I’ve heard that smell is the sense most closely tied to memory. I’d have to say that sound—or more specifically: music—is probably the second. It’s amazing how instantly a song or album can transport you to a past time, place, or state of mind. Usually there’s an obvious connection: the song was playing at the moment, or it was a popular song during the era. This is a powerful and valuable link that i like to have regardless of whether i liked the song or not. That’s why i hate when songs get played out—they get so diluted until they lose that identity. Equally interesting, and sometimes frustrating, is that your “trigger songs” can mean something completely different—or mean nothing at all—to someone else.

I’m listening to John Legend’s Get Lifted which takes me to autumn of 2005 and many of the memories and feelings that followed last summer. (Due, in part, because i was too lazy to change discs in my car changer for a few months.)