In parochial grammar school, I always got “A’s” in music. The nun’s who taught me adored that I sang the church hymns with such boldness. They always seemed to put me up front so the priests could see me sing. I was never afraid to be heard. God certainly knew I was there.
…I knew Music and I would become best friends….
Grammie’s southern accent and theatrical, singsong voice made all her stories and songs sound funny….
…she would bounce me as a small child in her arms and swing me around as we danced to an old 78 speed record that played, “Bubblin’ In My Soul.”
… I learned at an early age that life was full of rhythm. Where there was music, dancing, storytelling, or song, there was always joy and love, spirit and light, communion and belonging, and life felt simply divine.
Grammie Lee was always a wild and free spirit who loved to play with all kinds of sounds. As kids, we would giggle when she would exaggerate the vibrato in her voice as she sang. We’d snicker when she would hack dramatically into her hankies to clear her throat. And, we would be in stitches when she would try to poot out an S.O.S. on her vinyl divan while passing gas!
Daddy had a natural ear for music, and he loved to sing and play guitar. He plunked out some mean rhythm and blues on those resonant strings, and his woeful ballads would sometimes take us dancing and twirling on the dark side of the moon.
