Spring Cleaning

I'm sick. I've been stuck under my covers for over 24 hours, sleeping for a few hours, waking up long enough to empty out my DVR, then dozing off again. My least favorite thing is being sick.

With nothing else to do, I'm attempting to clean out my iTunes library. I first downloaded the money-sucking application in 2002, four years before I got an actual iPod. When I graduated high school, my iTunes library was filled with Nsync, Britney Spears, and Alanis Morissette. Although those three artists remain (and always will), my taste in music has greatly improved, but my library has become cluttered and outdated. My college bff Jeff once spent nearly four hours transferring his entire music collection onto my laptop, loading me up with his favorites -- which became my favorites -- and many many many albums I've loved and then forgotten.

It's fascinating how much music controls our lives. In my library of 4000+ songs, I hold priceless memories.

Enya reminds me of high school, because Nelly played "Sail Away" during a presentation and let me listen to the entire song before she moved on to the academic part of her project. The Lion King soundtrack reminds me of my childhood, because Katy and I used to act out all the songs. The Faint reminds me of my last years of college, where an ill-fated "romance" took up too much of my time.

"In the Air Tonight," my all-time favorite song, marked the end of a months-long fight with a best friend, who attempted a peace offering by playing Phil Collins for me.

"Knights in White Satin" reminds me of my father, who loves the Moody Blues. "Freshman" reminds me of my favorite boyfriend from high school, who played The Verve Pipe over and over while we drove around in his car. The High School Musical soundtrack reminds me of my grandmother, because I watched the movie over and over after she died, attempting to erase my sadness.

I deleted Bloc Party because I don't have to pretend to like them anymore. Same with Cloud Cult, who I wanted to love, but never could. I'm keeping Embrace, even though their second album was disappointing. I'm on the fence with Stars and Eels.

I'll forever keep The Proclaimers because it's the only CD my parents and I could agree on when we drove to Spokane every summer. "Polaris" by Jimmy Eat World became a favorite in 2005 and only lost its reign to "Disintegration" a few years later. Both songs epitomize college.

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" brings back memories from our 1989 trip to Hawaii, because the locals blasted it. "When I'm 64" was the karaoke song of the 90s, when my mom got us neighborhood kids a karaoke machine. "To Love You More" by Celine Dion treated Brianna and I to endless hours of joy when we both got our driver's licences. "Crazy" by KC and JoJo reminds me of my prom, which was nearly eight years ago. Where has the time gone?

All we have left are memories. And music.