Felicia Denise's Blog, page 27
February 3, 2019
Song Lyric Sunday | “Get Here” – Oleta Adams
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “Ocean/Sea/Lake/Bay.”
~~~~~
I went down the street and around the corner to make this week’s theme jive with my song pic. 
January 27, 2019
#My52 “The Price of a Life, Part III”
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#My52: Week 4
Word prompt: tacos
Word count – 1062
Reading time – 1 mins, 34 secs
~~~
Part III
Focused on his studies, Dex pushed thoughts of his early morning from his mind. School was the only thing he had going for him and he didn’t know how, but he was determined to have a better life.
Verna Morgan’s words didn’t return to his mind until he passed the counseling center next to the library at the end of the school day.
His mind raced as he weighed his options.
I have nowhere to stay… not even a friend to bunk with for a day or two until I figure things out.
He peered through the large office window and spotted his school advisor.
Jerome Gaffney was an okay counselor, even if he was stuck in the eighties in appearance and language, and Dexter knew he would try to help. But he was a minor and that help would involve foster care or worse, juvenile hall.
Deciding to check area shelters on his own before approaching Mr. Gaffney, Dex left the building and headed across the school parking lot toward downtown.
“Dexter?”
Startled, Dex looked around the parking lot. He froze when he saw Simon standing next to the rundown Explorer. His mother sat in the passenger seat, channeling Audrey Hepburn, but the scarf and sunglasses couldn’t mask the damage caused by Simon.
“Dexter?”
“Why are you here, ma?”
“I’m sorry, baby-”
“We’re sorry,” Simon piped in.
She continued. “I don’t want you to leave. I can’t bear the thought of my baby sleeping on the streets-”
“I can’t do this anymore, ma. The screaming, the fighting. You can’t expect me to just sit there while he beats you.” He tilted his head toward Simon while still focused on his mother. “It’s wrong and I can’t live like that anymore. It’s better this way.”
Verna removed her sunglasses and Dex’s stomach roiled.
Despite the distance between them, he couldn’t miss the array of colors in her face.
The dark bruising around her left eye feathered to purple on her temple. Her patrician nose held a greenish bump on the bridge, proof it was broken. The ruby red lipstick did little to hide the blood blister in the corner of her mouth or the split next to it.
“Your… face.”
She averted her eyes, replacing the sunglasses.
“It will get better. We will do better, baby. I promise.”
“We promise.”
Dex was unmoved by Simon’s half-hearted promise, but his mother’s concern did appear genuine.
He turned his gaze to Simon for the first time while taking hesitant steps to the vehicle.
The con man’s raised eyebrows satisfied Dex his unspoken threat was received.
He climbed into the Explorer’s back seat and hadn’t closed the door before Verna turned around, bouncing and excited.
“It’s all-you-can-eat tacos day at Nina’s Taqueria. Let’s go clean them out!”
“Love the sound of that, baby. We gotta take care of our boy.”
Our boy.
Dex looked out the window to hide his eye-roll.
For five years, Simon called him by name or your son when speaking to Verna. Nothing else.
Something wasn’t right.
“Congratulations, Dexter! You’re one of the first students to receive an acceptance letter from UNLV.”
The teenager accepted Jerome Gaffney’s handshake with a smile, holding back a belly laugh. The man had an amazing resemblance to one of the Bee Gees.
“The registrar is impressed with your grades and knows you’ll be an asset to the psychiatry program.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate all your help with the application.”
Dexter gripped the arms of the chair trying to conceal his excitement. In a few short months, he’d be a student on the Las Vegas campus of the University of Nevada.
And away from his mother and Simon… for good.
The violence at home hadn’t stopped. They waited until Dexter was gone to fight, but Verna… and the apartment always showed the telltale signs of Simon unleashing his anger.
“Dexter?”
“I’m sorry, sir. What?”
“Where’d you go, kiddo? You were a million miles away.”
