Music is my rock.

I can't even being to tell you how much music has meant to me ever since I was a child. I've always felt like no matter what, I could turn to music and I could always find a song that fit the mood I was in or to nail the feelings that were coursing through my body.
If you know me, you know that I LOVE Reba McEntire. I'm a country boy, through and through, and I'm not afraid or embarrassed to tell people that. I know that people mock me for loving Reba, but I don't think they realize what it is that I truly do love about her. During some of the worst times in my life I've been able to turn to her music and find a song that fits just how I'm feeling. To put into words the emotion that is rocking my soul. And for that I will be forever thankful.

I have many friends who will call or text me and say they need a song. I'll ask them to tell me what's going on and send them a Reba song that fits the occasion. She is amazing, she records music that resonates with me and with others who ask me to share it with them. I've been thinking a lot lately about my relationship with Mike, and a few songs come to mind. The first is one that has been playing a lot lately in my car while I drive to work, "Keep On Loving You." The opening line is, "Love takes the patience of Job, that's what my Momma always said." And that rings true for me. I'm not the most patient person when it comes to a lot of things, but when it comes to love I realize that I need to sometimes take a step back and breathe. The other Reba song that has been in my head is "Where You End and I Begin."

Today Mike and I went to the other side of the Sound to see my sister and my nephews. On the way there I decided to share with Mike a playlist on my iPod of my favorite Reba songs. He was a good sport, listened to them all, asked me to tell him the what the song was about before we listened so he could get the gist of it. I'm not sure if he really listened, or if he was doing it to appease me. But none of that mattered for me. All of the songs on that playlist have meaning for me, some of those meanings are meant for only me to know, and others I will share with anyone who asks.

Trisha Yearwood recorded the song, "The Song Remembers When." And the title of that song hits the nail on the head. How many times have you heard a song that takes you back to a time in your childhood, or high school, or if the alcohol didn't erase it all...college! :) Music is powerful, and has a way of ingraining itself in your soul. I'm thankful for every song that I've heard during the happy times and sad times in my life. I don't know how many people feel the way I do about this, but I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for music. I still find myself scrolling to a certain song when I'm having a hard time. Or playing songs that I know will make me cry, when I just need to let out some emotion. I feel that Americans have been taught to forgo emotion because it's a sign of weakness. But to me, crying is a healthy, important part of every person's life...or it should be!

Music has been and always will be an important part of my life. And I'm going to leave with you with some lyrics...

I guess I'm just one of those
Who believes there has to be a reason
For living and breathing
Every time you pull me close
Something tells me there's be no more reaching
You're everything I'm needing
Oh I don't know how it happened, I never thought I would
Find someone to complete me

Oh I just can't explain it, this feeling that I get
Oh, ain't no way to name it, but I'm thinkin' baby
Maybe it's the way you look at me
Like there'll never be another
I get swept away, baby when
We get so caught up in each other
I don't know where you end and I begin

Reba always has the words...I love you Mike. 

**okay, after the post, there'll be no more sappy stuff! Tomorrow, as Elton John would sing..."The Bitch Is Back!!!!!!!"**