Even with my random musical tastes, I’ve managed to collect some great music over the years. When I look at this tower of tapes that I never play anymore, I get nostalgic thinking back to my college years and my friends at that time. It also makes me miss the mix tape. What was more romantic than a guy making one with all right songs? Or cooler than your big brother, who lived in a much hipper city than Columbus, making one with the newest house and underground rap music?
Music is the way I keep track of significant moments in my life–starting a new school, moving to a new city, having a crush on some guy, or triggering the memory of a perfect scene in a movie. Because I only listen to digital music now and only streaming radio on occasion, I rarely get to hear a song and reminisce in this way. I think that’s why, despite my limited household space, I hold on to this tower of tunes. It’s a visual cue for me to think about my fun and crazy friends. They were the deepest relationships I’ve cultivated as an adult.
And now I think I’ll try to plug in my stereo, see if it still works and listen to the past!
Pinkpodster Ponders 
I’ve done the same thing – I still have my old CD’s and honestly, I don’t even like too many of them anymore. I just can’t get the nerve up to pitch them either.
Nancy
Ahh, the old cassette tapes!! My parents had a box of these. I added some to the collection. We had to leave them behind when we moved since there was no way to listen to these anymore after the player broke and CD and MP3 players became cheaper than getting the older one repaired.
I keep looking at them wondering how much would it cost to buy all that music again. Or convert to mp3.