“Sorry. Just excited, I guess.”
“Well, you have every right to be. A good percentage of our senior classes continue their education after high school, but few make the grades for UNLV.” His smiled waned. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you, son. I was an introvert as a teenager too and I know what you’re up against. It’s one of the reasons I ended up here. To help all students because I’ll never forget what it was like to be invisible.”
His counselor was a good man, but Dex couldn’t help but wonder how many students dealing with issues not connected with school or students suffering from depression and anxiety the kind man had helped.
“You will receive a ton of mail from the school before your graduation, but before we get to that, let’s go over your financial aid packet.”
Dex frowned. “My what?”
“Financial aid… to pay for your tuition.”
“I don’t understand. My acceptance letter said they awarded me scholarships from the school.”
“Yes, you were.” He looked over a computer printout. “And with your grade point average, you’re on target to receive one or two more from the school board.”
Jerome Gaffney laid the paper aside and folded his hands on his desk.
“But son, it’s not enough for a psychiatry major. That includes medical school.”
Dexter’s buzz of excitement slowed to a dull ache throbbing near his temples.
“What do I need to do?”
The counselor pushed a large envelope across the desk.
“That’s the application for federal financial aid. I’ll highlight the most important parts, then you can give it to your parents. They have plenty of time to complete it before the school’s first College Night.”
“My parents? Can’t I fill it out?”
“Household income, tax returns, monthly obligations… sorry, kiddo. That’s gotta come from mom and dad.”
Gaffney continued to talk, but Dex didn’t hear him.
The throbbing in his head grew to a loud roar, and the bile rose from his stomach.
His mother hadn’t worked in his whole life. They lived with her hustler boyfriend. There was no household income, just occasional wins at the card table he was sure Simon couldn’t put on any tax return.
The lump in his throat made swallowing difficult.
He’d never get financial aid. Never get into UNLV. Never get away from Verna and Simon.
Dex inhaled through his nose and gripped the chair arms when his vision blurred, then faded.
Just like his future.
To be continued…
Photo by Angelo Del Prete on Unsplash
~~~
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©2019 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
January 26, 2019
Song Lyric Sunday | “No One Gonna Love You” – Jennifer Hudson
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “no.”
~~~~~
I’m not a fan of the numerous music competition shows, but am so glad American Idol brought Jennifer Hudson into my music world.
The singer has enjoyed much success in music and as an actress, garnering Grammy and Academy awards, but it’s a single from her 2011 studio album, I Remember Me that keeps her on my favorites list.
Her first musical offering after the murder of her mother, brother and nephew by her sister’s estranged husband in late 2008, Hudson opens the 2011 album with the single No One Gonna Love You, which begins with a major understatement – “I’ve been through some things.”
The song was released as the album’s second single and impacted Urban Adult Contemporary radio in May of 2011.
FUN FACTS:
The music video for No One Gonna Love You was directed by Diane Martel.
According to Thomas Conner from Chicago Sun-Times, “the producer Rich Harrison dials everything back, including an interesting plunky muted piano, to showcase Hudson’s voice, which builds slowly from ditty to diva in less than four minutes and never boils over.
The video begins with Hudson reminding her boyfriend not to be late for their anniversary dinner and he becomes confused. Later, Hudson arrives at the restaurant and her boyfriend is not there, but he tries to call her but she ignores his call and goes back to their apartment. When she gets there, she tries to turn on the lights, which are not working. Then her boyfriend turns on a lamp and the place is filled with balloons and streamers. He then surprises Hudson by sneaking an engagement ring on her finger and she becomes overjoyed and they embrace. Scenes of Hudson performing the song in their apartment, as well as dancing with two other dancers on a chair, wearing a black hat are also featured.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.
