August 21 --Two Anniversaries!

One anniversary I do remember, while other--well, not so much. 
***OK. The anniversary I do recall happened when I was all of 15 years old. Yep. On this night, August 21, my BFF and I were driven to the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines by her mom and older brother. Any other time we would be hankerin' for some good ol' Iowa corn dogs or even a look at the infamous butter cow--but not this time. Nope.
*****This night was my first ever Osmond Brothers concert. This is way before Donny sang with Marie or Jimmy being the Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.  This was the five performing Osmond Brothers. We sat in Section B, Row 4, seats 11 & 12.  Back then Donny threw a purple cap out the audience. Alas, if I had raised my hand, I might have caught it. The cap went to the girl directly behind me. Such heartbreak at 15. :) Nonetheless, it was my first Osmond concert. The memory makes me smile to this day. Here's a link of the Osmond Brothers on Flip Wilson. When I saw them that night, I made up my mind I would see them somehow--some way--in concert. And I did. 
**********And the anniversary, I don't quite remember?  Tucked away in a tackle box (yes, a tackle box, my mom painted gold) is a calendar.  Well, just one month actually.  August. Each day, my Mom wrote something on it--especially that Dad had gall bladder surgery, and when they paid $25 to the doctor.  Just a word or so on an August day to show plans or Mom's happenings. I read each day, as if to have a connection with my mom. Especially on August 21.
**On the calendar, my Mom wrote how she wrote her mom a letter (who lived just 40 miles away). The letter was to inform Mom's mom, that she was pregnant--with me.  I was my parents' fifth try for a baby. I can only imagine thoughts and fears my mom had. If this pregnancy would go horribly wrong like the others. I wish I had a copy of the letter my mom wrote that night.

*****On this night, I smile at both memories--even if I can only remember one. 

Marie Osmond's Sweet Second Verse

All my chums know I had (have?) such a thing for the Osmond Brothers. Yep. I make no bones Donny was not even close to being at the top of my Billboard Chart, until his voice changed. So, it was older Brother Merrill who had (has?) my heart. Gravel voice and all. Oh, and did I tell you I saw 26 Osmond concerts before I saw anybody perform? I felt I cheated on the Osmonds. No joke. I'm sure there's some hidden meaning in all that, especially, since the Osmonds really didn't know who I was. I'll save that for another post...

It was the Osmonds Brothers-except Jimmy was too young, and Marie--well, I was envious because she had the good lookin' brothers, could sing (even tho to this day I'm not a "Paper Roses" fan) and was pretty. Something I really didn't feel I was much of--so what Marie, did was Marie's business.

Fast forward. To Marie and I both being members of a 'golden' decade. I see thing so different now. Have for a few years really. I look at the troubles Marie had--the post partum, her daughters' troubles, son in rehab, fainting on live TV on Dancing With the Stars, her second divorce, and the tragedy of her son's suicide. By then, I had interest in Marie. I watched how she handled each situation.

We are both grown women now. We both had gone thru some valleys, yet mine weren't as deep as hers. I understand relationships better, especially after I'd gone thru my own. I wasn't keen on the 'work' Marie seem to have done, especially when her lips seem a bit puffier on some days than others. Yet, I admired Marie. Her business savvy with her dolls. I wonder Marie did do it. There were pitfalls--we all go thru them-Marie's seemed like an endless pit.

Then came yesterday's announcement Marie married her first husband Stephen Craig. During their first go round, I thought he has pretty cute. I remember being at a Donny and Marie concert in Kansas City. She said something to Steve in the audience, and there he was, not standing so far from me-just beaming. I wondered what went thru his mind.

Looking back, we were all so young. Marie have been mature from her life in showbiz. Yet we were all so young in that first marriage year of 1982. Marie wore the same wedding dress she did back in 1982. The only thing I could possibly fit in from 1982, is a comb through my hair...

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is, Marie deserves to be happy. I always believed Marie always loved Steve. He may not have been ready for it as much as he thought. I think Marie always loved him. I think time heals all and helps us grow. Could have have happened in this case.

No mattes, what Marie does, still is Marie's business.

Congrats!

Aretha: Bridge to Cross

Reported today The Queen of Soul was diagnosed with cancer. Pancreatic cancer to be precise. The same evil that took Patrick Swayze. So far, at the time I type this, it has not been confirmed. The National Enquirer says so--and I never want to believe them.

A few years ago, Aretha was here in Dallas. I won tickets to her concert and went by myself. Any friend I asked was like, "I'd go, but...." whatever. Aretha put on a good show, yet she didn't sing a song I wanted her to sing. And for right now, I can't remember what it was. What I do recall, the next day I found out her Detroit home burned the night before.

Rumors have Aretha less than a year to live. I pray this not to be so.

I want to see Aretha on stage, on TV--somewhere--doing what she's done with the gift God gave her for these decades--gracing us to bridge us over any troubled waters...

Psalms 51

Sunday Still...

IS the weekend! Hey, no work tomorrow and I am ALL over that!
Really need to put my laundry in the dryer and wash my dishes...
Why?
Or I could pet a cat, read a book and drink a cup o joe!
Like that a whole lot better.
Ya know, on this still the weekend, I think of folks that have come and gone in my life.
Even folks of recent times. Even folks that never knew me. Seasons change. And that's OK.
Memories never change.
And I smile
Like I smile a whole bunch because of music that conjurs up memories.
So I feel like savoring some more Rick Springfield and "Human Touch"
Somewhere along the way I saw this concert tour.
How more hot can somebody be?
Like I said Rick Springfiend ain't your daddy's AARP!
And now gotta get that cup o joe!
Enjoy the rest of still the weekend!

Finally Friday...

Tis the weekend.
Just glad.
Let's cut right to the chase
Cue up Three Dog Night
For a few moments to
Celebrate!
Don't get any better than this.
Always loved me some Cory Wells!