(I’m driving my five-year-old daughter to daycare, and on the way, we’re listening to a very popular rock radio morning show. Today, the hosts are comparing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “Rocketman.” As I pull up to the daycare and I’m walking her inside, she says:)

Daughter: “Mommy! I didn’t know our Freddie Mercury was famous enough to be talked about on the radio!”

Me: “[Daughter], they weren’t talking about our cat. They were talking about the singer he was named after.”

Daughter: “But I like cats better…”

(I’m working at the register at a dollar store. The music played in the store comes from an oldies station playing songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. When Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock-n-Roll” starts to play, I begin mouthing the lyrics in a noticeable way. A man in his late 50s to early 60s comes up and starts looking at me like I’m strange. I should also note that I am in my late 20s but can some days pass off as barely out of high school.)

Me: *stops mouthing along to greet the man* “Hello, sir! How are you today?”

Customer: “How are you familiar with this song? This came out waaaay before you were born.”

Me: “Well, music like this plays throughout the day here and I’m here about five days a week. Also, my dad used to listen to [local FM classic rock station], so I’m familiar with Bob Seger’s hits.”

Customer: “Shouldn’t you be listening to the crap that came from your generation? That ‘Millie Cyprus’ kid and ‘Missy Gaga’ or whatever that lady calls herself?”

Me: *brief pause* “I listen to a wide variety of things. I don’t care for Miley Cyrus, I do like some of Lady Gaga, and Bob Seger reminds me of a happy childhood when my siblings and I would go on family outings and listen to classic rock.”

Customer: *pays and walks off while mumbling under his breath* “What’s wrong with these kids nowadays?”

(Sorry my appreciation for music that’s older than me is so offensive to you.)

For the past ten months, I have participated in a volunteer program at an educational non-profit. At the end of our term of service, we have a graduation ceremony with our families, alumni, sponsors, and several high-profile government figures including the mayor and a senator. Two of our members are going to sing the national anthem before the ceremony begins. They sound amazing during rehearsal, but of course, that changes when the theater is full of people.

They start out really strong, but about halfway through, one of the members loses her pitch. The other keeps going and she tries to regain her footing, but it’s obvious that she’s getting flustered.

A few people let out supportive cheers. Then suddenly, someone in the audience begins to sing along. Soon, everyone else in the theater joins in singing the national anthem, and the member finishes the song on a perfect note.

Everyone in the room bursts into applause. Many of my fellow members are crying or holding back tears because we are so moved. 

It had been a lengthy and difficult year of service which tested many of us in ways we’d never imagined, and it can feel incredibly draining to work so hard for the betterment of your community when you can’t necessarily see the results of all your work. But seeing how all these strangers came together to lift up one of our volunteers, even in a small way, reminded us of what an amazing community we belong to.

(I’m singing “Riptide” by Vance Joy to myself.)

Me: “Running down to the riptide, taking it away to the dark side, I love you, when you’re singing that song, I got a lump in my throat ‘cause, running down to the riptide, take it away to the dark side–”

Nana: “Don’t go into the dark side! No, no, no!”

I’m driving to work, and the turn arrow I need turns red just as I pull up. I’m annoyed, as this is a major intersection, and it’ll be at least two minutes before the arrow changes.

However, at that instant, the radio changes to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. Knowing how long the light is, I crank the volume, roll down my windows, and rock out. About a minute in, I glance at the car on my left: the driver looks at me with pure judgment. I ignore them and look over at the big rig on my right.

The driver is also rocking out, and I realize he’s also jamming to the Spice Girls. We make eye contact and exchange thumbs-up before going our separate ways.