~~~~~
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
No One Gonna Love You
by Jennifer Hudson
Songwriter: Rich Harrison
Aha! Hmmm! Hmm
I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Even though I, I, I still can feel a sting
No need to second guess me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
See I, I, I, I, I don’t mind you
Putting up a little bit of fight, it’s alright
But why run from what’s gonna hold you tight
Through any complications, baby, maybe we can start tonight!
Hey! I saw the dirty look you gave me
Don’t care what your ex do
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
And if you dare, don’t dare
Send me straight to voice mail
Baby I’m just gonna text you
Hope it ain’t no issue, I just gotta let you
Know no one to love you like I’m gonna love you!
See I, I, I, I, I don’t mind you
Putting up a little bit of fight, it’s alright
But why run from what’s gonna hold you tight
Through any complications, baby, maybe we can start tonight!
Oh, oh, oh!
I put that on everything!
Ain’t no one gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna hold you!
Show you what I could show you!
Somebody better told you!
Oh, oh, oh!
Baby, your name’s spelled out in every heartbeat!
Ain’t no one gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna hold you!
Show you what I could show you!
But if you should go down that same road
You’ve been before
You’re in reverse, your pain rehearsed,just brace yourself for the blow
But don’t you know that you could just let it go?
Don’t you know
I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Don’t you know I, I, I, I, I’m making you this promise
Clutchin’ on a rosary
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Oh, oh, oh, oh!
I put that on everything
Ain’t no one gonna love you
Ain’t no one gonna hold you
Show you what I could show you!
Somebody better tell you!
Oh, Oh, Oh!
I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Don’t you know I, I, I, I, I’m making you this promise
Clutchin’ on a rosary
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Oh, oh, oh, oh!
Compiled from SongFacts.com, Genius Lyrics, YouTube, Wikipedia, and Google
January 20, 2019
#My52 “The Price of a Life, Part II”
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#My52: Week 3
Word prompt: wheelchair
Word count – 867
Reading time – 2 mins, 12 secs
~~~
Part II
Consumed with hopelessness, Dex withdrew into his mind, immersing himself in schoolwork and dreams of being reunited with his father.
Months stretched into years and Dexter Morgan turned seventeen in a dusty, two-bedroom flat miles off the Las Vegas strip.
There was no cake or celebration.
Dex woke to the latest argument between his mother and Simon.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, he covered his ears with his hands.
I hate my life.
Resigned to his lot, he went to his closet, sorting through his meager wardrobe for jeans that wouldn’t show his ankles and a shirt that wasn’t threadbare.
Dex was walking down the hallway to the shower when he heard the slap.
His hands clenched into tight fists, gripping his jeans.
Why does she put up with it? Why are we still here? This isn’t a family.
Verna Morgan’s groans broke through his thoughts.
He continued on to the bathroom, his steps slow and labored.
He’d interfered before… tried to stop the yelling and the punches by putting himself between his mother and her boyfriend… and always came out the loser.
I’ll get dressed and leave. He will kill her one day and I refuse to witness it.
His hand was on the bathroom doorknob when he heard a harsh exhale from his mother.
And another… and another.
Dex fell against the door, hit by a wave of nausea and dizziness.
His eyes burned with unshed tears as Simon continued to deliver the body punches to the woman he said he loved.
Opening his mouth for a deep breath, Dex clamped his lips closed, fighting off the bile threatening to erupt from his belly.
He dropped his jeans and raced into the ramshackle living room.
Simon held Verna against the wall with one hand as he drew back his fist for yet another blow.
Dex crossed the room in two steps, grabbing the man’s fist.
“No more.”
Without releasing Verna, Simon turned his head. His eyes bore the darkness of evil and spittle flew from his lips when he spoke.
“Have you lost your damn mind? Let go, boy… now!”
Dexter’s face was the picture of calm as he tightened his hold on the older man’s fist and threw him across the room.
Simon crashed into the wall, overturning the corner lamp while a bruised and bloody Verna slid to the floor.
Propelled by rage, the teenager approached his mother’s lover.
