Somewhere Between Hair Dye and AC/DC
Somewhere between root touch-up time and an AC/DC song on the radio, I found myself unexpectedly emotional over…bagpipes.
Driving to my overdue hair appointment, the radio DJ began sharing details about the bagpipes featured in the AC/DC song “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll).” He explained that despite the song’s popularity, the band no longer performs it live out of respect for Bon Scott, the late band member who played the bagpipes in the recording.
Then the song played.
And the moment the bagpipes began, I started getting a little verklempt.
Who gets emotional during a jamming AC/DC song?
Apparently, I do.
Almost instantly, a flood of memories started rolling through my mind like a highlight reel of moments I hadn’t realized were connected until now.
I continued to reflect on the bagpipes throughout my hair appointment.
But it wasn’t just about the bagpipes. It was about what their sounds carried for me.
Bagpipes played as both of my parents’ funeral services came to a close.
Bagpipes echoed through the crowded college football stadium for 4 years as my son and his teammates charged onto the field while fans cheered with anticipation for each game.
Bagpipes led the graduation procession at my own college commencement as we walked toward the ceremony site where loved ones waited proudly for our arrival.
And for years, every afternoon at exactly 3 PM, the sound of bagpipes drifted through our neighborhood as a gentleman a few houses down practiced faithfully, and beautifully, in his backyard.
Then somehow…on a random self-care hair day…an old AC/DC song unexpectedly connected all the dots.
Funny how that happens sometimes, isn’t it?
A song comes on.
A memory surfaces.
One thought led to another.
And suddenly your heart starts connecting pieces of your story you didn’t even realize were woven together.
It made me stop and wonder:
Why do certain sounds stay with us?
Why do some sounds instantly transport us to another place, another season, another version of ourselves?
We often don’t realize while we’re living it that ordinary sounds are quietly becoming emotional bookmarks.
Music, especially, seems to bypass logic and head straight for the heart.
For me, bagpipes have somehow become tied to both sorrow and celebration.
They remind me of honoring and letting go.
Of courage and anticipation.
Of achievement and community.
Of love, legacy, home, and hope.
Somehow their haunting, beautiful sound became woven into the soundtrack of my life.
And maybe you have sounds like that too.
Maybe it’s:
church bells
cicadas on a summer evening
rain falling on a tin roof
an old hymn
wind chimes on a porch
the crack of a baseball bat
a train whistle in the distance
the melody of an ice cream truck
or a certain song that instantly brings someone you love to mind
Have you ever noticed how certain sounds become tied to the emotional landmarks of our lives?
How they hold:
grief
celebration
transition
nostalgia
longing
comfort
sacred moments
Sometimes a single sound can carry an entire lifetime of memories.
And maybe that’s one of the quiet ways God reaches us too.
Through beauty.
Through memory.
Through emotion.
Through unexpected reminders tucked inside ordinary moments.
A sound can comfort.
A sound can inspire.
A sound can remind us of what matters most.
Sometimes a sound invites us to slow down to better notice the beauty around us…and within us.
So, somewhere between hair dye, classic rock, and unexpected tears over bagpipes, I found myself grateful for the soundtrack of the blessings in my life.
Maybe the sounds we carry through life are reminders that God has been present in every season all along.
And now I’m curious…
What sound tells part of your story?
Blessings…
and Rock On!
Bonnie 🤍
💛 If this post spoke to your heart, I’d love to stay connected with you.
Share your email with me, and I’ll send you The 4:13 Journal straight to your inbox.
Additionally, if you’d like a little encouragement in your daily scroll, come say hello on Instagram too. I’d love to connect with you there as well. Follow here on Instagram!
Lastly, if someone came to mind when reading this post, please share it with them and invite them to join us here in The 4:13 Journal, too!
That’s the kindest compliment you could give me! Thank you! 💛