An Instance in Point

"Thirty-five is a very attractive age. Society is full of women of the very highest birth who have of their own free choice remained 35 for years!"

There were titters among the cast last night as I delivered these lines on the evening of my 35th birthday. Cecily, in point, was particularly horrified to have to wait until she was so old as thirty-five to be married. I suppose it was the first time the import of the age Oscar Wilde had chosen for Jack's ward to come of age had truly hit me. Old maid territory. Hand me my teeth, whippersnapper; I'm old. Or, as my Polish grandmother likes to say (repeatedly), I'm ready for the boneyard.

Well, okay, maybe the boneyard is still a few years away. We'll see. Meanwhile, I celebrated my birthday backstage by rising to a blog challenge laid down by Gryphon. It was yet another iPod shuffle meme, but too fun not to try. So, Gryph, here you go: the soundtrack to my life.

WAKING UP: Olivia Newton-John -- Suddenly. The wheels are in motion.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Vertical Horizon -- He's Everything You Want. Well... there are multiple ways one might be "schooled." ;)
FALLING IN LOVE: Van Morrison -- Whenever God Shines His Light
FIGHT SONG: Linda Ronstadt -- Heat Wave. "Can't keep from crying. It's tearing me apart."
BREAKING UP: Amanda Marshall -- Fall from Grace
PROM: Linda Ronstadt -- That'll Be the Day. I found this particularly funny as I was never asked to prom.
LIFE: Tori Amos -- The Waitress. Oh dear. More sweet tea?
MENTAL BREAKDOWN: Broadway Cast -- Kiss Me, Kate (Finale). Now there's a wench!
DRIVING: Robert Miles -- Children. Quite an appropriate driving instrumental.
FLASHBACK: J.D. Souther -- You're Only Lonely. Umm hmmm, you know that's right!
WEDDING: Take 6 -- Biggest Part of Me. One of my favorite Ambrosia songs, covered by the Christian sextet. Couldn't pick a more appropriate wedding song if I tried.
CHILDBIRTH: Jack Johnson -- Upside Down. Either it's a breach or "I'll share this love I've found with everyone."
FINAL BATTLE: Billy Joel -- Travelin' Prayer
DEATH SCENE: Blues Brothers -- Jailhouse Rock. Okaaaaay....
FUNERAL SONG: Joan Osborne -- Ladder. Good news, I'm going to heaven. Even if I have to climb there.
END CREDIT: Pele Juju -- Walk & Talk. Probably only one of my readers will know the "Wild Women of Worldbeat" from Santa Cruz whose CD I bought after a gig in Chattanooga, but it's a jaunty little end credit.

Now, in response to Gryph's "tag," my mother also took this challenge and added a few categories of her own, distinguishing having children from childbirth and marriage from the wedding, as well as including the in-laws that come with said wedding. So, here are the anthems, according to my iPod, for those events, should they ever approach my life.

IN-LAWS: Shannon Curfman -- Never Enough
CHILDREN: Joan Osborne -- Poison Apples. (Mom's going to LOVE that one!)
MARRIAGE: Tori Amos -- Bells for Her

And there you have it. The Soundtrack of a life I've barely lived thus far.

Maybe I'm not so old after all.