A Night To Remember

Last night we went to a fundraiser at Micke Grove Zoo. It was a highlight in my life for many reasons.

1) We arrived early to get a good seat, only to learn that Jennifer Lind had reserved a place for us with her family. What an honor! VIP seating! And I was right next to her mom, which was a delight in itself. It was fun to bask in the glow of maternal pride, and to hear stories of Jennifer's childhood (over a very tasty steak dinner).

2) I was not only in the presence of a legend -- Randy Sparks -- but we all had the privilege and pleasure of singing Happy Birthday to him. (How many people can say they have sung to Randy Sparks?!) He's turning 77 this week. He doesn't look it. He can still charm an audience with his wonderful wit, clever lyrics, and distinctive voice. They don't make 'em like Randy Sparks anymore. I smiled so much that this morning my cheeks hurt. Driving home last night my palms were tingling from all the clapping.

3) Jennifer was on top of her game. She sang a solo love song to her husband that made my heart skip a beat. God, I love her voice. It's like none other I've ever heard. Becky Jo has a a scene-stealing stage presence, but oh, that Jennifer. I'm not sure but there may be a halo that appears when she sings. Well, you can hear it more than see it, but there it is, perched at an interesting little angle, almost touching one cute little ear.

4) We came out on top of the bidding with one out of three items we were interested in, and won the only drawing prize I was really hoping for. All this while feeling really cool that our money was going to a worthy cause (feeding the critters at the zoo). Which brings to mind Randy's remarks about charities. He so pushed my buttons! This was the fifth year that he has performed at this particular fundraiser, and it's his policy to do so on his own terms -- that every cent go to the cause... not 90% to "administration" and 10% to help out, as is so often the case. Way to go, Randy!

I've said it before but I'm going on the record with it here and now. Jennifer Lind is going places. On a selfish note (no pun intended), when she reaches the top I'll be able to say I knew her on her way up. I hope she's aware of the Zen concept: "When you reach the top of the mountain, keep climbing!"

My Exciting Story

There's something that happens when I look at my horse and she looks at me. I've had horses before, and it didn't happen when our eyes met. It only happens with Brandi. There are certain pictures of her where I can see it. too. I show the photos to other people and ask, "Can you see it?" They almost always say something like, "Uhh, yeah, maybe." I have polite friends.

I don't know what "it" is, but it's not a visual thing because the same thing happens when I hear certain music. I get lost in certain music, and I mean "lost" in a good way. Maybe I get lost in Brandi's eyes, too.

One of the reasons I'm so happily married to my husband of 34 years is that, after playing tennis on our first date, we went to my place, drank wine coolers, and... listened to music. Till 3:00 a.m. He was the first person in my life to actually listen to my music with me. He got it! Factor in that he looked so much like John Denver he grew a moustache so people would stop telling him so, and poor Frank didn't stand a chance -- the man was mine!

So I'm writing about the "it" that happens rarely, but always in some spectacular way. It's kinda like a spark ignites on some level deep down inside, and you're different because of it. It happens when you least expect it. Like walking out of a social event a year or so back, and being introduced to Jennifer Lind by her husband, who knew my husband. Andrew said, "Jennifer is recording a CD of cowboy songs." Not country/western, he went on to explain. Cowboy. It happened. (She gets it!) Now I adore her.

So after obsessing over her CD when I was finally able to buy one (I actually bought 10 and gave one to the 9 most special people in my life), I eventually came back to my senses and now I only listen to it all the time. I don't know her well enough to say she's an angel, but I can unequivocally say she sings like one!

Now here's where asking you to understand "it" may begin to seem unreasonable of me. After seeing Jennifer perform "live" recently, I of course blogged about it, and sent Jennifer a link. She sent my blog to her mentor -- THE Randy Sparks. (If you don't know who that is, I suggest you find out, you cretin! And if you don't know what a cretin is, you need to find that out also.) Randy Sparks replied to Jennifer, and he sent me a CC. Can you imagine what happened when his name popped up on my list of incoming e-mail? That's right. "It" happened. An OMG electric moment. Randy Sparks!