Dexter had never raised his hands in anger to anyone. He’d taken the abuse and bullying at home and at every school he’d ever attended.
But as Dex loomed over the prone man, Simon raised his head and Dex saw fear… of him.
Today, his seventeenth birthday, Dexter Morgan realized he was no longer that frightened twelve-year-old boy snatched away from his father. Life had given him nothing in the last five years, but that didn’t stop nature from giving him seven more inches in height and sixty pounds.
With little effort, he lifted Simon from the floor, energized by the growing horror in the older man’s eyes.
“Every time you beat her, I hit you.” He delivered a brutal gut punch to his mother’s abuser, then dropped him in a heap and ran to Verna as her moans grew louder.
“Don’t move, ma. You need help. I’m calling 911.”
She struggled to respond.
“No, don’t. I’m fine.”
“You’re not, ma. Hang on while-”
“No.”
Her voice was light and raspy but determined.
“I’ll be fine. Just help me up.”
Dex lifted her and laid her on the ratty, stain-covered sofa.
“Ma, you’re a mess. You need a doctor.”
“I said no. You shouldn’t have interfered, Dexter. Simon was just blowing off steam. I pushed him too far.”
Dexter’s jaws tightened, his rage threatening to boil over. Once again, she was blaming herself for Simon’s sins.
“You won’t be happy until he beats the life right out of you, will you?”
“Dexter James! Do not speak that way to your mother.”
“Oh, you get mad at me for speaking the truth but it’s okay if that piece of shit knocks you around-”
“You don’t understand.”
“You’re right, ma, I don’t, and I never will. But as long as I’m here, he doesn’t get to beat on you.”
“Then… maybe you shouldn’t be here.”
Her words cut him to the quick, choking his response.
“W-What do you m-mean, ma? I s-shouldn’t be here?”
“I don’t need you butting into my business and throwing Simon around. You didn’t hurt him, did you?”
Dex’s blood ran cold. The last vestiges of the frightened twelve-year-old boy skittered to the dark corners of his mind and huddled next to his stolen childhood.
“He can still walk so not near as bad as I wanted to, ma. But I’m out. I’ll leave you two to your little unhappily ever after.”
He stormed from the room, grabbing his jeans from the hallway floor. Forgetting about his shower, Dex threw on his clothes and dumped an extra pair of jeans into his backpack with his books.
Dex walked away from the musty apartment ignoring Verna’s weak pleas for him to come back.
She made her choice, and it wasn’t him.
To be continued…
Photo by Angelo Del Prete on Unsplash
~~~
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©2019 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
January 19, 2019
Song Lyric Sunday | “One Less Bell to Answer” – The 5th Dimension
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “crying/sadness.”
~~~~~
I was in 4th grade when this song hit the charts, and I’ve been singing it ever since!
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote One Less Bell to Answer for Keely Smith in 1967, but she never recorded it. Bones Howe, producer for the 5th Dimension rediscovered the song and it was part of the group’s 1970 debut album, Portrait.
One Less Bell to Answer was an instant hit and went platinum. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, as well as No. 4 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
The song is about losing your love, and the sadness that follows the loss. The lead vocals were by Marilyn McCoo, who was the 5th Dimension’s featured vocalist at the time. She sings that she should be happy that her man is gone but all she does is cry – no more laughter.
FUN FACTS:
Lyricist Hal David was at a dinner party when it was announced someone wasn’t turning up, and the hostess said: ‘that’s one less bell to answer’. He went home and wrote One Less Bell to Answer that night.
The song has been covered more than a dozen times by artists including Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Vicki Carr, Sheryl Crow and Vanessa Williams.
Bacharach included a version of the song on his own 1971 debut album with Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom) as vocalist.
The 5th Dimension version of the song was prominently featured in an episode of the Robert Wagner TV series, It Takes a Thief.
