My Soul Looks Back and Wonders How I Got Over...

It feels great to be back!

Are any of you old enough, or seasoned enough in the "black church experience" to remember this song? "My Soul Looks Back and Wonders How I Got Over"?

Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, Mahalia Jackson and even the more contemporary Aretha Franklin, all sang and recorded this song. Mahalia even sang it at Martin Luther King's funeral.

I am getting off of my opening subject here that I intended to write about, but isn't it funny how when you hear music, memories of times past come rushing back? I can remember my parents playing old spirituals on the record player by the Drinkard Singers, Aretha Franklin, Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, and the Caravans.

When I hear those old songs now, I still can remember where I was in the house when I heard the sounds of the choirs and their music wafting through the rooms. I can remember how the music made me feel at that time. I can even remember some of the album covers. But my feelings that are now associated with the music, of course are completely different. I am creating new memories for the old music!

I remember during my preteen and teen years, that during the week days in the summer and on most weekends we listened to Mary C. on (I think it was) WWIN or WEBB and Pauline Wells Lewis on WSID radio stations. Those lady deejays are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on in my memory...sweet memories of the spiritual music that they played daily. I would sit by the radio with a tape recorder trying to catch songs that I really liked. Man, I wish I had that kind of time on my hands now!

When I hear the music that my parents played in the house while I was growing up, it always strikes this weird kind of nostalgia feeling inside...I can't explain it, but it is like the past is right in front of me. The feelings, the colors, the smells, the emotions, the times all associated with that partucular song are right there for the touching. ...and they are all good memories. I hope one day my kids will look back on the music we played in the house while they are growing up, and smile with the memories.

On to what I wanted to write about as my opening topic: "My soul looks back and wonders how I got over!"

This past week has been a bear at work, and I was trying to catch my breath (before I started my blog again) from my summer class finally ending! Yeaaah! Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the class, and learned a tremendous amount of material, and even gained a new potential friend in the process, I am glad that it is OVER! Halleluyah! What a relief! Man, O man! Yup, I got an "A+" in the class, but an "A" on my transcript. This college does not award plusses (+). Bummer. But after all of that work still, my soul looks back and wonders how I got over....It could have been only by the grace of God. Amen.

Ok to catch up:
I got my car back, and it seems to be in fine working order. I have a lifetime warranty on the repair to the parts that were replaced. Cool. But I miss that Infinity G-35. It was awesome! and the pickup! Whew! Did I get spoiled or what? I had to remind myself that my own car is not so shabby. Continue to be glad and thankful for what you do have girl! You are blessed!

Many of you have gotten antsy about me not posting regularly through the duration of my class. Hey, I warned you and I did the best that I could do considering. Many things happened that I wanted to write about but did not have the time to do so at the time...and that even hurt me a little!

I am on vacation this week. I have to admit it is very well deserved. I have worked hard for a long time without a break. Man, I could very well sit in one spot and not move very far from it all week. Naw, just joking! Hee Hee.

It's great to be back. Let me hear from ya! Love ya all!

\0/