I love singing in my car. I especially love when my iPod stops on an unexpected treasure that I have not heard in a long, long time. I can’t help myself. Before I realize it, I’m drumming on the steering wheel, nodding my head side to side, back and forth, moving my shoulders, and singing along.

Dashboard karaoke and drivers seat groovin’ seem to make the traffic more bearable. At least, until the driver sitting at the light next to you observes your early morning moves. I’m unable to count the times I’ve been lost in a tune and suddenly realize I’m being watched by my intersection neighbor. Most of the time, the observer smiles, nods, or laughs, but a few times I’m given a roll of the eyes or a quick turn of the head.

What I truly appreciate is what happened this morning. As I took the 21st street exit, my iPod stopped on Deee-Lite’s Groove is in the Heart. By the time I was stopped at the first light at 21st and Grove, I was completely captured by DJ Dmitry, Lady Miss Kier, Towa Tei, and guests Q-Tip and Bootsy Collins. It wasn’t until I stopped at 21st and Oliver that I remembered I was in my car and visible to others but that’s when I noticed the gentleman in the SUV next to me. He was lost in song, pounding on his steering wheel, at times singing with his eyes closed, and nodding his head. I couldn’t hear what he was listening to, but he was all alone in that car, or maybe on a stage in his mind, and he was enraptured by the music only he could hear within the confines of his car.

The light turned green and we both moved forward, still listening, still grooving, still singing, separate but together in our own music. Groove is truly in the heart.