🎶 Listening with Waddles: Oldies, Memory, and the Soundtrack of Comfort

By Susan | Lady Flava Wellness

There’s something sacred about the quiet moments—the ones where the phones stop ringing, the world slows down, and a familiar song plays in the background.

Today, I sat in the phone room with Waddles by my side—my little penguin with a big story. He reminds me of laughter, of Kiki teasing me for walking like a penguin, and of the love we carry even when life feels heavy. And as we sat together, I let the oldies play.

They always take me somewhere… back to a place where the world felt a little more innocent, a little more soulful. Aretha, Marvin, The Spinners, Earth Wind & Fire—those voices don’t just sing, they carry me.

I’ve always loved the oldies. But during my time in Vegas, I began to crave something different. I wanted to hear the entertainers perform their own music, tell their stories. After years of hearing cover songs night after night, I started to feel like I needed something original, something raw and real.

Still, I get it now.

Vegas entertainment thrives on covers because people like to sing along. People want to be reminded of songs that make them smile, move, feel something. And I’m no different.

That’s why I play the oldies at work—quietly, just for me (and maybe for Waddles too). They remind me who I am, where I’ve been, and how music has always been my medicine. Whether I’m in a crowd or alone at a desk, music lets me breathe.

Sometimes healing doesn’t need to be loud.

Sometimes, it’s just you, a soft song, and a stuffed penguin named Waddles—listening, remembering, and finding peace in the rhythm of your soul.