This Memorial Day weekend, while we remember the fallen, I started to think about the only character (so far) that I have written into existence and didn’t simply write them off the screen.I will not name names for spoilers, but I will say that it is not a violent passing, more an age thing.

And as much as I love this character, their moving on triggers this inheritance thing that creates a lovely forced proximity situation for our core characters. Grief and love take up a chunk of that book too, so it’s earned. 

But this character? They absolutely have their own playlist sound. And if you listen closely? You can see how they influenced those around them, how the music shapes the characters you know. I can name two that will be obvious, but there might be more with less direct connections.

So, the question I am pondering this weekend as I write? What is the legacy we leave behind? And what are we remembered for most?

The Red Letters crew has a memorial scene, and the music kicks off with this one. It’s both the tone of the person they remember, but modern enough to say that they associate this with that person, not just a shuffle of the records the character had through life.

Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies

This character, their shadow is felt in ripples. They were the parental figure to a lot of characters, guiding them and making space for them to grow right. And we see how close some of the characters were to this one person in the end. Proving that deep connections defy odds or sense. But, leave it to a Sinatra song to carry both the depth and a little bit of humor that defined this character.

Me And My Shadow – Frank Sinatra (ft Sammy Davis Jr.)

Next up is both a song that this character would use when talking to people, and a good idea of how the characters are handling this loss. The memorial isn’t some sad somber affair. It’s a celebration of the life that brought them together. It’s full of music that reminds, stories that are classically this character. Communal grieving in tears and laughter. Just the way the character was with people. And moments when everyone in the room knows the story loud and clear enough to finish it for you? Yeah, that’s how you know you impacted people just a little bit.

Smile – Nat King Cole

This next one was originally from the character to their spouse who left the earth first. So this character grieved that for the rest of their life. But, in an open bar, with people who support you? This becomes something they carry going forward. A song that becomes about this character to all others, not just about the belated spouse.

Do we miss this person? No not much.

No Not Much – The Four Lads

Finally, we have something that was there at the start of this character’s story introduction. But is also the best fitting kind of goodbye, when you never want to say goodbye. Of course it’s another song from spouse to spouse that grew to include a larger following.

Til I Waltz Again With You – Teresa Brewer