Isn't it slightly interesting the ties that one's mind makes to certain smells, sights, or other things? In this specific case that brings the thought, it's music. There are certain artists that I don't have 'free' memories of any longer, they are tied to someone. It's not that they are bad memories or anything, to be honest they are quite pleasant most of the time. But it's interesting. At least I think so. Part of me, being the geek that's currently working on designing DSHS' new payment system, is real curious of the layout of these associations... the ties and handshakes that connect everything. Where exactly does your brain store the memory of music? Where does it store the memory of that music, and the girl sitting next to you singing that song? I'm listening to Michael Jackson right now (say what you will, at least I can still admit the music is good), and the MJ portion of my brain is now tied to a particular girl. A very charming, pretty girl, but not one that I'm particularly emotionally tied to. Regardless of the I don't know, 20 years I had listened to MJ prior to meeting this girl, I now tie his music to her memory. When I think of 'The Way You Make me Feel' there's a greater chance I'm going to hear her singing than anyone else. There's the same sort of tie with Counting Crows and a different girl, Sevendust with another more recent.
Is it the new memory ensuring it's own immortality by clinging tenaciously to some well-laid thought pattern? Does my brain create a hierarchy, knowing that any memory of any girl is more important to me than the song which goes along with the scene? It's true. Am I just a modern American automaton that needs to develop it's own soundtrack?
I'm not sure I have a point. What do you think? These associations may just make this moment forever, and maybe our time is never truly wasted.
Is it the new memory ensuring it's own immortality by clinging tenaciously to some well-laid thought pattern? Does my brain create a hierarchy, knowing that any memory of any girl is more important to me than the song which goes along with the scene? It's true. Am I just a modern American automaton that needs to develop it's own soundtrack?
I'm not sure I have a point. What do you think? These associations may just make this moment forever, and maybe our time is never truly wasted.
Thank you for the nice comment. I just feel sometimes as if I've settled for an "easy" life and have forsaken the life I had envisioned for myself years ago. I'm not completely unhappy, but I'm certainly not carefree either. Not that I think I would ever be carefree but at least I could be a little more relaxed. Guess I'll just take it as it comes...