Heart Strings

The soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine has been the soundtrack to my life since returning from California. DeVotchKa's music speaks to my heart at this specific point in my life in that intense way that Radiohead did when I was in college. I am eternally grateful to my hip friends for introducing me to this music.

Listening to the soundtrack also has the lovely side effect of taking me back to two particular spaces in my California time.

Space One: Kate is driving us to see the tide pools, and it is the first time I have ever heard DeVotchKa. Looking over at her in the sun, driving the crazy way she does, I am overwhelmed by this incredible love - love for the sun, for the music, for the ocean, for the friends in the backseat. I say "I love you Kate," even though that is so grossly inadequate for what I am really feeling, for everything I am really loving, for what I am wishing I could say. Leah squeezes my shoulders from the backseat because she understands, that wanting to say so much but not having enough words.

Space Two: We are driving to the airport for our departing flight, and the car is mostly quiet except for DeVotchKa. I am crying as I look out the window at the passing world. I don't know why I'm crying. The music just pulls at my heart's strings in a certain way at that moment.

The soundtrack has been playing in non-stop in our house for the past three days and no one has complained. Ella likes it when I moan out the words and do little twirly dance steps across the floor, tilting my head this way and that. And the music blends nicely with the sound of the birds outside, doing bird things.

You can visit the "official" DeVotchKa page here, or their MySpace page here, if you feel so inclined.