My Passion Revealed

One of my dreams has always been to write a novel. That is hilarious considering I am the worst speller on the planet and have no real clue how to actually go about anything past the writing. So...with that mindset, I have put it off. I kept downplaying it and telling myself it was silly to even consider and wasnt' even sure what to write. Right now my time is consumed literally with our community theatre production of "Bye Bye Birdie". The first act had to be learned in a week and a half which also I have three songs in that act to learn as well. I am loving it but my time is actually none. I can't believe I am even blogging but A BOOK??? NOW??? Although I have not one clue how to even format,(and certainly am clueless as to getting it published), I do believe the most important thing is the content..AND BOY DO I HAVE THAT! I really picked up my pen and couldn't stop.I decided to go old school and write it out. Then, I will use my lap top to tweak,perfect, and re-write-but for now, I just have to get the story out. It's been inside too long. Although I feel even as a type this, it has much still to be written that I have not yet realized that is even inside me. In a way, it is still a mystery to where it will go,or how it will end for that matter. Whatever the outcome I am so excited to finally have this project underway.I laughed and shared with someone if they were afraid they may end up in the book ...they should be. I think anyone who has had a deep,deep place in my life ---and I mean in my entire life---you can bet you are in there. Some more than others but those who were , and are, deep inside my heart and impacted my life in someway, YOU are in there. I am certain the names will be changed but you will know. Yes, "YOU"! Actually I began what I'll call the first chapter listening to "Puff the Magic Dragon" which was my favorite song at four years old. I listened to it OVER and OVER! I remember Bit, my black mama that kept me everyday, begging me to turn it off.(I would have spanked my tail but she says out of keeping my mama and Kathy- I was the only one she never spanked...that sure explains alot) However, she got creative and would tell me my little blue record player was so tired and needed a rest. Now I knew she was making that up but eventually I'd get my 'music fix' and turn it off. I have no memories of not being totally consumed with music. I have always had such a passion inside that sometimes I still don't understand. I am sure none of us have everything figured out which makes me feel better. The passion for music was, and is, the same I feel about being in love. I really have never been able to separate the two. It has taken me a lifetime to realize, they were not meant to be separated. I love the fact that throughout each part of my life I have at least one,sometimes two, songs I have written to go along with it. Instant soundtrack! It really sends chills all over me when I think of that! Although it may be years before I am truly done, I am going to close with the preface of my untitled book. I WELCOME any feedback!!!
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It seems my entire life I have been researching for the book I would someday write.Actually, the words have been lying dormant for years,but I havent' had the courage to put them on paper. I know part of writing is mixed with a measure of truth ,and the rule of thumb is to always write about what you know. What do I know...what do I know? I am one of those unusual people who can seem to recall every detail of my life. As far back as I remember I have had one desire, and one desire only. Well, technically it is actually two but to separate the two is like trying to separate an exhale from an inhale. One without the other would certainly bring about death. A breath must have the function of both to keep the body alive. My desire in life has the same function.For that would be love and music. How in this world do I make this comparison you may ask? That , my friend, is what I want to convey in these pages...my very heart...and my very soul.There is a longing inside me, an ache almost. All I know is that if I don't share this story, my life will have been incomplete and lacking in some way.Some stories are meant to be shared, and I truly feel this is one of them.
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That's all for now,
LO

You Want Me to What???

Wow!!! This community theatre production rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" is hard work but it's fun-fun-fun!!! These kids are amazing! In high school when we did anything we always had the chorus class period to practice and DID WE EVER!!! Polly Hunter Hardin(Grimes now) worked our tails off! And we were really good-- if I say so myself!!! However saying that, I can't believe the talent these young people have at HHS that do not even have a choral class offered them!!! In one week these teens have learned what it took at least a month for us to learn--- and then some!! WOW!!!!! I am most impressed! I remember David Pettigrew, our musical hero, always rising to the occasion at hand. Of course, he was our 'Conrad Birdie' and was fabulous!!! (Well, Noel Hood is going to give him a run for his money!) lol We had such fun during our practices. I have often said the only reason I went to school was for chorus and our productions. (maybe some truth in that) Anyway, we would get out for days during our plays. It was always a large project! The weeks prior the cast would do promotional spots on the local radio station and would promote at school as well. For example the week before "Bye Bye Birdie", we wore HUGE paper buttons that we made that said 'We Love You Conrad"! We would preform the entire program for the elementary school, Thursday was the middle school performance, and Friday was the high school's turn.(that was always toughest) Friday night was for the public. Later when Ms.Polly married our principal, Mr. GRIMES-- I realized how she got away with so many performances! HA HA just kidding.Although she was great, and Mr. Grimes was also..., we had a fruitcake for a superintendent!!! It is a miracle we got to do anything at all!! But we most certainly did! We did many musicals and tons of talent shows! It saddens me our children don't have the option for chorus at school anymore. What's even sadder is that they really had not taken advantage of it when they had it in the latter years. It seemed to have dwindled down to nothing before it was discontinued. That is so sad!!! So many scholarships lost...so many people never realizing their potential because they were never allowed the chance or opportunity to even be creative! How bored I would have been going to school now. Yeah, I was cheerleader and all that...but all that mattered to me was the music! As I listen to the young people practicing for this program..I am blown away at the raw talent! True, some have been well trained but the talent was born in them!!! I am very hard to impress but real talent--true God-given talent---is my favorite thing to witness! I am, as Daisy Mae said in Lil Abner, "Past my Prime" but am thrilled to be in the midst of young, fresh talent. And although I have been long past wanting -or shall I say enjoying --to be around teen-aged kids and the attitude that comes with it....I must say these young people seem to want to do this and it makes all the difference!! I know my mama(and daddy) would have skinned me alive if I had had the attitude , unfortunately, many kids have today. I have been snubbed by many for whatever reasons why!!(silly but sad) However, Janet Coker has done well this year because I truly enjoy this group! I really think I am too old to learn so many lines and me....spanish?....lol. ME, dance?...well, it is called acting so we'll see. I just am thankful for the chance to be a part of something again that brings back so many wonderful memories. Better yet, an opportunity to create so many new ones. Thanks, Janet, for making an avenue for the young and older to once again stretch our creative muscles and believing in us!!!! You are the best!!!

