Category: Memories

Memories

Fresh Harvest

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We are at that magical time, where we are getting a lot of locally harvested foods and I absolutely love it simply because of the memories it invokes.

My Mom always had a robust vegetable garden. She grew so many of our vegetables throughout the summer season. Forgive me for listing them, but we always had tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, lettuce, spinach, hot peppers and I know that I am missing so many others. She would then alternate with corn (the squirrels would devour them) and other herbs. And the dreaded Rhubarb (Yuck – still do not like it!)

From a young age, I learned how to pick the vegetables properly so to yield more. There is something of the smell of fresh produce, the sun and soil, which until this day, is so pleasing to me.

Unfortunately, I do not have my Mom’s green thumb and unless we get a mini greenhouse, our backyard’s creatures would destroy any attempts that I could make.

And the best part of having a fresh garden, is eating the produce fresh. Lunch on the week-ends would be spinach, cooked with onions, garlic, and lemon juice wrapped in a piping hot West Indian Roti smothered in butter. No words for how tasty that was.

Or eating tomato choka, which is a West Indian savoury chutney, again with fresh hot roti. The freshness and tastes live on and honestly, have never been recreated for me just because of how fresh the food was.

I wish my kids could have experienced that type of cooking and tastes. Which leads me to my dream one day of learning to grow produce in that manner, so that perhaps, one day, I can share an abbreviated version of those tastes with my kids.

For now, we are enjoying the beautiful apples and the end days of corn. And looking forward to the Fall and Thanksgiving.

But that’s just one Diva’s view.

Influences, Memories

George Michael

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Like many women of my era, I was first introduced to George Michael through WHAM. Initially, they really were not my cup of tea. I was not into bands which had a huge female following, who just fanned out for the group, wearing their swag and just going into hysterics. In the same way, I was never a huge New Kids on the Block fan either. 

But then my Dad really loved Careless Whisper and played it a lot at home. And my Dad was a huge musical influence for me growing up. And from that song, I was hooked. I became a FAN!! In grade 5, I asked for Wham’s Make it Big album for my birthday present. I listened to that album non stop and knew all the words. I still have it and it is at the front of my album collection. 

And in grade 7, when George Michael released his solo debut, I had that cassette. And even though it had some controversial lyrics, no one was stopping me from grooving to that cassette! My fandom continued! And quite honestly, George Michael’s music has been with me throughout. High School was Listen without Prejudice, which contains my favourite song, George Michael’s interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s “They Won’t Go When I go”. During university, he released “Older” and it was the perfect music to play at night, just looking out the window, wondering who I was going to be when I was Older. 

When I was in Law School, he released Unplugged, which has my favourite version of “Everything She Wants”, recorded in Japan. And then he released Songs from the Last Century, where he came out as being gay in a small lyric of a song referring to his lover as “he”. I remember my roommate’s boyfriend teasing me that my musical boyfriend was gay and that this would ruin my adoration for him; that guy did not know anything! I was glad that George was comfortable being himself and sharing himself with his audience. I felt like he trusted his fans to be himself and sing about his true life. It was insightful. 

His voice and his interpretation of songs, has just always been magical and hypnotizing to me. And when he did covers, he always re-did my favourite songs such as Stevie Wonder’s “As” or Roberta Flack’s “The First Time” or Bonnie Rait’s “I can’t make you love me”…..I could go on. 

I loved his videos, his cheeky take on controversies and his general attitude. His confidence and soulful voice have been a companion and a part of my soundtrack of my life. Honestly, I can reference so many amazing moments, and his voice was always present or in the background of those memories – that’s how important he has been to me. 

I was lucky enough to see him in concert with my husband and for me, it was hands down, one of the best musical experiences in my life. He transported me that night with his music and I am grateful that I finally had that experience.

When he passed away, my close friend shared the news, knowing how important he was to me. It was at that moment that I understood the fans of the Beatles or Elvis, being devastated. 

It was upsetting because you knew, he had more to share, and that although his music would live on, he was no longer. 

Whenever a George Michael song comes on the radio, it does not get changed. I hope that one day, my kids can discover his music and appreciate it, even in a little way. I think that they will have a better understanding of me, by doing so.

But that’s just one Diva’s view.

#GeorgeMichael #MusicalInfluences

Memories

John Denver

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I know – not a subject that anyone would expect me to write about. However, John Denver has been a constant in my life - a reassuring constant.

My parents watched a lot of variety shows while I was growing up. Although I was too young, I know that my parents watched the John Denver show during my infancy, and his soothing voice must have made an impact, because I have always loved his voice.

For kids my age, our version of a variety show was the “Muppet Show”. John Denver is one of the guests that I remember fondly from that show. He had a very unassuming way, but very likeable. He looked like the type of person that if you needed help, he would assist. For a kid – that makes an impact.

And when he sang, the songs were always memorable and pure. They left a memory for you. As I have a milestone birthday coming up, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my influences. 

As you know, music has always been a huge influence for me. My birth year, John Denver released one of my favourites which he co-wrote – Sunshine on my Shoulders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwuu_r6GJE:

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I’d give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

What amazing lyrics and such a pleasing melody. It is the perfect song for me because honestly, I am a person very impacted by the sun and sunshine. It perfectly encapsulates my feelings about the sun and how our family has always had amazing memories during the summer or somewhere hot! The sun always makes me feel happy and at my best. 

And ofcourse, in school, we learned Country Roads, which to me is almost like an anthem. It is honestly one of my favourite songs to sing and it is surprisingly, how many people know all of the lyrics to this song. Again, written by John Denver, for me, it reminds me of my Mom. She grew up in the country side, although not in the USA and the feeling of this song, seems to capture “country living” which I always associate with my Mom.

When John Denver passed away, I was in Law School and my roommates and I were throwing a birthday party for a friend at our place. Many friends showed up with other friends, and no joke – this guy showed up and he looked exactly like John Denver. It was a bit eerie, but all throughout the evening, we kept coming up to him, asking him to sing our favourite John Denver songs. For all of us that evening, we always remember it is as our John Denver party. 

And so for me, John Denver has been a constant in my life. And as I reflect, I am so happy that I have been influenced by such an amazing story teller, both in lyrics and in song.

But that’s just one Diva’s view.

#JohnDenver #milestone