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Music Helps My Spirit Sing with Joy
Melodic memories soothe my soul
My life has overflowed with trauma and drama. My journey has been crowded with challenges. Nothing was ever easy for me.
Music is the part of my life that helped keep me sane.
Music inspired and soothed me. There were many songs that brought me joy. Hallelujah has inspired me throughout my life and remains one of my favorite songs.
Recorded by numerous artists across the globe, this recording by Bon Jovi is one of my favorite renditions.
Many of you have read my series about Little Debbie. If you missed my series, you can find it here.
When I was in high school, I performed in our talent production. Everyone showed off their skills. I showed off my singing. I was so happy and proud. I felt like I had found my niche.
My song was a bit different. I sang Wedding Bell Blues. It was the original version of this song by the original writer, Laura Nyro. I sang my heart out.
My parents did not attend my show, but my mother never missed an opportunity to laugh at me. Her nasty comment was, “Who would want to listen to you sing? You are such an idiot thinking anyone cares!”
Well, her language was much more coarse, but I keep my writing as clean as possible. That’s part of who I am.
I listened to my mother. I stopped thinking about a career in singing. Instead, I worked two jobs and went to college.
During my first marriage, I belonged to a folk group at my local church. We sang many traditional hymns. The folk group included the addition of a guitar and piano along with some beautiful voices.
Let me be real. I would rise to the occasion and sing whenever there was an opportunity and the new folk group was a wonderful opportunity for me to sing.
We were trying to capture the interest of the teens who wandered aimlessly and thought church was boring. We hoped that music might interest them. Our plan worked and many teens attended the church when we presented our music program.
My favorite hymn then, and still is: How Great Thou Art.
No matter how many times I sing that hymn, tears of joy fill my eyes. The words touch a chord deep inside my soul.
I remember when Lee bought Little Debbie an electronic keyboard for Christmas. He understood what Little Debbie needed.
It was one of my best Christmases ever! I played around with my new keyboard and had fun. Sadly, I discovered I was not a pianist. Not one bit.
I did master the original tune, Heart and Soul, using one hand only and I felt much more confident. Then I took an elective piano class in college. That was a very big mistake.
I cannot play the piano. Worse, I cannot play the piano with two hands. Oh no! I was so terrible. My professor was very kind and patient, but I could hear his audible sigh of relief when I completed his class.
When I met Lee, we discovered our own special songs that were mostly fun and joyful. Eventually, Lee made me a classic mix CD. Whenever we were in the car, we would listen to the CD.
There are fast-beat songs like Life in the Fast Lane and Take It to the Limit by the Eagles. A little slower is I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith and Desperado by the Eagles. We like a lot of songs by the Eagles—ha!
One of our favorite songs by Meatloaf is Paradise by the Dashboard Lights. It’s a classic rock and roll song. Ask anyone who’s in love.
Since I met Lee, my life is much more joyful and overflowing with love.
I discovered many soothing sounds in music over the years. One song that inspired me to keep fighting is The Impossible Dream.
The song reminds me to always keep dreaming and never lose hope. The words touch a part of my core; the part of me who never gives up.
These are the words I request for my memorial someday: “She followed the Impossible Dream to help others.”
Music inspires me to keep growing. Through desperate times, music helped me heal and survive. Music blesses my heart and soothes my soul.
Sending love and light and hugs to anyone who needs some. Best always.
