I was 10 or 11 years old when I began to attach certain songs to certain moments of my life. I roller skated holding hands with Tim while the Diana Ross and Lionel Richie song “Endless Love” was playing at Sunrise Rollerland. I got a little choked up when I heard that song playing from my clock radio just a few days later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7m5VqQ6f8

In my midteens I began using songs as my own personal soundtrack. One time in the back seat of my family’s car, my sister Renee’ was watching me as I dreamily stared out the half-open window while the radio was playing.

“Are you pretending you’re in a music video right now?” She asked me. I denied it to her at the time, but I was indeed pretending I was in a music video. A music video of my life.

Wouldn’t it be grand if our lives sometimes were like movies or music videos?

Happily ever after One popular romantic comedy plot point is to put the woman into the midst of more than one potential mate. Which one will she choose? At the end of the film the choice is made and she’s off to happily-ever-after with the guy. Got to have a song playing as the lovers finally profess their affection to each other.

I’ve had times when there are various men in my life all at once. Some might be friends, one might be a boyfriend, and one might be the wacky regular barista at the coffee shop. Am I supposed to end up with one of them? Does the wacky barista suddenly profess his love and one of the songs from my soundtrack increases in volume?

Big departure Growing up with music and movies raises my expectations each time I’m at the airport. You’ve seen these film scenes. Someone has decided to leave town or her job. She’s in the airport terminal about to board the plane or she’s on the ground floor of a huge multi-story office building.

“Wait! Wait (Insert female character name here)!”

The man is running after her telling her to stay, saying he’ll go with her to the new destination, or saying he’ll wait for her return. Cue the awesome pop music tune.

Better yet is if passengers or office mates clap as the music swells.

Overall, having a soundtrack to the romantic comedy of my life is good.

I know (or at least try to know) what not to take seriously.

I also know that ultimately I am the one writing the script.

It’s my movie and I’m the one responsible for the scenes I’m living.