I remember reading somewhere that our sense of smell was the most powerful connection to memory.  A person's perfume.  The smell of our grandmother's apple pie.  The smell of the ocean.  Instantly, we are transported back to a moment in time in our mind by only a scent.Music for me is just that.  The strongest sense I have to memory.  While I may not remember a person's name, or directions, or where I put my bank receipts (much to the many around me) memories related to my experiences with music are crystal clear and vivid.  Music has a profound impact on my overall emotional experience in situations and events.Music is part of my life and everything I do.  Whether on my albeit short commute to work, doing errands, cooking dinner, drying my hair, running.....I am surrounded by music.  Unfortunately, although I fancy myself as a half way decent singer, I do not have any sort of musical talent that goes beyond that.  Sigh.Still, music brings me a sense of peace in my life.Listening to my Ipod as I write these words, the song "Institutionalized" by the Suicidal Tendencies plays.  Instantly, if for a moment, I'm a poetry writing teenager in my childhood bedroom.  I can hear my mom telling me to turn off my music and do my homework.  My fourteen year old does what?  Listens to his iPod while doing his homework.  Shocking!"Friends", by Michael W Smith, for a moment, I'm a senior in college surrounded by my sorority sisters for the last meeting before we graduated reminiscing about our years at University of Dayton.  I can see the white roses, I can taste the little cucumber sandwiches, and I can feel my tear-stained cheeks as we began our goodbyes."Gonna Fly Now" by Maynard Ferguson.  I'm a moody teenager forced to go to a concert with my parents surrounded by a room full of  "cotton heads" (literally, I was a solid 50 years younger than the average attendee).   When I ran my first marathon, I had planned this song to be my last song as I crossed the finish line.  I wanted my parents there with me as I crossed that line.  I didn't plan my timing well, or my body didn't cooperate.  It came on about 20 minutes before I finished.  Still, they were there as I crossed the finish line.  What was playing?  "Beautiful" by Christina Aguillara.  I remember the pounding of my heart, the aching in my right knee, and the sensation of my smile from ear to ear knowing I'd accomplished something that less than 1% of the population had."Wonderwall" by Oasis, I can visualize seeing them for the first time with a group of friends, I have no idea what I wore that night, what I ate (or probably drank is more fitting!), but I remember hearing the entire crowd sing the lyrics, and seeing Liam Gallagher (lead singer) sit on one of the speakers on the stage just staring at us in awe.  Or maybe he was drunk or high and couldn't remember the lyrics?  I will go with the first thought, like it better..... I remember the smell of the smoke-filled room, and the feeling of the ringing in my ears for the hours after that first show.  I loved it!"Here I am (Come and take me)" UB40.  I'm on a boat in Jamaica for my honeymoon.  I remember the blue of the water, the green of the foliage that surrounded the island, the taste of the rum punch, the smell of pineapple, and the swaying of the boat.  Noted, I have horrible motion sickness so possibly the last memory is from that, rather than the music.The Smiths.  Might arguably be my favorite band although to be honest, it is hard for me to even pick a favorite song by them or a time when I didn't know and love their music.  The Smiths music is dark, methodic, and by some accounts depressing.  Oddly, it calms me.  I remember listening to them driving back/forth to highschool, while studying for exams in college, and countless training runs over the past 7 years of running.My Dad instilled love of music for me and my brother, always having his favorite jazz playing in the house.  I'm thankful for the exposure to music, and that I have an eclectic musical library.  Jazz.  Singer/songwriter.  Musicals.  Folk.  Alternative.  I love it all.I have a chalk board in my house, on it is an inspirational quote of the day, month, or whenever the spirit moves me to change it up.  Currently, it reads "peace is found in the journey".... how thankful I am that music is part of my life's journey.Peace....