My Ow Mix

iTunes has made it more possible than ever to relive your entire life to present in a single day. The Internet contains - whether available legally or not - almost every song that has ever meant something to you. It's like being in the memory lane of an Autobahn.

Creating playlists (formerly known as "mix tapes") for any time period can both amuse and destroy you. Emphasis on the latter if your boss catches you composing on the clock instead of meeting your deadline, and because inevitably there have been some very unfortunate potholes along the way.

Happy and you know it? Then clap your freaking hands, my friends.

Discovery of the Top 40 station: a dark chapter in the history of anyone who later discovered life beyond the tuner. Even after this enlightenment, there were always those occasional radio hits that were embarrassingly familiar with where you found yourself in life. Why did you try so hard to relate to me, pre-solo Rob Thomas? And, more importantly, why did you succeed?

First love fiascoes made for interesting song choices that later bewilder even the playlist compiler. Break-ups and heartache might not scar as bad if there wasn't a soundtrack.

Driver's license mixes are more forgivable because you were just looking for anything to break in your new CD player. Some decent choices might arise from this, but it's risky trying to sift through the collective rough to find the diamond. Well, quartz at best.

College iPod fodder might reflect a willingness to experiment with new and off-the-beaten-path music that allows you to feel connected to a superior subculture. You were different like everyone else.

Yet, those beyond a bachelor's degree most likely just follow their fave college-era artists into obscurity, because who has time to seek out new music in the pages of Pitchfork.com and Billboard? There's so much NPR to listen to.