But wait, there's more. Just in case you don't know this, which is hard for me to fathom, Randy Sparks gave John Denver his start (along with many others). JOHN DENVER!!! Now if you know me personally, you know how I feel about John. I mean there's no way you could understand how I feel about him, (unless you feel the same way, and then only maybe) but you certainly know about it because it's one of those things I never shut up about. So can you imagine my reaction when, in his e-mail, Randy said he was sending my blog to John's uncle, Dave Deutschendorf, who is a member of the New Christy Minstrels (as is Jennifer)? Talk about sparks -- they're now flyin' all over the place and it's not even 4th of July!

How can such a single, simple thing as a name on your monitor be so transforming? It's like I expect people to look at me differently now and say, "Hmmm... there's just something about you..." and I will think but not say, "Well DUH. I just got an e-mail from Randy Sparks!" Okay, okay, I will say it if I get the chance.

So, sorry, I can't explain what "it" is, and if I could, well that would be some kick ass writing. I just know that it is, to toss a little Zen your way. Randy shares "it" through his music, Jennifer projects it, and when John died, he left some of "it" behind for folks like me. Maybe "it" is the glue that holds our hearts together when they've been broken .

Let's be clear here - I am 68 years old and edging close to 69. So I am not a giggling girl in her teens, idolizing some special "packaged" people from afar. They're not performers I "like" - they are... well crap, words fail me. Except for when it comes to John, I can say this. He wasn't just a singer with a cute country way about him. John was Life with a capital L. John... got it. Fortunately some others who get it too, but there will never be another John. Thank God he lives on through his music. And if you don't get that, well, there's still hope. Listen to him sing.

Know how "I SEE you" took on special meaning in the popular movie Avatar? That's the way to HEAR good music.

Live Music Lives On

We had such a good time last night with Jennifer Lind and The Hired Guns, who were entertaining at Abundance Vineyards in Lodi! I say "with" them not "watching" or "listening" to them, because it wasn't like they were there and we were here... we were clearly all in it together. Jennifer knows how to connect with her audience, and her love of music makes it come alive.

I love, love, love her voice, and I play her CD Cowboy State of Mind endlessly in my Ranger, mostly when I'm driving to/from the ranch where my horse is boarded. Sometimes I sing some of the songs to Brandi while we're horsing around. Using the term "sing" loosely, of course. I'll have to be careful never to let her hear Jennifer, or she might cowkick me for being such a piss-poor copycat.

One of the exciting things about Jennifer (besides her exquisite talent) is that Randy Sparks is her mentor. Randy Sparks knew John Denver, and in fact gave John his last name as a replacement for Dutchendorf. Since I know Jennifer, who knows Randy, who knew John, this gives me only three degrees of separation from my all time favorite, and it's a bonus that I love Randy's music and Jennifer a lot as well. But John Denver will always hold a special place in my heart.

I saw him perform on stage three times, at different stages of his career. The last time was after he and Annie had divorced, and it was obvious that some of his spark left him when she did. But I took his death so seriously, it saddened me so deeply, that my feelings were hurt when none of my friends called to see if I was doing okay, or came over to console me. I got through it by trying to focus on all the awesome music he left behind. I never tire of it.

Life is for the living, however, and after last night we intend to go to as many Jennifer Lind performances as possible. Not much can beat live music. She'll be back at Abundance Vineyards on July 24 with her band. It's truly my idea of a good time: Wear jeans, straddle a bench at a picnic table the way you'd sit in a saddle, eat whatever food you want to bring along, buy some mighty fine wine by the glass or bottle, dance if you want to, or watch others (from age 7 to 70 last night) dance to the beat (or sort of). How can it get any better?

Prior to Abundance, Jennifer will be appearing July 17 with Randy Sparks and some of the New Christy Minstrels at Micke Grove in Lodi -- a fundraiser for the zoo. I can hardly wait! When I was recently on a committee for my 50 year high school reunion, I ended up doing the "memory book." Randy gave me permission to include part of the lyrics from a duet he and Jennifer sing. My school chums loved the great message they found on the first page of their book:

Looking back, it's been one helluva ride.
I've had my 15 minutes and God knows I've tried.
I always go the extra mile to make up for whatever I lack,
And I'm inclined to smile, looking back.

If you want to check out what all my hoopla is about, go to http://www.jenniferlind.net/ . Then if you spot me at one of her shows, mosey on over and say howdy. How will you know who I am? Look for the cowgirl who's having the most fun! :-)