My Time Machine - Music

Music has a way of taking me back. I don't know if its similar for other people but, well here is a for instance.

Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits 2 Disc Set

LOVE THIS "ALBUM"

When I hear any of the songs from this set I don't even have to close my eyes and I am transported back to the open flats of An Najaf, Iraq. I can almost feel the heat, its not a heat like you'll find in Iowa. Its the burning dry heat of an oven, you hope for a passing breeze and remember that when one finally comes by it only serves to dry the sweat from what little of your body is exposed to the elements, the rest being covered by long sleeves and when on missions 40-50 pounds of gear. The wind takes even more of your bodies water away. I remember all this because I had purchased this set right before leaving my post to go down a few weeks to help out in a firefight. Alpha and Bravo company had been selected to be sent down to An Najaf to help out in the fight and I had requested to be sent as well. Myself and one other from Charlie company (my "brother", my best friend, the platoons Medic. "Duck") were granted permission to go, so I packed up everything I could think of for the trip and found some new music at the PX. Most of the time we were down there we saw nothing, it seemed we were miles and miles out into an open desert full of nothing but dirt, some sand, dung beetles, lizards, and scorpions. Just 50 guys, their Tanks, trucks, humvees, and APCs. The near beer was hot and tasted nothing like the Budweiser label it bore. I didn't bother with it, it didn't have any effect and tasted terrible, it was meant for the true alcoholics. I remember taking mountain dew cans, putting them in socks. You get the socks wet and then put your can inside it, hang it in the wind. After awhile by some voodoo the can is cooled enough to feel almost chilled going down. I remember trying to sleep in my pup tent but it was so hot all I could do was lay there and sweat. A thick slime covering my entire body, making for an excellent place for all the flying dirt to cling to. I can remember reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. All these things and more flood my head any time I hear Stevie Nicks croon to "Gypsy". All these songs and more send me back to 2004. Other albums can take me other places as well. Evanescences first album takes me back to Kosovo, Bad Company 10 from 6 takes me back on the road with my cousin and his big rig. Does music transport you to another time as well?

My apologies for the terrible run-on sentences, my braining jumping from one spot to another and such. English was always my worst subject

You, my friend, need to write a book.

That was a great description and brought new understanding to what it's really like in Iraq for me. It's amazing how much advantage we take of the things that seem so small when we have them. Air conditioning. Cold drinks. Showers and shelter.

Makes me wonder if I could have held up over there.

Music does the same thing for me.

Whenever I hear System of a Down's self titled album I'm suddenly a freshman in highschool again, driving my first car and getting pulled over for headbanging while driving.

Whenever I hear Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf Album, I'm suddenly on a roadtrip with my buddy Devin sophomore year and we're both singing our hearts out to every. single. song.

Whenever I hear Static-X's album Shadow Zone, I'm suddenly just waking up on the side of the road with a ripped spleen and mild concussion being pulled out of the wreckage of my first car. Somehow the cd player kept working while My car was wrecked so I actually have that entire album printed on my brain. I can actually hear it in my head sometimes.

Whenever I hear anything by Queen I'm reminded of when I first started dating my wife and seeing her dance nerdily to Fat Bottom Girls in her mom's living room.

Whenever I hear Led Zeppelin I'm reminded of why I like Rock and Roll to begin with. I know it's overplayed, but Stairway to Heaven is one of the most powerful and meaningful songs of all time. There's a reason that it's overplayed, my friends.

cocoabean wrote:

You get the socks wet and then put your can inside it, hang it in the wind. After awhile by some voodoo the can is cooled enough to feel almost chilled going down.

Turns out this is evaporation, when the water on the sock evaporates it takes the heat from the can and its contents with it. Add wind and you are taking more water away faster, making it cooler faster.

Thank you Cyberchase, finally found a good reason for watching all those kid cartoons with my daughter.

Haha! My daughter watches CyberChase too!