Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Talents

Wow, I love NCLW I have 12, I repeat 12, comments. I have never had that many. I feel so special and loved. I have found so many blogs that I think are the BEES KNEES. I am sure you know this, but there are a LOT of courageous woman out there. We are all connected by one strong bond and I can relate in some way to each and every one. But you know what else is unique about us??

Well, I don't know you tell me. We have many talents in our little internetz group.

To celebrate NCLW, I thought I would tell you guys about one of my special talents.

When I was a (insanely cute) little girl my grandfather gave me something that I still treasure to this day. Something that some people are very afraid of and some people should NEVER have. He gave me a microphone.

Papaw has always been a minister and usually pastors small churches in small towns. The kind that have lots of little old ladies that pinch your cheeks and give you gum and paper to write on when you are bored. One Saturday my whole family was at the church as were having a get together and we always had dinner at the church since there are so many of us. Well my uncle plays the guitar and there were having a little jam session and they handed me a microphone. I sang Jesus Loves Me, He's Still Working on Me, God likes People, well, you get the idea. I would not stop. I was hooked.

I begged my grandfather to let me sing in church and so (being that at the time I was terribly spoiled) he said yes. So I practiced a little more and went home to prepare for my show. The next morning I was sitting with my aunt and all the little old ladies had given me gum so I was waiting very patiently chewing. My grandfather called me to the stage.

I stood up very proudly and walked to the stage. I then handed my grandfather my purse and stuck my gum and the little pew beside him and took my microphone.

Wanna here what I sang? Well, you can't but I can tell you the words.

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and Yellow, Pink and Green
Strangest kids I ever seen
Jesus loves the little children of the World.

Yea, my aunt and uncle got in an insane amount of trouble as they taught me that version when we were practicing.

But here's the thing, I loved singing. After that I sang a lot and I got good. I sang in different churches and won competitions. I started a praise and worship band as a teenager and we even went to Houston and performed. It was what I was going to do with my life. I traveled with a few singers as a young kid and babysat for them just so I could be there. I sang with my Uncles band.

I could blame it on a number of things but for some reason I don't do it anymore. I miss it very much. I have a great fear that I will loose the ability. I just do not know how to get back on the horse ya know?

But that is my talent and I am proud of it and very thankful. So what are some of your talents that you have hidden?

Oh yea and I forgot my gum when I finished singing but while my grandfather was preaching I remembered it and went back and got it.

14 comments:

Tee said...

That is hilarious! And kind of similar to my post today, who knew we were both such talented singers (although my singing career stopped at around 7).
Tee (ICLW)

Mrs Woggie said...

Awwww!!! What a lovely post!!! I love it!!! I'm sure that you sounded just wonderful singing your adaptation of the song!!!

I'll have to think of my special talent now!!

(here from ICLW!)

Anonymous said...

Love that song! Much better than the original version. This post reminds me of the time my brother raised his hand in church when the song leader asked if there were any requests and said "You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me, Lucille!"

I blame my dad. He really pushed the Kenny Rogers.

HereWeGoAJen said...

Hehe. I cannot sing at all. I am completely tone deaf.

Erin said...

Here from ICLW! That is a really cute story. I like your version too! I don't think I have any special talents. Just like Jennifer Garner's character in Catch and Release I can put my whole fist in my mouth...

Michelle said...

comment week is FUN, isn't it?? Love your story...and currently, my special talent is typing w one hand while feeding baby w the other!

Anonymous said...

Aaawww...one of my first memories is my grandmother teaching me "Bringing in the Sheaves" on the piano. I have no idea if I ever sang it at my grandfather's church though (he was a minister too).

edie & ella said...

Awesome story -- how sweet. Now the question is........ "Are you the next American Idol?" ----- I have always wished that I could sing ----- I sometimes pretent that I can.... it sounds damn good in MY head........ sam

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Returning your comment from ICLW (thanks for reading and for commenting)...

One of my hidden talents is baton-twirling. It is totally bizarre, but when I was in preschool I took baton lessons. I don't know what my mother was thinking to sign up a three-year-old for baton lessons! Actually I vaguely remember some of my friends whose mom was friends with my mom being in the class, so that must be it.

The only practical applications I've seen for baton twirling are marching bands and the Miss America pageant. Otherwise, it's a totally useless skill.

I remember being in the class, and twirling it reasonably well, and practicing at home. I also vividly remember being afraid when I would throw the baton up in the air that it would hit me in the face on the way back down.

Amy said...

That's a cute story. My entire family is very musical. My grandfather and dad were pastors as well. I had the opposite problem. I would be forced into singing in front of the church as a little girl. It only happened a few times but still. I'm pretty shy and quiet and while I can sing I don't like to do so in public. My entire family is on the worship team at church and I am continually forced to avoid the questions of whether or not I can sing. My answer is usually a "sorta but not in public" while my dad and husband interject a "yes she can." Ugh.

ICLW

Clever Trevor said...

I soooo wish I could sing - I was embarrassed singing nursery rhymes in front of my husband!

My only saving grace is that he sounds worse than me!

andrea said...

cute story!
i definatly can not sing... and am not sure what my special talent might be - maybe its making people smile! :)

--ICLM

andnotbysight said...

What a great story! And I love that you brought your purse and gum up with you! I love to sing, too, and it's definitely never too late to start again.

Anonymous said...

LOL! I got a kick out of this story :)