Faithfully

For like two years that song was my song. It was one of a handful of things that Daniel could play on the piano at the time and since we were both always the first to youth group we would take over the piano in the sanctuary. He was always there before me, so I'd wander in and hear him playing and go join him. And I would sing. Because I love to sing. I really love to sing. This went on for about six months, and then we slowly incorporated a couple other songs, but it was really just that one.We even performed it. And some of you know how difficult it is to get me to perform anything, but some of you also know that Daniel can talk me into doing anything. I'll do just about anything as long as he does it with me. Exploring creepy churches, riding roller coasters, and performing. But we did, in front of 300 people. All by ourselves. And we were fantastic.

My mom and I also have a song. I think the only person who has ever experienced it, besides my father, is Tina, but turn on Lovin' Touchin' Sqeezin', and you'll get an earful of Padia women belting it out. My mom and I sing like that often, actually. When it's just me and her in the car, it's like we don't have to worry if we can hit the notes or not, or if we'll deafen the other person. When I'm singing with my mom, I'm a braver singer. I'll sing things that I usually wouldn't try, just because I know that she'll go for it as well. Stairway to Heaven, Stay, and any of numerous Journey and Bon Jovi songs.

For my dad it's country. Specifically George Strait. That was what my dad always listened to on long trips, and to this day I see it as being travelling music. I remember sitting in the truck, coming back from Austin when I was little, and bundling up to   go to my grandparents house for Christmas. I can't tell you which grandparents, but I can tell you we were listening to country.

Crystina and I have songs, too. Lots of them, actually. Probably more like entire musical genres. My iPod has been the soundtrack of our high school experience. I listen to Fences every time it comes on, just because it was her favorite song. And I now have to listen to Baby Got Back every time it comes on anywhere. Whenever I hear Dead or Alive, I think of the summer after junior year, spent adventuring with Anna.

Different songs bring back different memories, and as I sit listening to my iPod they all come back. Desperado is sitting with Maggie, desperately trying to make sense of our music theory homework. Don't Stop Believing is sitting in the van, all of us singing very loudly, and very off key. Allstar is every church camp that I ever went to. Hey Soul Sister is walking down the streets of Atlanta with Matt and Alix.

Music brings us together, and for a moment, while the song is playing, our souls are free to roam. To connect to each other, to speak to each other, and to leave a bit of each other with us. When Drops of Jupiter plays, I not only feel my roommate and suitemate, singing along with me, but I remember a day in Anna's car, on the way to a football game, when Will and Tina quit bickering so they could sing along, too. In that moment, it's not just me and Alina and Kellie. It's all seven of us, and probably more.

At night sometimes, George comes in and plays my guitar. Almost immediately, Steven, Roman, Kellie, and Josh appear, drawn in by the community that is music. In those moments, even though we are all still mostly strangers, we are like old friends. We don't have to like the song or the artist to feel the pull of the music, and our souls dance, though we sit scattered about the room. In those moments, not only are the new friendships celebrated, but the old ones come to life. Our room never feels crowded then, though there are many more people than usual. It feels whole. In those moments, we become the family that we left behind, the friends that we long for. We aren't from Texas, North Carolina, Vermont, New York, and Bolivia. We are all here, in this place. And that's all that matters.