by Brianna Popsickle

Created on: December 11, 2009

When my husband and I first met we both enjoyed listening to country music. 

Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, was our song. 

We danced our first dance as husband and wife to Just You and I by Kenny Rogers and Crystal Gale. That tells you how long we’ve been together. 

Over the years we’ve enjoyed listening to the likes of Collin Raye, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks and Toby Keith. My favourite group for many years was Brooks and Dunn. We played country music at home and on road trips, but that changed once we had children.  Slowly children’s entertainers, Fred Penner and Sharon, Lois and Bram took over, followed by The Backstreet Boys and Brittany Spears. 

Once our children became teenagers we made a pleasant return to adult music. I enjoyed the latest pop songs, and the kids thought it was cool their mother liked their music. Well, most of the time.  My daughter was on the porch with friends as I pulled into the driveway one day. My windows had been up but when I got out my daughter said, “You realize we could hear your music from two doors down?” 

I felt like I’d been scolded. The truth was I was always getting into trouble with my husband and kids for leaving the volume cranked, my music blasting them each time they start the vehicle. 

My husband likes a wide variety of music but prefers his country to my pop. He’ll roll his eyes and sigh whenever Lady GaGa or Li’l Wayne comes on. 

“Do you ever actually listen to the lyrics?” he’ll ask. 

I hate to admit it, but I don’t always. Sometimes I can’t make them out, and much of the time, I’m off in my own little world, working or driving, enjoying the beat but not focused on what they’re saying.  

One day I had a rude awakening. I was driving with my windows down, music playing and stopped at a red light. The car stopped next to me had their stereo blasting. They were tuned into the same station as me. I glanced over to see a teenage boy looking back at me. He was tapping to the beat on his steering wheel. He smiled and gave me the, how you doing nod. 

My face froze. Suddenly the lyrics were loud and clear. Quickly I reached for the volume with my right hand as my left hand fumbled for the button to raise the windows. I stared straight ahead until the light turned green. I couldn’t believe I had never heard the words before and was embarrassed

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