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Love Songs

I've spent a good portion of the last couple of days listening to 80's love songs to try to bring on some memories to help with a chapter of my book.  It was an idea that was suggested in my writing class. What a weird experience it's been.  I researched by going to the billboard archives and looking at the top hits for the years I was interested in and then went to youtube to listen to the songs.  Today I downloaded some mp3s and listened to them while I cleaned the house.
It's funny what we forget and what we choose to remember.  It's also amazing what music does to bring you to a time and place you long forgot.  Today I listened to 'Right Here Waiting' by Richard Marx for the first time in many, many years.  It's one of those songs you know from the first few notes and I've always chose to turn it off as soon as I heard those notes.  Not today.  Today, I listened to it at least 3 times just trying to channel some ghost from the past.  I can't say it worked because I didn't write today, but it sure did take me back.
I also listened to 'Angel' by John Secada which was sent to me on a mix tape a long time ago.  I forgot all about that song, but listened to it over and over.  It's a beautiful song, but the end result was surprising because it made me a bit angry.  It's hard to explain, but that how it made me feel (among other things).
I listened to 'Hands to Heaven' by Breathe and that sparked a memory that was completely forgotten before hearing it. If only I could remember the conversations that went along with the memories.  I listened to quite a few songs and have a bunch more to get through.  It's all hard going and all in the name of inspiration for the chapters I need to get through.

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