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Trying to select favorite song or piece of music, a daunting task considering a lifetime of listening, dreaming, and dancing. Music has fueled my imagination, dreams, and left me with memories. For me music has been a large part of life and my association with songs to phases and even specific acts or actions seems natural.

Trying to narrow down my list of favorite songs to a reasonable number seems almost like the search for the Holy Grail, futile and inspiring at one and the same time. There are so many favorites depending upon my mood, the company I am in, even the season of the year. Nevertheless, my favorites in no particular order but for reasons that ultimately are from the heart.

Bring Him Home, Les Miserables: The first time I heard this was New Years morning sitting in my biological fathers' entertainment room. We were the only ones awake at 6 a.m. and he called me in because he wanted me to hear this song in particular. He told me that when he first heard it he thought of me and our relationship. As I listened to this beautiful song, I watched my father closely and saw a tear fall from his closed eyes. I have never forgotten this single memory of my father who passed away in 2001. I only knew him for 15 years before he passed.

Will I, Rent: I first saw Rent on stage in Atlanta in 1997, since then I have seen it in New York, Dallas, and Singapore. That first time though touched my soul, especially this short choral. Such a simple question about dying alone and asking the question of what will happen. Having lost friends to Aids in the early days this song broke my heart and still does.

Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin: What else is there to say? But there is a story to tell about my love of this song. I was 15 when this song played on every radio station in the country. I was also a runaway with backpack slung over my shoulder and thumb out on the highway hitching to a new life. The first car to pick me up was playing this song and it became my anthem of freedom.

Brown-Eyed Girl, Van Morrison: Who doesn't love Van Morrison and the poetry of his music; certainly, for me this song said it all. The first love of my life sang along to Van making this song my own. To this day, I love Brown-Eyed Girl and it brings a smile to my face each time I hear it.

To Love Somebody, Little Girl Blue, Work Me Lord, and Summertime, Janis Joplin: I always loved Janis, her voice, and her style. Maybe it was the pain I heard in her songs that spoke to me. Whatever it was Janis

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