I've been taking a trip down memory lane. Oh probably circa 1972-1973. Last night I bought John Denver Definitive all time greatest hits, a few lesser hits, and previously unreleased material. Carol King and James Taylor from that time also bring back good memories. I played all of their music over and over and over on my totally fine avocado green stereo. 8 tracks hadn't even been invented yet. The songs took on such special meaning for me because as a brand new Christian I changed all the words and meanings to the poignant songs they sang and addressed them all to God or about God. Well, almost all the songs. When I first heard Travis Cottrell sing Annie's Song and change one word, Lord, I couldn't worship God like all my sisters surrounding me in Tuesday night Bible study. I remember that song as the chosen "make out" song of my freshman year boyfriend Jim "Hands" Kelly. I was telling this to a friend and she said, say no more. Anybody with the nickname Hands, don't want to know the story. I really wasn't prepared to tell "our" story of Freshman year love at Southwest Texas State University, but I will say, he was a preacher boy in the making, so 'nuff said.I have great memories of being in Beth Wilkins old Chevy, with all the windows down and we were singing at the top of our lungs when the songs came on the radio. Whoever was in the car and we always seemed to be in her car, joined in and we sang some mean and tight harmony. We all fell in love with Colorado and wanted to marry mountain men when we graduated from college. I don't think any of us found a mountain man to marry and only Marty and Bobby did move there for a bit of time. Marty is a girl, Catha's aunt.
Since I have kept a journal since the fourth grade, it isn't too difficult for me to find my journals of thoughts, longings, and desire to see God's will in my life. When I was in high school. I had a list that I submitted for approval to the Lord of what I would like in my husband. He would be broad shouldered and be very athletic. He needed to be aesthetically pleasing, being able to write a song or a poem for me at any given moment. He would be tall and artistic being able to do woodworking and be able to fix anything that me or our 5 children would break. We would live in the country, living a simple life, but have lots of money to do the fun things in between all our Christ honoring simple way of living life.
Whoa, am I ever glad that God didn't take me up on my list. I didn't even know how high maintenance I am and although a song, a poem, and great cabinetry are wonderful that doesn't always pay the bills. God knew I would fall in love with a man whose shoulders aren't very broad, he can't sing a lick, we hire out to fix anything we break, and well those five children, uh that was my faulty plumbing. I fell in love with a man like David is after God's heart. Roy takes such good care of me and I love him. His seriousness makes me laugh. He is tenacious when it comes to handling insurance disputes or anything that takes a phone call to rectify a situation. In the early 1980's when oil might hit the unheard of price, $25.00, we tried to move to Denver. There were a lot of oil and gas jobs there...and then came the bust. God knew we needed to be in Houston.
John Denver brings back good memories, but life today with Roy and Buddy is everything I need or want from life. Got a man who loves me and I love him. Got a cat that is a little fickle on the love thing and has a bit of a temper, but for the most part she is a sweet and loving companion.
.. I have never even thought this in all the years from now back to my freshman year, but I wonder what ever happened to Jim "Hands" Kelly? I wonder if he married my friend who began dating him after we broke up? I wonder if he became a Baptist preacher? That is all my wondering about him, not interested in seeing him for any other reason. Ha!
Poems, Prayers, and Promises by John Denver
I have to say it now, it's been good life all in all, it's really fine to have a chance to hang around.and lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire while all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around. And talk of poems and prayers and promises and things that we believe in. How sweet it is to love someone, how right it is to care. How long it's been since yesterday, what about tomorrow and what about our dreams and all the memories we share?Days they pass so quickly now, the nights are seldom long. Time around me whispers when it's cold.The changes some how frightens me, still I have to smile. It turns me on to think of growing old. For though my life's been good to me there's still so much to do. So many things my mind has never known. I'd like to raise a family, I'd like to sail away and dance across the mountains on the moon.
Oh, this Jim isn't the Jim of football fame
4 comments:
You have no idea how much I love John Denver. I remember where I was when I heard he had died. That was the first concert I ever attended - he played at Astroworld. Love him. His music reminds me of looking out the window of our '79 Ford Bronco, driving through Colorado on camping trips, or up to the ranch in Kerrville. John Denver = Mountains and TX Hill Country.
John Denver died way to early.
Loved your stories!
oh, i forgot to tell you - Bill always plays, "Country Road, Take me Home" in our office. Sometimes it makes Debbie cry b/c she's from West Virginia.
I was weaned on a musical diet of John Denver.
Just recently I downloaded 'Grandma's Feather Bed' onto the kids MP3 players for a laugh, and they absolutely love it LOL!
'Oh, it was 9 foot wide high and 6 foot wide ...'
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