Her Love is Here To Stay...

One of my earliest musical memories is of my Mother singing, "When Sunny Gets Blue," along with Johnny Mathis. I think we had a turntable, or it could have been on the radio. Either way, she loved that song and sang it beautifully.

She also liked George Shearing. Once or twice, during the hot Phoenix, Arizona, summers, our family would head north toward our cabin in Sedona for a little break from the oven called, "the valley of the sun." It was a hot, cramped car ride of two or three hours with no stops unless someone was desperate to pee. In those days, there were few gas stations and cafes on the way up and using them was always a challenge. Once the car pulled up to our little "A" frame cabin near Red Rock Crossing, we'd fling the doors open, and disappear until dinner time.

After dinner, the parents would break out the turntable and play Johnny Mathis, George Shearing, and a few other records while we played cards or board games like "Life" or "Monopoly." There was no television reception and barely any radio reception either. I remember really loving the song, "Canadian Sunset," played by the George Shearing quintet. It seemed filled with color and depth and my mother's beautiful voice.

She made life special with her compassion, style, grace and love. Her life was a love song.

"May all beings know love and peace."