The other day whilst driving from work, I heard a song that took me back twenty five years or more and I got a tear in my eye. Not because the song is sad but because I miss my sister Sheila so much it hurts.
She was like a bright shining sun that could warm you with love and yet burn you to a crisp if you crossed her.
Struck down in the prime of her life by cancer.
The song is, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” and the memory has nothing to do with the lyrics but with the fact that my sister was notorious for changing the words when she sang them.
We were out one snowy Friday evening for a few drinks and lots of dancing together in Baltimore and she didn’t like to drive in the snow. I was designated driver so I enjoyed watching her having fun as always.
Not sure what I was wearing for this outing but hey, the 80’s..don’t hate. I’m on the right.
On our way home rather late, in my little Chevy Chavette, that song was on the radio. I chose a road less traveled. It’s a two lane road that I take to and from work everyday. The same road where I heard the song,
My Chavette drove beautifully in the snow. I don’t know why but it did and since there was no other traffic, as my sister sang at the top of her lungs, “I want to go where love is…” I drove, weaving down the road, crossing the invisible center line at 2:00AM, making beautiful waves in the freshly fallen snow. In my rear view mirrow, I could see the wavy pattern. It was lovely and strange and sparkling in the glow of the road lights.
Just Sheila and I in my little silver Chavette. She’d be so proud of me. What I wouldn’t give for one more night, driving on a deserted road through the snow listening to her sing that song.
Is there a song that does this to you? Tell me about it.
It feels like I just walked out of work on Friday and here it is one o’clock am Monday morning. I cleaned, watched the kiddies a bit, caught a couple movies on cable and did a good bit of writing and yet I feel like time is just blowing past me.
I worked on edits to post a few more chapters of “An Unfortunate Son” but they still need a bit of dusting before I’ll post them. If you are one of the few who are following along, bare with me. I’m hoping to have them up some time tomorrow.
I had an interesting conversation at dinner the other night. A coworker has retired and we celebrated with a dinner for her last Thursday. It’s always nice to get together occasionally with your coworkers outside of work. Who has time to chit chat and share anecdotes about family and life events while at work unless you sit right next to someone all day long? It was fun to hear some of their stories and to discuss off the wall things.
One of those things was how most of us women at work wish we had housekeepers. Imagine how much free time we’d have to actually live our lives if we didn’t have to pick up after everyone and could come home from work to a healthy dinner and a clean house?
Then, the discussion went on–or rather I went on to say that if I ever become a best selling author, I won’t waste my money on jewelry, three hundred dollar bags and shoes or even clothes but rather just use it to have more free time. Oh and then the driving thing. I would never drive again unless I wanted to. My goal is to downsize my things and gradually find my way into a minimalist life. I’m so over clutter. The more evolved I become as a human being the less I need.
Since work is but a few hours away, I once again find myself with those Monday blues. The anxiety of Sunday nights is depressing. I only want to write. I only want to immerse myself in telling a story.
Until then, I make the best of life and am just grateful to have a job I enjoy and coworkers who make it even more enjoyable. There are so many who do not. Someday soon, writing full time will pay the bills and on that day, I’ll hire a housekeeper. 😉
Have a wonderful night my friends.
