Thinking with Rhythm

These stories are a collection of fiction chronicling the adventures, and romantic experiences of Alessandra Cangini with a couple of US Navy SEALs, and anecdotal stories where I write in first person. I let you, the reader, decide how intertwined Alessandra and I are in these stories.

Music has always been important to me. I grew up in a household where there was always music playing in the background from the radio or a record player my father built for her. My mother was always singing along. She had a beautiful voice. I grew up listening to Frank Sinatra, Al Jonson, Benny Goodman, Pink Floyd, Yes, Rush, Sui Generis, Alberto Spinetta, Francesco di Gregori, Luca Carboni, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Phil Collins, Joan Manuel Serrat, and many others.

Music to me has always been an exhilarating component of my living impacting my serotonin levels because it always puts me in a good mood. Music makes me feel energized, and sparks my creativity. Music does not make me sad. It makes me dance, when nobody watches. I sing along the tunes in the privacy of my home or the car.

Some lyrics cause me to reflect on my life experiences, such as the lovers who broke my heart, and the places I have visited. Other songs make me think of the life of friends and family who experienced events similar to those described in the lyrics. Certain songs spark my imagination. Finally, there are the songs that trigger my point of view about that topic, even though, I have not personally experienced it.

These short stories offer the narrative of my mind that comes alive when I am listening to the songs I have compiled on my playlist. The title of each story reflects the title of the song the story is about.

I hope that these reflections will make you think about your life. My goals are to energize you with my joie de vivre, and to give hope to those who are feeling a little down; however, I will not be writing Western songs backwards to accomplish this. We might agree on the topic at hand. We might think differently on some of the issues I touch. I hope my different point of view, or philosophy of life, enriches yours.