Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: The LO Down

With Valentine's Day approaching, I got to thinking about love, relationships and dating. Somewhere amidst the trials and tribulations of college dating, I was led to realize my one true soul mate---music. Through the throws of young love, bad dates and even break ups, music has always stayed by my side.

I got into my car the other night after hanging out at my ex-boyfriend's house---he's gay, and you can decide whether that bit of information is important or not. Upon turning my key in the ignition, my iPod, which is constantly on "shuffle," began to play a melody through my car speakers.

The subtle introduction to the song at hand pricked my heart---the build-up of guitar on the verge of crescendo, then diving into the beautiful lyrics, "I catalog these steps now, decisive and intentioned," reminded me of all the hope, excitement and determination I had felt when I was 16, out on my first date.

"Just hold me close to you," cooed Christopher Carrabba through my speakers, and a flash of the first time Trey held my hand sprang to mind, forcing my subconscious to display a quick movie of the event in my mind.

I pressed, "skip" as quickly as I could to avoid any more unwanted memories from surfacing.

To my heart's discontent, the next song was one another boyfriend had given to me on a burned CD. Almost instantly, everything I had felt just several months ago returned to my senses again through the playing of "Pachuca Sunrise" by Minus the Bear.

It's not a romantic song, really. It just reminded me vastly of "then" and in turn, vastly of "him."

I forwarded to the next song, and this time the Rolling Stones helped dig a memory out of a forgotten, dusty box in my head labeled scrupulously, "bad dates." The song "Beast of Burden," played nearly five times on one date with a charming, but grandfather reminiscent fellow as we drove around deciding where to eat.

I remembered feeling trapped in that station wagon with "Beast of Burden" on repeat, that is never a good start to anything that might potentially involve love. I enjoyed the song before, but now it only reminds me of "Mr. Wrong."

At any rate, three songs and a year and a half worth of memories later, I arrived at my humble abode. Reminded again of the present, and the future, I headed inside, carrying with me the thought that I'll be spending Valentine's Day with my true love again, my music.

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