Many May Get UPSET...

Just musings today

Many will get upset I'm sure on my thoughts of this day;

but as I read and listen

the reactions and feelings are across the board on the latest tragedy

the death

of

Whitney Houston.

Another gone too soon.

Some reacted that they were shocked

by her death;

from the stars in celebrity-land

to those regular folks like you and I.

I was rather shocked that anyone would be shocked;

after all, Whitney had gone from the great singing star to one falling from fame; with addictions

and one who had lost the purity of her magical pipes that astounded us

and had found the destruction of booze and prescription drugs

and failed Bobby relations

that she openly talked about on television and admitted that "he was my drug".

A tragedy unfolded on television and in concerts.

He was reported to cry on the stage of his concert; to talk of his great love upon hearing of her death;

yet he was the one to introduce her to the world of devastation and mistreatment years ago; to feed her, to encourage her prescription drugs, crack, coke, and to mistreat her so badly.

He now has the audacity to elicit sympathy?

Interesting how people work isn't it?

Am I sad that another has gone too soon?

You bet I am.

BUT

with that said,

you want me fired up really?

LOWER THE FLAG... in New Jersey?

Are YOU kidding me Mayor?

What are YOU thinking in your grief...

Are they really REALLY going to do that,

or

have the really done that up there?

The #1 public health concern

is

Prescription Pills and what it is doing

to those in our country.

From teens who party with them

to adults who take them to self medicate

to treat pain that is physical

that is emotion and spiritual

to

elders

to

celebrities

to soldiers coming home after seeing and doing things that no one should ever have to see or do protecting us so that we are FREE

and

believe me

when I tell you still some

first responders to 9/11

can still see, taste, smell

the events after the terror on our soils

and

still remember the feel having held the strongest in our arms and the sobbing bodies of those in uniform;

the military, the FBI, police, fire dept that they worked diligently among the carnage

and then attempted to comfort in some way all the many shocked and grief filled families during those days and months

who just needed to keep on keeping on

and

who ultimately found their sanity through care; and some through self medication.

People don't intend to die from these drugs;

they have false belief systems that tell them after all if a doctor prescribes them; if the FDA rules them as safe;

surely I won't die... that kind of thing happens to other people.

People can be having the time of their lives;

at a party, or taking a bath, or in their beds

and their bodies just forget to breathe or just surrender to

the combination of drugs

or alcohol

or

both

finally reaching a blood level

or

just shutting down

as a combination

that is incompatable with life itself.

Whitney could no longer sustain the tortures of what she had put in her body; of what others had put in her head and heart; her body just could not tolerate another breath.

Yes it is profoundly sad.

And it happens every day across the country;

and my heart aches

for those who die this way

and

those who are left behind to try to grasp the harsh reality and mourn the loss.

...

But,

now we are hearing all about

Whitney

and

more than that,

 folks are now saying how sick and tired they are of hearing about

Whitney

and other

"celebrities"

who die as a result of drugs, as a result of lavish lifestyles,

and who are talked about for days, for months

and

who then get the flowers, the rave accolades of fans, of their peers.

She is now in her home state;

We now here about the church where she sang and she worshipped and the reports once again are conflicting from

the upcoming memorial that will be held in New Jersey as it now gets compared in scale to what was done

for

Michael Jackson

and the folks that will turn out to remember Whitney to a PRIVATE service in the church.

YOU can bet that will inflame many

if it is not public

but held in a church rather than a big and open to celebrities for the world to view

event of grief shared.

New Jersey will remember one of their own;

and surely those who had turned their backs on Whitney Houston will be there to see and be seen and sing her praises.

It seems that is just how folks are.

I'm hearing of anger, of "why aren't our soldiers being held UP in high esteem, why aren't people crying about them as much as a celebrity,

why aren't the people I love being talked about,

why is it that musicians get all the glory, all the talk and all the tears and flowers!!!"?

I listened to the young woman Kelly Price, who performed with Whitney on the last night of her life; who was nominated for Grammy's herself

as a young Kelly talked about all that performers give of themselves and expose of themselves on the stage; and their pressures, their presence, their selfless giving.

Kelly spoke about how difficult their lives are, how they are on the road giving all that love out so freely, and the difficulty of their life and their "calling".

I know she spoke from a place of "grief/shock/trauma";

having just lost her hero, a woman of stature  with golden pipes particularly when she was the Whitney Houston the world had danced to; had cried to, had loved so.

BUT

make no mistake about it;

performers perform because they love what they do and they go where the biggest venues will have them, most not hanging around to thank or autograph for the fans who love them!

They are paid richly for their voices; they reap tremendous benefit from the entertainment they provide; in monetary gain, in adoration of their fans, in filling up concert halls, in record/CD sales...

They all do not "give their souls", that is rather clear when you see how quickly they exit the stage ... rather they "perform" because that is what a real performer does!

It is a rare and "real deal" performer who comes back for the encore, who stays to "touch and be with their fans", who signs autographs and allows photographs, and who is "real".

Oh yes, the drain of being on the road is difficult, but that is the chosen profession of celebrities, of singers, of speakers, of those who go on the road...

and it is a "cost/benefit"

type of profession

and

most LOVE the profession and wouldn't trade it for the world.

But a "calling"?

I'm not so sure of that.

With "swagga" comes responsiblity

whether one likes to own that or not.

