Love is a Mix Tape
I look into your eyes and find my soul mate. I hear your voice and never feel alone.
Date: 2009, 10, 11
Side A
1. San Francisco
2. Street of Philadelphia
3. Blowing in the Wind
4. Mrs. Robinson
5. Diana
Side B
1. Unchained Melody
2. You’re Always on My Mind
3. The Power of Love
4. I just Called to Say I Love You
5. The Wind Beneath my Wings
Rob Sheffield’ s “Love is a Mix Tape—Life and Loss, One Song at a Time” is a good reference book of rock music in the 90’s. It is also a superb book of romance. I was moved by the words between the lines, about the love and bond between the opposite two of them.
I pulled out all the old mix tapes and CDs on the shelves in the warehouse. I wiped out the dust, played the music to remember good old friends, to reminisce good old times. Thanks to Rob and Renee who prompted me to retrieve the old mixed tapes to reflect upon the music I grew up with. It’s healing to listen to the familiar melodies and lyrics of mixed tapes of my own and from my friends.
I don’t recall how long it has been since I last mixed a tape. I think I should do it again for various occasions, tapes for afternoon coffee with strangers , tapes for hiking, tapes for breaking up with lovers, tapes for inspiration, and tapes for biding farewell to beloved ones. Mixing a tape might be as fun as writing an article, if not more.
What I have in mind is that, if we could divide a day into different time slots according to working schedule, mix a tape for sewing, a tape for dancing, a tape for cooking, a tape for reading, a tape for writing, a tape for afternoon siesta, and a tape for contemplating. If time allows, maybe we can mix new tapes on seasonal basis. If we don’t have time to listen to the mix tapes ourselves, they would make splendid birthday presents for our beloved ones.
In the last tape of December 2002, Chapter 22 Via Vespucci, Rob mentioned he took all of Renee’s hats to the Central Park in Summer 2001, he walked around the Great Lawn, left a note on every hat he placed on a bench for people to take away for free. Being a hat aficionado, I wish my husband would give away all my hats like Rob did with Renee’s. Life goes on in a romantic way!
