A sampling from "Brooksie: The Official Soundtrack"

Warning: At some point in the reading of this post, you are going to encounter the word juxtaposition. Not to worry, you will be warned before this word appears again (in its proper context of course). Carry on.

From the Random Musings Department, I bring you: another perfect moment for me here in New Zealand.

While driving along the Southern Scenic Route last August, somewhere south of Dunedin and along the Catlins Coast, I crested a hill during one windy stretch of road. At the top was a lookout and spreading majestically down below me was Tautuku Bay. It is easily one of the most amazing sights I have ever beheld (there is a picture or three of this spot in my photo album), and what made this awesome vision even… awesome-r, was the musical accompaniment that was playing on the radio at the same time.

Warning: The usage of the word juxtaposition is drawing very near. This has been your final warning. Read on at your own peril.

It was Queen’s “A Kind of Magic”, which could not have been a more perfect song for the moment. Queen’s music makes me nostalgic for the '80s when I was in middle and high school and having the time of my life with endless summers and great friends. The title of the song fit beautifully with the real-life magic I was experiencing in not only the view but also the freedom and sunshine of driving around the south island on that day. It wasn't a tape that was playing either, just one of the local radio stations, and I've mentioned before how I love the fact that they like Queen so much down here.

Never before has the --->juxtaposition<--- of such good music and glorious scenery been quite so acute in my life as it was then. It was as if my life has its own personal soundtrack going all the time but only occasionally does it bleed through and I am able to hear it. Ever have one of those moments? Where just the right song comes on the radio or is playing in a bar or in another car as you pass by and it just fits?

Sounds and smells are often tied inextricably to memories. Honeysuckle in the spring always reminds me of soccer practice; fresh paint recalls times spent acting or working on stage sets in high school; carbon paper brings back memories of report cards (I'm old school, baby). So from here on out now, whenever I hear “A Kind of Magic” (or really, any other Queen tune except maybe the songs on the Flash Gordon soundtrack - those particular ones always bring up the soundbite of Brian Blessed going "Gordon's alive!") I will fondly remember that drive on that day.

In more ways than one, you just had to be there.