shaela said...

lol - so fun! I get the same way. I made a "Soundtrack of my Life" album with 3 cds of all the songs, and every time I listen to it I'm reminded of times and places and people nearly forgotten. :)

babbler said...

You know those songs that run in a loop for hours and days even at the mere mention of them? This is probably the number one song that will do that outside of "Bad Bad Leroy Brown"! I loved your blog post this evening, I am instantly transported to another place and time when I hear Cyndi Lauper. You are right, history can be taught with the right materials! Speaking of that, I assume you have seen the movie "School of Rock"...if you haven't, it is a must see. I saw it for the first time recently, and had musical moments all the way through it! Thanks for visiting Slugs Rest - Mr. Slug and I are back from Los Angeles, we took the laptop to the hotel, it is always fun to read your comments!

Jennie Stanfield said...

that is a great song...girls just want to have fun. Ahhh Cindy Lauper. :-)

Kenna Elizabeth said...

I don't know that I "teach" as much history with a song, but certainly do "live" it. :) I ran into you website on twitter and your comments floored me-- so similar to the "theme quote" (if you will) on my Etsy page.

"Your whole life can change at a moment's notice... and the moments you notice can change your whole life."

In my thank you "note to buyers" I say: "I wish you much luck and happiness in the moments you choose, and encourage you to remember the "little things" for some of them end up being the big things.

It was like reading my own words on your website and it was neat to hear someone sending out the same message. :)

Now, having read this post about your "Cyndi Lauper experience" ;D I think you might get a chuckle out of my latest post: "What if we still sang and danced?"

At any rate, wanted to let you know I enjoyed reading your thoughts. :)

Unknown said...

Wonderful story! I love that you share your history with your children.

Shaka said...

fun memory! i loved cyndi lauper!
thanks for "visiting" my blog. your blog looks like a lot of fun!

Jennica said...

I had a paper route too! Man, some Cyndi Lauper music would have made throwing all those newspapers much more tollerable!
You have my mind racing back to my first music loves! Thanks for inspiring me to visit the past.

Rebecca Hickman said...

I caught a Cyndi Lauper concert back in 1988 at a small venue. She is an AMAZING performer. She loves her audience and we love her back.