So when I love something, I give 110% to that one particular thing.  I love my family, I love some very special friends, and I love music.  I have been a DJ for 14 years, 3 at two different night clubs, and 11 of which I have owned my own Mobile DJ Service…Yes, we rocked!  So I had always shared a passion for music while growing up, along with other members of my family.  On the VanSpeybroeck side, almost every family member played an instrument at one time, some of which took it further then your junior high school band days.  My Great-great Grandfather, Omar VanSpeybroeck played with the great jazz cornetist Bix Biederbeck.  Which if you have not run the “Bix 7 miler” in my hometown, the Quad Cities, I am telling you as runners, this is a must!!  At least once, but like the sport, it is addicting and once you run it, you will come back again and again J.  Well, my grandfather was the first person to teach me to play the Clarinet, yes…I played the Clarinet, start the band geek jokes now…anyways, I was in the fourth grade and remember my grand father, this master of just about all instruments trying to teach this little fourth grader how to play.  I can only assume it was very frustrating for him, but he managed.  I kept playing up until my 8^th grade year.  I wanted to move to the guitar buy my mom said no and at the time of “trying to be cool” with the latest Air Jordans and stylish clothes, trying to save up for a guitar was not going to happen…Wow…I remember how some kids had their parents spend ridiculous amounts of money on shoes and what not…I was lucky to get a nice pair of shoes to last the whole year! Lol.

So as the lessons flowed, I think I achieve my goal in the Clarinet world, first chair and medals at State.  I wish I would have stuck with it, instead of giving it up.  When I get back in the states I plan on learning a couple different instruments.  I currently have an acoustic guitar, so I plan on really trying to pick that up a little better, along with the Violin, Piano and the steel guitar…I know it sounds like a lot, but your talking to a guy who still might go back to school to be an ER doc.  If I can only get through all the Chemistry and Biology classes, some of those classes did not interest me back in my undergrad, so I think that is why I did not really care, but when it comes to the hands on, I am 100% rockstar!!   So currently I am  listening to a mix of tunes, music I like to relax too, such as Josh Grobans “Mi Mancherai” and Andrea Bocellis version of, “Ava Maria” yes, yes, I know, as a dj who has performed over 250 weddings, Ava Maria is a song that is played at the actual wedding itself before the Bride makes her way down the isle, but I like it, and it is relaxing.  Another really good one, which is my favorite “Sunday Church” song growing up is “On Eagles Wings”, although it does remind me of my fathers funeral, but it was a song he enjoyed and I really liked it as well.

That is one thing I really love about music, it can take you places you have been, and places you can imagine going.  As that audio wave hits your ears, you can close your eyes and instantly be with her or him again, you can be surrounded by your friends, and you can instantly relive a memory.  But I guess the same goes for those memories you try and block, such as a past lover, or a old friend who you no longer speak to.  I don’t think it is healthy to hate someone, so I am trying not to make any enemies while I am here on earth.  I have even gone as far as to forgive an ex who cheated.  We have talked via email, and although we will never be what we were, it was refreshing to just have a little convo with her to hear how medical school is going.  She still tried to apologize for what had happened, but I told her we don’t have to talk about that, we both learned from the experience, and the outcome is what is now.  Our song was “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban.  A good slow song but because of the situation that unfolded at the time, it is just that, a good slow song.

My all time favorite song is, “Joy to the world”, by Three Dog Night.  It is a song I can remember riding in the car with my Dad and listening to him sing it with a smile on his face.  That is the memory I have when that song is played.  I even think I will hear it sometimes when I am down, and I think it is him just trying to cheer me up.  I also really like “Let your love flow”  by the Bellamy Brothers.  That was my political song when I ran for office back home.  It is also a song that is on the playlist when we walk in the Fourth of July Parade with my DJ service, people really like it, we all should!!  As a dj I have also hosted numerous parties and set up the equipment with a preset play list of tunes so we can all dance and rock out so I don’t have to actually work and I can enjoy myself.  I definitely know some songs that will be played when I get married one day, there are numerous, but “Pony Time” by Chubby Checker, “Land of a 1000 Dances” Wilson Pickett, “Livin on a Prayer” Bon Jovi,  “Don’t Stop Believing” Journey, “Pour some sugar on me” Def Leppard, “Fat Bottomed Girls” Queen, and yes…you need a little “Sweet Caroline” by the man…Neil Diamond!  There are numerous others and I know for a fact that when that day does come, there will be a lot of people, a lot of food, a lot of dancing and most of all, a lot of love.

So as you can see, I love music, it has helped me in numerous situations and it is continuing to help me while I am being bogged down with work over here in Iraq.  It keeps me going, keeps me motivated and lifts my spirits when something might be bothering me.  I hope it does the same for you, but I am guessing if you have made it down this far, then you too share the love.

Sherrod outJ