Alvin and the Chipmunks: Songs from my Childhood

So the other day I was feeling really depressed. Couldn't find a notebook that made me want to plot, thought I was having a relapse in my sinus infection, and then I got the news that a guy I thought that wanted to be a Thing with me up and moved to Pennsylvania without a word to me. Without him replying to my instant messages on Facebook, I can only gather that he moved there to go to school, but it really seemed like a sudden thing to do, and being as he has told me plenty of times that he viewed me as a close friend, an odd thing NOT to tell me he was doing, given everything that happened during Otakon this past August.

In my desperate attempt to escape the reality of things, I went in search for that which would never hurt me so deeply. (That last blow with Ryan really did me in a lot more than I thought it had a right to, to be honest... but what can you do? The heart reacts in funny ways sometimes, you know?) And what was this thing? Alvin and the Chipmunks. I remember in recent months that watching Chipwrecked often made me happy despite the fact that I had originally abhorred the CGI chipmunks. But then I had the idea of looking to see if I could find some of the songs from the original 80s TV show. Back then, the show was known for it's covers of hits like "Uptown Girl", "Beat It", and some really great and catchy original songs. I recalled that my mother had played this one record that had all of their songs on it for countless hours when I was a child. Alvin and the Chipmunks was my favorite cartoon (and I daresay if it came out on DVD in full seasons, I would be rushing to the store to snap it up!) so I am pretty sure she used that album to help me get through therapy, and other such unpleasant things I had to go through a child with my cerebral palsy. So certainly, the music could still have a positive effect if not at least bring me back to a place where I could deal with things again.

Sure as I'm sitting here typing this entry, I am feeling nothing but good feelings, imagining the "adventures" the chipmunks and the chipettes and I went on together. Alvin giving me ideas how to get away from my stepfather, and Simon telling me how to solve long division... (yes...I admit it. I had them as imaginary friends. Sue me.) Brittany and her sisters were quieter back then than Jeanette is now. I remember once my Simon Seville muse commenting that I wasn't THAT much taller than the last time he'd seen me, which leads me to believe that even though I've moved on from them for the most part, my "friends" never really left me for good, and did keep an eye on things from afar. (The last time I remember actively *talking* to the chipmunks was when the 80s show was put on either Disney or Nickelodeon for a brief time... I was around 13 or 14, and so had had my last growth spurt). Then Simon came back again stronger than ever when I started watching Chipwrecked a lot.

Youtube, you are the most wonderful invention ever. I have found the entire record remastered and posted by the wonder Jack Appleton. If it weren't for Youtube, I don't think I would have ever been able to revisit that time in my childhood when the only thing I had to worry about was what scheme Alvin and his brothers were going to get into on Saturday Morning cartoons! (But on a side note, do you think if enough demand was put out there they would release the original 80s soundtrack on a CD or digital? That album had a LOT of great music on it! Beat It, Uptown Girl, C-Team, Captain Chipmunk (God that song was SO awesome... forgot just how much so), and of course, the incredible earworm theme song. )

Trivia: No surprise here. Simon is my favorite chipmunk as we both love to read, and BOTH tried to keep our brothers out of trouble....not surprisingly, Jeanette is my favorite Chipette for similar reasons

PS: The Journal title is a play on the Albumn title: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Songs from Our Television Shows