Ciao!
There’s something about Jack Johnson. Whenever I listen to his music, it takes me back to simpler times.
Jack Johnson
My older brother was the one who first introduced me to Jack’s beachy style, and it made me feel so cool to be listening to the same music as him. That was in high school, when we were pretty close, he gave me rides to school, and we worked as lifeguards together. Now that he’s in law school, and living in a different state, it’s harder to stay that close. I just remember when he saw how much I adored Jack Johnson’s music, and one year, he gave me the best gift ever and I will never forget it.
I got into my car to drive to school on my birthday and when I turned it on, Jack’s newest album came blasting through my speakers. My brother had gotten it for me and stuck it in my car’s CD player for me to discover. It was such a small thing, but it was one of the sweetest and most thoughtful things he has ever done for me. Later in the summer of that year, we even got to see him play in concert together.
I’m the kind of person who really appreciates simple gifts that show me how much the person cares for me. Even just spending the smallest amount of time together makes me so happy. I’m sentimental to the point of never throwing out birthday cards and I still have ones from elementary school stashed away in my desk. So all in all, I love simple gifts.
Back to Jack Johnson. I feel like a lot of people hate on Jack for how similar his songs are, and how his “chill” style isn’t that interesting. Personally, I like that they all sound a little similar. There’s always the same vein throughout every song, of bringing you back to the beach, to summer, to relaxing.
My family doesn’t vacation often, but when we do, we make the best memories. One summer we headed off to Smith Mountain Lake in western Virginia to stay at our rented lake house for a week. The whole family was there, including our dog Skip, who had an overwhelming fear of water. Needless to say, that trip gave us plenty of hilarious stories of his antics.
Smith Mountain Lake with Skip
I just remember so clearly the drive out to the lake. I think I was in 10th grade at the time, and my new iPod nano came with me everywhere I went. The whole 2 hour drive, I repeatedly listened to Jack Johnson albums. Now whenever I hear his raspy voice, I immediately think of the summer rain clouds travelling alongside us through the peaceful countryside on our way to the lake.
It’s memories like these that make me just wish I could relive those moments and enjoy again those experiences and those relationships just as they were in that moment.
Con amore,
Abby
