I have a rich lexicon of songs in my heart.

I’ve noticed it many times. In the places I’ve worked, I’d always be humming something. People say things to me and their words trigger off songs in my head.

I realized how rich it is while doing a workshop about words: the wonderful “Blog Shop” presented by Chris Fraser of Firefly Creative Writing (www.fireflycreativewriting.com).

I was chatting with another participant and she mentioned larks and owls. Instantly, I thought of Josh Ritter’s song, Lark (.

I have a head stuffed full of songs. I have a tremendous memory for lyrics and melodies. If I stopped and counted, I probably know at least the choruses of over a thousand songs.

I know where this comes from. Listening to records as a kid and singing in the car. My dad used to like to take us on long car vacations. Hey kids, let’s drive to Florida! And off we would go, my dad and I singing all the way, all our favourite funny and poignant and feisty folk songs: “Lizzie Borden”,