The video is a live television performance and I love the outfits SO MUCH! They’re like Star Trek and Xena, Warrior Princess went to a Renaissance fair together!
January 13, 2019
#My52 “The Price of a Life”
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~~~
#My52: Week 2
Word prompt: wheelchair
Word count – 503
Reading time – 2 mins, 4 secs
~~~
Part I
A thick layer of dust covered the piano his mother forced him to practice thirteen years ago.
Dex ran his hand over the keys.
I hated this piano. I hated practicing.
His shoulders slumped as he plunked a key.
The stiffness of the key and the angry tone of the chord spoke to the years of disuse.
Like him, the piano sat, waiting for concern and interest from anyone.
Dexter Morgan wandered into the kitchen and felt like he’d traveled back in time.
Everything was the same… the linoleum, countertops, cabinets… even the toaster. The only thing missing was the thirteen-inch television he watched cartoons on while shoveling down spoonfuls of Malt-o-Meal.
Dex pushed through the swinging café doors and took in the once bright and sunny dining room.
Heavy, dark green drapes hung on the far wall of glass, blocking out any hint of daylight. A worn, wooden rocking chair sat in the corner, covered in as much dust as the piano.
A hospital bed sat in the room’s center, stripped and unplugged.
He was ready to leave this room… to leave this house, but the bed called to him like a siren luring him closer.
He grazed his hand over the plastic mattress, and it felt as cold and empty as his heart.
His mother told him his father had died eleven years old—two years after she dragged him from this house. They were going away with Simon; the man Verna Morgan started an affair with after his father deployed again to the middle-east.
But she lied.
Verna lied about everything and made him endure a hellish childhood, all for money.
His father’s money. The price he’d put on his own life.
Dex remembered the last time he saw Proctor Morgan—sitting in his wheelchair in the front doorway.
Father and son exchanged one last glance, both their faces wet with tears, before Verna shoved the twelve-year-old into the back seat of Simon’s Ford Explorer.
“Dexter, please stop crying. This is for the best. Your father will be fine.”
“We’re leaving him all alone, mom–”
“He has nurses and caregivers to help–”
“I don’t want to leave him–”
“Enough! Your father will spend the rest of his life in that wheelchair and he can barely use his hands. Am I just supposed to sacrifice the rest of my life to feed him and wipe his ass?”
She’d leaned in close to her son, speaking low and slow.
“I deserve a life, Dexter. I deserve nice things and traveling to new places. I deserve a man who’s a man. Simon will give me that life. Now, I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
Dex winced and leaned on the bed, the memories still fresh and painful.
Simon’s good life had been a new address every six months. The wannabe-gangster ran cons, scams, and lost big playing poker.
Every time he lost, Simon took it out on Verna, and she would pass the bruises on to Dex.
To be continued…
Photo by Angelo Del Prete on Unsplash
~~~
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©2019 Felicia Denise, All Rights Reserved
Song Lyric Sunday | “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “laughter.”
~~~~~
If you’re laughing, usually you’re happy and Pharrell Williams made the world Happy in 2014 with his feel-good anthem. The song soared to #1 in 35 countries—it was the best selling song of 2014.
Pharrell wrote and produced Happy for the soundtrack of Despicable Me 2—it also became the lead single of his second studio album, G I R L. The song appears in a scene in the film where the lead character Gru dances through streets with joy because he has fallen in love.
Fun Facts:
Nine different songs were fully recorded and pitched to producer Chris Meledandri before Happy was chosen.
Pharrell Williams originally intended for Cee Lo Green to sing Happy.
Happy is repeated 56 times over the course of the song.
The first-ever 24-hour music video was made for Happy—it follows 400 different people enjoying life while they walk around LA.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.
