My Oh My

I've been thinking a lot lately about memory and nostalgia. It's a complex thing, and it's not always to put your finger on it. But there are those experiences you have, often unexpected, that take you back to the time and place where you grew up. For me, the first time I heard "My Oh My" by Macklemore was one of those instances.

I'm not the biggest Macklemore fan, but when I stumbled on this, it was like going back to my 1995 when I was nine years old and the Mariners were on a tear. I don't really recall the details of the season itself - most of my specific baseball memories come from a highlight video (also titled "My Oh My" if memory serves) that my brothers and I would watch endlessly in the summer months.

For me, this song captures that feeling of being wrapped up in the excitement of a team that has captured the imagination of an entire state. Actually including Dave Niehaus's call of "The Double" to win the division series was genius. It give me goosebumps every time.

But I think that might be what is so powerful about this song for me: it captures my memories and feelings as a ten year old and transports me back to that time, in the best way possible.

I know that my reaction to this song is not unique; in fact, I suspect that almost any young person from the Pacific Northwest will have a similar reaction. The joy of this song and others like it is to remember those things which united us, and hope that maybe there will be something like that in the future. So, if there any PNW kids out there who haven't heard this song, check it out. I think you'll be glad you did.