Just like the river

It's been a long time coming... but I believe my change has come

I have had Queen of Soul's bone crushing, soul soothing, heart wrenching voice in my head for over two months.
It's been twisting and turning in my body, making it's way through every stubborn cell that says
 ... It's too late.
Aretha Franklin's truth spills out when she steps to the microphone. There is no magic trick, no illusion, no sparkly distractions.
It's her. Her Truth. Her Microphone. Her Voice.
And she manages to tear me open with one perfect lyrical line and put me back together again the next.

See a change is coming. A change is here. I literally woke up in the middle of a conversation with my best friend and husband. We were having a serious discussion about what needs to change.
And I heard thunder rolling and lightning striking inside of my bones.
And I knew I'd never be the same.
See I know all the affirmations.
I sing and share and admire them.
They are nothing without action.

A change is coming. A change is here. Ohhhhh yes it is.

Aretha is teaching me something else. She's teaching me to take it low and slow. The the draw of her voice... like honey. No rush. It's not too late. You are where you need to be. Keep moving. Don't stop. There is no looking back because there is nothing there.
A change is coming. A change is here.

Here's some visuals of my life lately.

Open up...

"There's a bird that nests inside you..sleeping underneath your skin, yeah when you open up your wings to speak I'd wish you'd let me in"....
-Counting Crows/ August & Everything After...

An Original by: Me :)

The album that started it all. My love affair with anything and everything lyrically genius.
Actually that isn't entirely true. I can remember distinctly having my own "boom box" in 3rd grade and listening to love songs on the coast when I was supposed to be sleeping..and memorizing words. They were fascinating to me.. that words could be formed into a song that said everything you've ever wanted to say. YOu could say that I was a passionate kid. All heart. And you would be correct.
By the time I was in 5th grade I knew every single note worthy , cheesy love song "on the coast" that there was. Jen would write in and express her love for Jonathan with a ballad from Chicago...and I would intently listen... quite as to not disturb my father would would "have killed me" if he found out I wasn't sleeping..and I would write the lyrics.
In 6th grade I got a double cassette player and I could record RIGHT OFF THE RADIO! It was so rad.
And I would record it...and listen to it over and over and study the lyrics..what they meant...and why love inspired so much happiness and so much pain...and mostly so much art.

It was a saving grace for me..in a tumultuous and uncertain time... lyrics/music got me through the teen years.. scouring through my fathers old LP collection and discovering time and time again Elton Johns goodbye yellow brick road..just sounded better when you could hear it spin on the record player.
And Led Zeppelin would take me to places I was sure were other worldly..completely sober.. however willing to receive it's transformative majic through lyric...and heart stopping, wrenching song.

I painted this picture for my best friend of 18 years.
I hope she receives it well...as it is my intention to show to her that I love her more than I could ever express in any song, poem, lyric or limerick.
I had to do it through gesso, paint, ink, stamps and lots and lots of patience.

I hope you love it Tee.