Musical Memories

My internal debate whether or not to purchase a fancy ipod has left me even more confused. Arguments say that this little device will "change the way you listen to music." I'm not convinced that this a good thing. Up until now, choosing which CDs I bring into the car with me or which CDs made the cut to accompany me to spend one year in Bolivia, has always been a time-consuming and well thought-out affair.

Even taking small side trips throughout South America or within Bolivia forced me to choose what my musical soundtrack would be. With these choices, often these songs or CDs would create some lasting memories that would remind me of a certain place, time or situation. Now when I hear that CD years later, they would trigger memories, as if it were a journal that takes me back to those times.

For example, I can remember sitting in the plaza principal of Samaipata near Santa Cruz, discovering Matt Pond PA for the first time. I can also remember looking outside my seventh floor window in Cochabamba, watching the rain fall, while listening and repeatedly playing Kind of Like Spitting. I can always equate a time and place for a certain song. Even the meaningless lyrics of Argentine cumbias remind me of hanging out in Villa Tunari with my cousins, listening to the newest song de moda.

Would buying an ipod relieve me of having to make those choices? Would the sheer number of songs available at my fingertips reduce the meaningful connections that I have made between music and memories?

Perhaps I should save that money and use it to travel to make more of those memories.