Sunshine and Whiskey

I have two favourite songs — one everyone knows and the other nobody does. The first song reminds me of everyone and the second only of me.

Keeping the same favourite songs for years means a collage of memories built against the melody and lyrics. Images flashing across your mind with every note as you watch your life against a stranger’s backdrop.

You Are My Sunshine

My grandfather pushes me on our red swing set beside the two big trees while singing the chorus.

Dad calls me ‘sunshine’ when he sees I am wearing the white summer dress with the yellow sunflowers.

A stranger hums the tune on the subway beside me, far from home.

My husband texts me “Good morning” with a sun emoji in the morning when we are at work.

Nearly a hundred years of humans around the world living their lives to an iconic song with sad verses and a sweet chorus.

Whiskey

Playing the first few notes on the car speakers getting up the nerve to back out of the driveway.

Lying in bed and playing the song one more time even though it is almost midnight and I have my final exam the next morning.

Singing softly while walking alone through a fresh layer of snow.

Sitting in an empty airport waiting for my plane at the gate. This is the only time I hear the song without having chosen it myself. At first, I think it’s from my phone, and then realize its on the airport speakers. Everyone is listening with me before leaving on planes headed around the world, never to be all in the same place at the same time ever again. I smile.

This piece was written as part of an Art Swap collaboration, featuring artwork created by the darling Jing Jing.

To see my single-line drawings for Ernio Hernandez’s piece click here. You can read about this collaboration and all five writer’s stories here.