A Weekend of Memories

Ahhhh family. Nothing like getting the family together to remind you how wonderful and crazy they are! And seeing that, you get a glimpse of what the future holds for you. Our family is particularly unique because not only are we crazy, we love to sing about it! You see, I grew up in a home filled with music. I remember dancing around the living room in my mother's high heels singing Amiee Stewart's version of "Knock on Wood". We listened to every Beatles album ever released and I still remember Don McLean's album cover with his thumb painted as an American flag. I knew every verse to American Pie and Vincent before I knew who and what those songs were about. My mom was a huge fan of music as is my entire family. Rarely was there ever a gathering at our dear Aunt Margaret's house without someone busting out a guitar and all of us laughing and singing together. In the early 80's, my mother's sister, Debbie, sang in a band called "Beauty and The Beats." They frequently played at a bar called The Daily Planet which is now known as Reedmeister's. I remember spending many Friday and Saturday nights at the bar watching the band play. Remember, I told you it was the early 80's and being that I was born in 1975, that means I was hanging out in bars as a child. It sounds horrible but that environment of friends and family created many wonderful memories for me. Aunt Debbie would greet us at the door with a roll of quarters and my brother and I would play video games (they had Frogger and Ms PacMan), table shuffle board and sip cokes all night. We loved it. And then I would beg one of her bandmates, Michael Cervetti, to sing "Puff the Magic Dragon" for me during their set breaks.

I'm sharing all of this to "set the stage" for you to understand what I experienced this weekend. My dearest Aunt Debbie came home for a visit this weekend. Her first night back in Memphis was spent with our family. We wanted to make sure we were all gathered together to see and celebrate each other. Then the "family" that I spent many weekends with at the Planet, all gathered together for somewhat of a reunion. We spent the weekend visiting old friends and listening to their new bands. Last night we watched our friend Alan Collier play with his new band, Java. Knowing that I was going to see Alan that night, I sang "Love's Fool" to myself all day. If he's reading this now, he's probably wondering how in the heck I remember that song. Silly, Alan - I know the words to all the songs on the "Beauty and the Beats" album! As soon as I saw Alan, my heart leap. Alan was always so sweet and still is. He is a genuinely happy man and a gifted singer/musician. Just the kind of person you want to be around! I was also blessed to be reunited with Michael Cervetti who I mentioned in the last paragraph. How silly I felt thinking of how I used to always beg him to play that song when I was 8. But he told me this weekend that he always loved playing it, especially for me. What a beautiful person Michael is.

This afternoon, we gathered at Reedmeisters (forever known to all of us as The Planet) for an Open Mic event. I haven't set foot in that bar since the early 90's when the bartender called me and told me to come pickup my step-father who'd had too much to drink. As I entered the bar this afternoon, it was like coming home. It was all so familiar to me. I saw people I had not seen in 25 years. None of them had a clue who I was until I introduced myself! Come on, I was 8 the last time most of them saw me! We spent the afternoon catching up on the past 25 years and listened to each other sing. It was as if only a week had passed instead of 25 years! I felt so at home and surrounded by love. I felt as if I was in a room with all my aunts and uncles. I got to hear my aunt's band play again and they were awesome. I even got to hear "Puff the Magic Dragon." Unfortunately for me, it was not Michael who sang it but it was still beautiful to hear.

Donald tagged along with me to several of this weekend's events. Last night as we were driving home he said to me, "You know, thinking about you in a bar at 8 used to be scary for me. Now that I've met everyone, I realize what an amazing and loving environment that was for you." It was awesome to share that experience with my husband. The more time he spends with my mother and aunt, the more he understands why I sing all the time and dance around the house while making up songs about either him or my dogs. It's in my blood! It's in my spirit! It's that silliness that makes my husband laugh! And I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

You're all welcome to visit my web album that features pictures from this weekend. There are even some video clips included. My Aunt Debbie sang my favorite song "Beauty" which is a song she wrote. She's written many songs over the years but this one is probably my favorite. I used to beg her to sing me to sleep with that song. And of course, she would. Thank you for that Aunt Debbie. I love you.