ONLY YOU

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 
― H. Jackson Brown Jr., P.S. I Love You  I read this to my Daughter before leaving for a much needed Girls Weekend Away. We were traveling to such a magical city and I wanted her to go with an open heart and mind full of Wonderment to be touched, inspired, deeply moved and changed. Our destination was Memphis, Tennessee I was setting the tone on our way up playing the classic beloved song, Walking In Memphis. Perhaps I got a little carried away by replaying it so much but she could feel it and she herself was singing but she didn't know yet what it meant and I couldn't wait to see how she might sing once ignited. Our playlist was mingled in with Feddy Wap and other popular tunes we hear today but we were going to see the Broadway Musical Beautiful the story of Carol King so alas I played the soundtrack so that they would resonate during the performance; and yes of course we sang to Elvis. Her and my "thing" is Music, but not only to hear and sing; we feel the music and let it move us.  Always has been. When she was just toddling I would leave my television on her channels so when we found ourselves in there it was something she enjoyed and I had one rule. One of her favorite shows had a video with a song and anytime that song came on, we stopped whatever we were doing and we danced. I made no apologies to anyone if someone was there, except to please pardon me for a moment and extend the invite to join in if they so felt inclined. She would look with eyes so full of wonderment when we were not alone as if I might not join almost hesitating even as young as she was, but in one quick moment I was on my feet and we danced high on top of the fireplace hearth, on chairs and she would get on our coffee table and sometimes we would make a train. If our guests didn't join in they had smiles from ear to ear and comments of delight after considering perhaps they too  should make some "rules" of their own in their home. One of my Dreams is that my list of the things I failed to do will be small and my memories bursting at the seams of all that I allowed myself to explore, dream and discover as stated at the beginning. 

We left no stone uncovered with what we decided we wanted to experience on our getaway trip, the History of this iconic city was immense, as a heavy perfumed incense that overwhelms you our times were laced with perpetual moments in time rewound and coming to life and touching us in such a way that at times we both were overcome with such emotion. The stories and people that touched our time there we have spoke of since and applied to ourselves igniting those traits and passions all our own to burn. When we took a horse and carriage ride around that Magical City after our Broadway show,  my daughter sang with such raw passion Carol King's Classic, you make me feel like a natural woman and even Walking in Memphis instead of her rapper tunes or favorites. The tears that welled up from my heart it was like it had been slingshot right up into my throat can only begin to compare the emotion  that overtook me. To watch my Daughters eyes full of wonderment as I did as when she toddled and would be full of emotion when our song came on, it was there in the eyes of this preteen that I sometimes barely recognize or can identify with who is stretching her boarders and widening her stance to become all that bustles within her. Any Parent will attest that is one of our greatest Wonderments in Life if not the greatest. I liken this to being inspired by so many of these Dreamers who have touched so many many of our lives and shaped our world of Music and History; all by as stated in the beginning of this blog, sailed away from the safe harbor and explored, dreamed and discovered. I think that is what the lyrics meant in Walking in Memphis do I really feel the way I feel.  What I tried to drive home in my Daughter is that almost all of the History we encountered by these various people were all living out their own identity driven by their Passion and so much so that so many years later it is still touching so many around us. 

I do not foresee my life being on that great of a magnitude of impact and for that I am extremely satisfied with, however; may I touch those as my Daughter, and friends I have been so incredibly blessed with in such a way that my life has been branded onto theirs and likewise theirs to mine.  For me in my enthrallment of The Wonderment of Life it begins with Us. You, Me, the each and every one of Us and the Dream of what we are to be. May today we be reminded by so many of those that made the major impacts on us all to not overlook or loose the moments in which we can appreciate and hold with regard those in our lives. As my Daughter and I  sat in one of the most popular venues for our favorite past time, people watching, this point was illuminated to me as I was captivated by those around me, this place was overflowing  so many people so you couldn't possibly view them all. Their uniqueness, their individuality, and whatever their true sense of purpose Camille and I applauded.The thing that I brought home from my reminders of History, these people that were inspiring my Daughter and I of days gone by were breaking the mold in every way; including the Ducks of the Peabody Hotel it started as a joke over some Jack Daniels and there were over 800 in attendance to Saturday afternoon's soiree just to see these iconic ducks. What are we waiting for? Let's catch the trade winds in our sails and embark on the deeper meanings that lie at every turn, the people that surround us on every side just positioned perfectly for that nudge or dash of inspiration your life  is thirsting after, longing to be quenched. May The Wonderment of Life overtake you today...

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