After scraping the leaf of a steamed artichoke with her teeth, my mom said, "Isn't it amazing what humans have figured out?" Simply put, "Yes."

Summer 2006: The Faces, "Oh la la"

Fall 2006: Pete Yorn, "Strange Condition"

Winter 2006/07: Nada Surf, "Concrete Bed"

Spring 2007: Ben Harper, "Better Way", Jack Johnson, "Let It Be Sung"

Summer 2007: Seawolf, "Middle Distance Runner"

Fall 2007: The Weepies, "World Spins Madly On"/ Ingrid Michaelson, "Die Alone"

Winter 2007/08: Josh Ritter, "Mind's Eye"/ Josh Ritter, "Temptation of Adam"

Spring 2008: Xaiver Rudd, "Better People"

Summer 2008: Tegan and Sara, the entire album, "The Con"

Fall 2008: First Aid Kit covers Fleet Foxes, "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"/Aesop Rock, "None Shall Pass"

Winter 2008/09: Carla Bruni, "Quelqu'un ma dit"

Spring 2009: Feist, "I Feel It All"

Summer 2009: Old Crow Medicine Show, "Wagon Wheel"/Devendra Banhart, "At The Hop"/ Band of Horses, "The General Specific"/ Angus & Julia Stone, "Just a Boy" (there was a lot of music that summer...)

Fall 2009: A.R. Rahman & M.I.A., "O...Saya"

Winter 2009/10: Tegan and Sara, "And Darling"

Spring 2010: Pheonix, "1901"

Summer 2010: Modest Mouse, "3rd Planet"

Fall 2010: The Black Keys, "Work Me"/ Yael Neim, "Far Far"

Winter 2010/11: Beirut, "Sunday Smile"

Spring 2011: Local Natives, "World News"/Wye Oak, "Holy, Holy"

Summer 2011: Blitzen Trapper, "Furr"

Fall 2011: Too Soon to Tell

These songs are burned into my memory forever. It's true, you know? The human brain is incredible. We've figured out how to eat artichokes and we've figure out how to remember thousands upon thousands of songs. Not only that, but we have memories attached to them all...and know most the words. Except for Billy Joel's, "We Didn't Start the Fire"...still working on that one.

As we drive down tree covered 6A, my thoughts are 100% focused on the excel spreadsheet in front of me. It is not until I close my computer and look up that I notice where we are. It's funny how a town I only see once a year can seem so commonplace. It's like I was made for this place and it for me. The routine's always the same: books, beach, food comas, laughter, talent shows, the old man who fills the pot holes and cracks with new asphalt. Year after year, his job never seems to progress and yet he never seems phased.
Every year there seems to be a new addition to the crew as well and the welcoming of some new excitement or job or move or struggle. It's usually a mix of them all but it doesn't matter because for a handful of days the only thing that matters is 6A. 6A refocuses life. It's the tiny reminder that it'll all be okay. It gives me breath and it freezes time. In fact, time doesn't even exist when you are driving down 6A. Maybe that's why the old man continues filling the holes. Maybe he's just enjoying the summer heat...