~~~~~
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
Happy
by Pharrell Williams
Songwriter: Pharrell Wiliams
[Verse 1]
It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care, baby, by the way
[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
[Verse 2]
Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you, don’t waste your time, here’s why
[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
[Bridge]
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said
[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
[Bridge]
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said…
[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
Compiled from SongFacts.com, Genius Lyrics, YouTube, Wikipedia, and Google
January 6, 2019
Song Lyric Sunday | “When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman” – Dr. Hook
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and we’re all heartbroken to see her step away for health reasons, but we wish Helen a full recovery to good health and a happy 2019! Many thanks to author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me for stepping in to keep the weekly challenge going. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “doctor/health/medicine.”
~~~~~
I went with the theme in a band’s name this time – Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.
When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman was written by country music songwriter Even Stevens, who came recommended by Shel Silverstein, a prolific author who wrote Dr. Hook’s hits Cover Of The Rolling Stone and Sylvia’s Mother.
Did I just combine this week’s theme with writing? Yes, I did!
Song Lyric Sunday | “Forever More” – Puff Johnson
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Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and we’re all heartbroken to see her step away for health reasons, but we wish Helen a full recovery to good health and a happy 2019! Many thanks to author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me for stepping in to keep the weekly challenge going. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
This week’s theme is “doctor/health/medicine” but I put this post together early as a favorite song!
~~~~~
Better known for the single Over and Over featured in The First Wives Club,
Forever More was the actual debut single of singer and songwriter Ewanya ‘Puff’ Johnson. It appeared on her only studio album Miracle in 1996.
The single was most successful in New Zealand, where it peaked at #5. It was a Top 30 hit in both Australia and the UK, where it peaked at #29.
In the United States, Forever More peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #31 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, #42 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and #22 on the Billboard Rhythmic Songs chart.
The dynamic singer’s career was cut short when she lost her battle to cervical cancer.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.
~~~~~
Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
Forever More
by Puff Johnson
Songwriters: Sally Jo Dakota, Puff Johnson, Narada Michael Walden
When you close your eyes
I hope you think of me
Just say the word
And I will be there for you
No need to hesitate
My love will be here always-0hForever more
You will be what I’m living for
And deep in my heart
There’s a light that shine
Just for you and only you
Forever more, forever more
When you need a friend
I’ll be there till the end
Come rain or shine
I’ll be standing by your side
I’ll never turn away, my love
Will be here always, oh
Forever more
You will be what l’m living for
And deep in my heart
There’s a flame that burns
Just for you and only you
Forever more you will be what
I’m longing for and deep in my soul
There’s a light that shine
Just for you and only you
Forever more, forever more
Never felt this way before, until you
Made sweet love to me, oh baby
Your the one my heart adores
The only man I need- forever more
Forever more you will be what
I’m longing for and deep in my soul
There’s a light that shine
Just for you and only you
Forever more, forever more
Compiled from SongFacts.com, Genius Lyrics, YouTube, Wikipedia, and Google
#My52 Writing Challenge 2019
It’s a brand new year… are you ready for a new writing challenge?
In 2017, I participated in the 52-Week Writing Challenge (and was the randomly chosen winner) and in 2018, I did the #52weeks52stories Writing Challenge.
When I asked around about a writing challenge for 2019, none popped up, so I decided to go my own way, and you’re invited to join me!
If you’ve participated in any type of writing challenge, you’re already aware of what a useful writing tool they can be. If you’ve come to an impasse in your current WIP, stepping away for a moment to focus on something else can sort through the cobwebs, flick on the light, or move the forest so you can see the trees.
Parts of a current WIP can also be used in a writing challenge. The difficulty of character profiles, scenes, world building, and even book blurbs can disappear when task are tackled as flash fiction.
As the Queen of Many Wurdz and champion of the run-on sentence, I took part in challenges to focus on short stories. I needed to focus on telling a complete story in as few words as possible. I’m partial to longer standalone books, but not everyone wants to read a 180K epic psychological family saga.
Okay, I lied. I don’t either.
So, after 70+ short stories, how am I doing? It’s an ongoing process. 
