Growing up, I remember sitting on the floor at my aunt and uncle’s house listening to my uncle’s vast collection of vinyl records.  We would listen to the Eagles and other bands from the 70’s.  I remember one of my uncle’s favorite bands was America.  Since then, one of my favorite America songs is “A Horse with No Name.”

Recently, I was getting tired of flipping through all the radio stations on my ride home.  One of my favorite “play anything” stations went to soft rock and plays crappy music now.  The classic rock station talks too much.  Basically, all that is left is country.  But even those stations don’t come in well on my country drive home.  (Go figure.)

One day, I stumbled on a station that said it played oldies.  I love me some oldies – that’s what I grew up on.  Imagine my surprise when they started playing the Eagles, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith…. music that I would refer to as classic rock, not oldies… but I digress.

Bo and I were coming home from a baseball game and we were talking.  The radio was turned down.  Way down.  So far that I couldn’t hear it in the front seat.  This is the conversation that took place on the drive home.

Bo:  Why does the horse have no name?

Me:  What?

Bo:  Why does the horse have no name?  Couldn’t they name it?

Me (singing):  I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name.  It’s good to be out of the rain.

Bo:  Do you get sunburned in the desert?

Me:  Yes.  Has Uncle David been letting you listen to America records?

Bo:  America?

Me:  Yes.  I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name.

Bo:  Why did he let the horse go?

(Now, remember, the radio is turned down far enough that I can’t hear it.)

Me:  What are you talking about?

Bo (singing): I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name.  It’s good to be out of the rain.

I proceed to look at Bo in the rear view mirror. I’m sure with a strange look on my face. He starts laughing.

Bo:  Turn the radio up.

Guess what song was on the radio?  A Horse With No Name.  We started singing it at the top of our lungs cruising down the road.

The funny thing is… Bo knew all the lyrics.  At least one of my kids likes my kind of music… even if they are oldies now.

Of course, this is the kid who would only calm down during his colic with the Eagles’ Greatest Hits.  I must not be doing half bad…

I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain

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