The Music of Our Lives

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It started as a simple question. Were there songs with an age other than "16" in the title celebrating ages other than those of the sweet teen years? I suppose it was natural for me to wonder about this -- my being a multiple of 16 several times over -- and reminded of the aging process every time NPR wishes someone at 6:00am a "happy birthday."

Most of my students offered Taylor Swift's "Fifteen" and "feeling like there's nothing to figure out." Although I still have more questions than answers, back then I'd had the world organized.

I remembered the Sound of Music's Rolf and Liesl's repartees about being "16 going on 17," "timid and scared and shy" about the world.  There I was, heading off to college, feeling overwhelmed, my bravery shaky.

When Neil Sedaka crooned happy birthday to the tomboy who'd blossomed into "the prettiest girl he's ever seen," I saw my braces disappearing and pretty seemed a bit closer.

The Beatles had made me feel I could have been the one who'd made Paul's heart go "boom." How often have I felt a part of my own "circle game...captive on the carousel of time"? Feeling lonely as well as desired, I often wanted the lyrics to my life's songs to be as hopeful as those I'd listened to in my teens.

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Very good years like 17 have led to my current ones. I think of years as "vintage wine" that has been "poured sweet and clear." That simile is as smooth as a sommelier's choice of a buttery Chardonnay.

March has arrived, as has my birthday. McCartney and Lennon's song helps me ask my husband "when I get older...many years from now...will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?"  My 16 is multiplied by four. And if I should survive to 105, I'll know that being young at heart is the best number in any song.

With a Perspective, I'm Barbara Simmons.

Barbara Simmons is Director of College Counseling at Notre Dame High School in San Jose.