Sunday, March 21, 2010

Get down, get funky.

A month or so ago I was driving to work and rockin' out to the Blues Brothers.  Singing and air guitaring/keyboarding my way through my daily commute.  I sort of half notice this pick-up truck alongside me - because, truth be told - my ride to work is kind of like my own little NASCAR track.  I see which car I can get ahead of and stay ahead of, or who is determined to stay ahead of me.  It's like chess.  You get the idea.  So I pull up next to this pick-up at a stop light, singing my head off to Aretha Franklin's "Think."  Light turns green and off I go.  Pick-up is keeping up with me, but then I get ahead and move into his lane.  We come to another light and he pulls up on the left of me. 

Ah-ha.  So now it is on, Mr. Pick-Up.

With Jake and Elwood as my background, I pull ahead as the light turns green.  Leaving Mr. Pick-Up, and his "hemi" in my not quite an SUV dust!  HA!

Not long after, I'm at work, getting my morning going.  When the restaurant manager, Sean, comes in and says, "Hey!  Did you know that was me driving next to you?!" 

Uuuummmmm.  No. No I didn't.  Then he proceeds to tell everyone about driving next to me as I was speeding my way along and obliviously singing my heart out.  I was slightly embarrassed.  Until he got to the part about me blowing his doors off - then I felt better. 

The thing that struck me then - and again today as I was driving home and singing my heart out to U2 - was that I hardly ever see anyone else openly enjoying music in their cars.  I started to pay attention to it tonight.  I was at a red light, and also at a particularly good guitar section of "Breathe,"  and as I pan my vision to my rear view and side mirrors I don't see anyone in their car who is obviously listening to music.  There were no drum beats on the steering wheel.  No singing (which, has anyone else noticed? can totally be mistaken for crazy talking to yourself.)  Not a single air guitar in site!  I mean, I can't be the only one, right?  If you are alone in your car, do you not take the opportunity to listen to something other then The Backyardigans?  And really get into it?  What is wrong with all of these people?

13 comments:

Logical Libby said...

As long as you weren't picking your nose, I don't see the problem.

Anonymous said...

I'm usually rocking out to nursery rhymes, embarrassingly enough, until I realize it and turn on "my" music. Or I like to put on NPR since I hardly ever get to listen to it avec kiddos. But, I say, rock on! Whatever gets you there and gets you there happy.

Anonymous said...

Before the days of kids, I used to rock out to music while driving all the time. My husband and I did the long distance thing for awhile before we got married so I had plenty of time to drive and sing. Your post is a great reminder to get back to that point: just because I have a baby and a toddler doesn't mean I can't do my Aretha impersonation every now and then. (Love your soundtrack choices, by the way.)

antiwinterrr said...

hahaha Sean. He's crazy. I always think I'm nutzo when I'm rocking out at the top of my lungs at 7am and everyone else is slugging their coffee and picking their nose, pissed they're stuck in Boston traffic. Hey, if you don't like the drive, get a new job 8-) ROCK ON SISTAH!

Crazy In The Making said...

This made me realize just how old I have gotten. My radio, when it is on, is tuned to talk radio. They give me traffic updates every 10 minutes and that is how my love affair started.

I know my GPS could do the same thing, but then I have to listen to her annoying nagging voice when I don't make the turn or am not in the lane she wants me to because traffic is stupid and I can pass someone.

I completly rock out at work though. I slip my headphones over one ear and crank my music up. People routinely give me looks because I am doing the chair dance and lip synching to whatever comes up on my playlist.

Crazy In The Making said...

This made me realize just how old I have gotten. My radio, when it is on, is tuned to talk radio. They give me traffic updates every 10 minutes and that is how my love affair started.

I know my GPS could do the same thing, but then I have to listen to her annoying nagging voice when I don't make the turn or am not in the lane she wants me to because traffic is stupid and I can pass someone.

I completly rock out at work though. I slip my headphones over one ear and crank my music up. People routinely give me looks because I am doing the chair dance and lip synching to whatever comes up on my playlist.

Carolyn...Online said...

Car singing fist bump my friend. I sing too.

Eliza said...

Once, my future in-laws (this was back in dating days) were driving next to me on the freeway honking at me and trying to get my attention, but I was singing so loud I didn't notice! So embarrassing!!!!

anymommy said...

I absolutely sing in my car. And I've been busted by people who mock me. I don't care. Car singing is fun.

Christy said...

I totally sing along and tap my fingers to the beat. So does the Foo - we make a lot of noise in the car! ha!

The Floydster said...

I like singing along, too. And if anybody sees and/or mocks me? I don't care - I'll probably never see them again anyway. Plus, I'm old enough now to not care so much what others think. One good thing of growing old.

for a different kind of girl said...

Look at you! All pretty and stuff over here!

(and damn, girl, you're Shredding, too! Kudos...she still scares the hell out of me, though, and I'd need to have EMTs on deck here if I did it!)

Anyway, I wanted to say that I am with you. I'm the girl having the dance party in the driver's seat when I get in the car by myself. Prince, U2, Gaga. Pretty much anything that comes up on the iPod, I am singing loudly and dancing along. I used to stop when I'd come to a stop light so people didn't think I was crazy, but then I decided who cares. I say ENCORE!

msprimadonna67 said...

We ROCK OUT in my car--whether I'm by myself or with my kids. It's the safest karaoke there is! It's one of the things I look forward to about driving: )