It's A Mystery

I do believe I have downloaded a European server on my computer! I have special skills like that. I have fallen in total love with a piece of music that I could only purchase on Amazon.com for $100 at the least...so I found a website that I could download it for free and jumped on that! Oh me...entirely new toolbar and on it is the degrees for some distant land as of 3 am...(17A F) What's up with that? My dear friend ,Mike Childs, laughed at me when I got my first computer and told him I was afraid I'd kill it until he came down and realized my computer was so slow because I had contacted over 700 viruses!!! He had underestimated my abilities for sure. It's a gift! However, I do believe I'd download this foreign website again because this music--- I am in awe! Ludovico Einaudi is the artist I am so enthralled with at the moment. He arranged this beautiful work I am listening to at this very moment. It is the most beautiful and unusual I have heard in some time. It gets deep inside my soul and just infiltrates my senses. If you don't know what I am talking about, the only comparison I can make is to when you first fall in love. I know love is not just a feeling but in the beginning...it better be! I am just completely captivated buy this haunting melody and use of chord progressions.Brilliant! You know, this is the very thing that I will never understand about myself. Left unchecked...could be very dangerous I assume.(I know) It's the mystery that captivates me when I get lost in music. It really takes me to a place that literally takes my breath and tears fill my eyes while emotions fill my soul...no words...just music... but heard everything this composer intended to share as he has poured into this masterpiece. Oh...if this could be bottled and sold on a shelf...someone would make a fortune! I actually heard it in the movie remake of Dr. Zhivago. The original movie was filmed in the 1960's ,I believe. Although I'll admit, I never watched it ...it could never be as good as the remake with Hans Matheson and Keira Knightly that was filmed in 2002. The story was the saddest ever but the music alone was worth the watch. (The 1960's music was hokey to me.) This however...oh me. The story of Yury and Lara... I have no words.The title of the piece I am listening to now is called 'The Mystery of Love'. (Did I mention it is beautiful??) At the beginning Yury Zhivago, who is a doctor of medicine and avid poet, posses the question to his friends if they think there is one person in this world that holds the key to the unlocked places of a persons heart.Well...I know the real answer is yes...(Jesus)....but we all know he meant a romantic love of a persons life. My friend, if artists and musicians didn't have this mysterious way to ponder life ...every beautiful thing ever written would be non existent.Even most of the Psalms. King David...I know he'd get this blog!(can't wait to meet him someday) And yes...his passion unchecked got him into trouble. The same great passion but it must be held accountable or it will lead to darkness. This has been the hardest thing to understand in my life. In my early years it was impossible to understand, and I learned many hard lessons. I have never really understood why God created this inside me and placed me in a small town in Mississippi. lol I love my life very much but will admit it's hard to relate to others sometime. What I wouldn't give to be content with the same routine every day!!! Most of the time I fit in just fine...but sometimes I really feel the fact that I will always struggle of some level. I feel ,and always have, like a square peg trying to force myself into a circle.It's never going to happen ,and I am finally at a point in my life that I get that and am ok with that. If others aren't ok with that or don't get it, or me,...well, I really don't care. God does.! Maybe someday I understand this soul-stirring gift and just what I am supposed to do with it. For now, I embrace it and just write it out or I will surely explode. However, I also am aware I may never know or understand this....but that's ok too. For many years thought it must be from the enemy ....but it's just who I am and last time I checked, Psalm 139 said "I am fearfully and wonderfully made". So, I just realize God gave this gift to me and just remember to allow Him to continue to be in control of my life and then all will, or will not, be revealed...His call! If you are reading this, you may be scratching your head thinking , "What is she talking about?"...but for those that 'get it'....you know.... you know....

Lo