><

Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Michael Jackson, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Waylon Jennings, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Porky N Bess, Janis Joplin, Tammi Terrell, Patsi Cline, Berry Oakley, James Brown, Duane Allman, Otis Redding, Gram Parsons, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Hank Williams, Jim Croce, Minnie Ripperton, Luther Vandeross,

and countless others

were greats and we still love to listen to all they gave to MUSIC

to each of us as individuals

and to the world.

Take your bow now

Whitney ... you now join with so many all gone to soon, by tragedy, by irresponsible choices, by accidents, by age, by Cancer...

We should

remember her friends

and play her music

now that her music is topping the charts once again in death

as it has not done in years.

But we have yet to hear

all that is to come

about a 48 year old

who filled us with the music;

And many are not liking it a bit,

that it is being talked about;

now that she has joined so many

in the choir in the next place.

Soar on with the angels Whitney Houston,

I bet the heavens are having one fantastic gathering and jam fest there

joined by regular folk who can strum/drum and blow

along with sing some songs like we have never ever heard here on earth.

...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_KRHah4nbk

We seem to forget

...

Although many are angry that celebrities get so many days, months of "press"

and of mention

and

of posts on social media sites

with links to their music

...

It is "their music"

that fills so many of us

and

it is "their music, their "swag",

their very own way with words, with chords, with those octaves"

that hit us where we live

in times in our lives that we need and want something more,

something that soothes our souls

and

takes us to our knees at other times like nothing else can or ever will.

Music is a Universal heart beat of the soul, of the central nervous system, of the heart.

And it is those very people who can turn out a song, a melody

and make us feel as though it is being sung to just us;

whether in times of sheer bliss

or

times of profound heartache or angst there is a song that will fill us up and speak right to our hearts.

...

So now while folks are raising hell that once again a celebrity is getting air space, T.V. time,

social media a twitter and a flitter,

while our soldiers are not;

while their own loved ones are not getting what they feel should be the accolades of millions;

while starving children are not being cried over,

yet a celebrity is;

let's not lose sight of

what is real

what is in view,

what is listened to ...

and

I believe the view and the sound

is in the

MUSIC THAT WE ALL

LOVE

From the worn instruments,

the flash of the lights

from the stages across the lands

right into our heart space

Music has soothed the soul

and

has allowed us to embrace each other,

has soothed our babies,

our grown selves,

our Elders,

OUR 

Soldiers.

MUSIC

has played Taps at the graves

and

has held us in grief

has allowed us to stand together

has

joined us in JOY

and

will always

be the heart that beats

as a drum

...

And with the music

we dance

in the rain, lose our fear of the thunder and lightning of lifes' storms and celebrate the Creator/God/dess with each note.

Music and those who fill us UP,

have taken us places that sometimes words just cannot explain or go;

I'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold

for it speaks a language that can be understood when nothing else can;

it often can teach

and we often will

learn and "re-learn"

to

celebrate life

and

with the music, the voices;

we stand alone,

we gather

we remember

we

go to concerts

and listen

and

dance

and

watch

and

scream like there is no tomorrow

knowing that whoever it is

up there on that stage;

they are singing that song

and

that song,

is

OUR SONG

...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubZhwMoxCrI

Yes,

many are not what they appear, many act out their love on stages, many will be talked about, will be fallen stars, will get wrapped up, jacked up and fall for things they should not...

And some we will adore,

some we will not like

and

then there will be those that we

JUST LOVE TO LOVE

and

we will grieve as though we have lost a family member when they die.

BUT,

Music will and has always been

a connect that is universal and strong and speaks to the hearts, mind and spirit.

So, that is why

when one dies, you will hear about it for months, it will be across the news; dirt will be thrown and crap will grow old quickly

and

you will wonder:

"why isn't my loved one being talked about"

and

"why isn't anyone placing flowers in my front yard cos' my pain is just as real as any celebrity and my loved one is just as important".

Yes,

you will be right,

YOU are just as important, and you need to talk about YOU and your loved ones, and get out there and turn up the volume on some music and get you some flowers

to enjoy.

SING

it will allow you to live longer (research has proved that)

Get flowers for you and those you love while you are living, you will enjoy them more alive than when you die!

and finally,

I do believe that Patti Labelle is indeed the finest and the best there has ever been with pipes that can travel 5 octaves in a heart beat; she has been shunned and snubbed at those Grammy's... and is a class act.

But Patti or any other of the class and stylish from country to rap

are "performers"... high paid tickets that we pay to hear/see and enjoy...

Yes, travel on the road can be rough, can be demanding, and can be times away from loved ones and the comforts of home.

But,

it appears at 78 years old, ole' Willie Nelson is still kickin it after all these years, still has pipes and a wicked guitar and is having a blast...

So,

yes>>> it can be a rough road,

and rocky travel,

but oh my the rewards

of doin' what you love

and reaping the rewards in record sales, in red carpet walks

and in the life

appear to pay off large for the many who are talented and gifted and adored by millions appear to work for many of the greats out there.

And with that said, and this is a lot said...

Enjoy the music, the life you live and

smell the roses

while being cautious of the thorns.

TO THE MILITARY

I THANK YOU FOR SERVING

and

speaking of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_UnGxm3OPs

Walk in Beauty,

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches

www.drsherryeshowalter.com