It started innocently. I just had a few errands to run before I took myself to a local coffee shop for some quiet blogging time. Maybe the crisp spring air and clear blue skies should have warned me of what was about to take place. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the fact that the kids were staying home with Daddy. Despite the signs, I was oblivious. I knew not what was going to happen.
I started my car, pulled out of the driveway and headed out of the subdivision. Without a second thought, I opened the sunroof and let the fresh spring air surround me in my car. Hindsight tells me the decision to open the sunroof was where the day took a turn.
Suddenly craving music, I checked my CD player and noticed I had 5 of the 6 slots filled. Starting with CD #5, I waited to hear what musical selections were available to me. “Roooox’anne, you don’t have to turn on the red light…” Roxanne by The Police. Next, I checked CD #4 and waited, “Almost heaven, West Virgina…” Country Roads by John Denver.
Next, I selected CD #3 and waited, “Aaaaaalllll aboooard! Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa!…” Crazy Train, by Ozzy Osborne. Nice.
Next, I selected CD #2 and waited, “Now I will tell you what I’ve done for you, fifty thousand tears I’ve cried…” Going Under by Evanescence. Nice.
Finally, I made it to CD #1. What was behind door number 1? “Old McDonald had a farm…” Wow!
No, not “Wow! I love that song!” — “Wow! I’m impressed.” Four out of the five CDs were my CDs. Four out of the five CDs did not have songs about Hickory Dickory Dock, Old McDonald or Wheels on the Bus. First, I did a mental happy dance, celebrating the fact that our family passed the silly kid’s music phase. Then, I quickly glanced in the back seat, confirming the car seats were – in fact – empty. Finally, I selected CD #2 and jammed to Evanescence’s album Fallen, increasing the volume to 14.
As I drove and danced, headbanging and singing, I laughed to myself. (Apparently, I can multitask.) While singing, dancing, driving and laughing to myself, I began visualizing the story I was going to tell the police officer.
Certainly, the fact that my car was swerving gave the police man probable cause for pulling me over to the side of the road. Understandably, the police officer assumed I was under influence of either drugs or alcohol, as he watched my head rock back and forth. Then again, perhaps the police officer was merely concerned about my health, as he watched in horror as I did the ‘white-man’s overbite’ behind the wheel of my car. (Please. That slick dance move is not restricted to the dance floor. I’ve seen you do it, too. Well, not you. But you – the one drinking your coffee and looking nervously side to side.)
No. I was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No. A police officer did not pull me over for dancing and driving. I was under the influence of the fresh spring air pouring in through the open sunroof. I was under the influence of loud non-kid music, a clear blue sky and memories running through my mind, released only when certain songs are played.
Other songs that could trigger dancing while driving and the dreaded white-man’s overbite may include but are not limited to: The Ramones’ Blitzkreig Bop:
Seal’s Crazy:
And, (no, not Sha Na Na) Falling Slowly off the soundtrack for the movie Once (by the Swell Season’s Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová):
It’s Spring! Turn on your radio! Sing out loud! Do the white-man’s overbite! Oh, and please drive carefully.
August 2000, pre-engagement, kids, marriage and 30s 40s. Me and Rob driving somewhere in Maine, on our way back from Amherst Shore, Nova Scotia; heading to Boston for a flight back home to Atlanta. The sun is shining, the skies are clear, the top is down, and the radio is loud. Life is good!
Lenore's Thoughts Exactly 
Hey! I’m in a blog!
Of course Paul “Ace” Frehely is in the blog! I didn’t ask for permission prior to post. I sure hope you don’t sue me. Rock on, Ace! Rock on, Bill!
Isn’t it glorious to be able to listen to your music without input from the kids? Love it! Glad you didn’t get pulled over!
Wendy
It is glorious! And, I laugh at myself every time I check the back seat to make sure the coast is clear. I’m glad I didn’t get pulled over, either. If I do in the future, I hope he has a sense of humor. Thanks for visiting, Wendy.
Lenore
Wow…I totally LOVE John Denver. To the point of spazziness (if you have a sp. ed kid you can totally say that–call it a “perk”). He died the same day Writer and I got engaged…Bittersweet…
Seriously, his stuff is on my truck cd player this very minute.
See, I made my kids believe that Johnny Cash *was* kids’ music. It worked pretty well, AND they were the only kids on the playground who knew all the words to “Folsom Prison Blues.”
thanks! –L
No joke – our boys ask to hear JD’s Home Grown Tomatoes and Eagles and Horses. They also request JD’s ‘French Horn Song’, which is “Hold On To Me”. The boys also request Alan Jackson and The Verve Pipe, so it’s not all bad. 😀 I got some kid who appreciate music. Win! I love the fact that your kids know Folsom Prison Blues. Your kids rock, L. Totally rock! (Thanks for commenting!)
I don’t know…lettin’ a mom loose in spring with a open roof…pretty dangerous!
Love the joy, Lenore Diane! Life it to the rafters! 🙂
Thanks, Soul Dipper. I’m getting ready to head home from work now …. no kids …. I’m already dancing in my head.
My kids are at an age where they like most of my music because that’s all they hear, and they don’t really have access to anything popular right now. In a few years, I’ll gear myself up for pretending to like whatever music they like.
I confess, the music I’ve shared with the kids – they like. Still there is something that prevents me from playing music by Ozzy Osborne, when the kids are in the car. And the volume? Yeah, unless we’re playing John Denver, the volume rarely goes about ‘6’. (The volume is much higher sans kids!)