My Tribute... A Woman, A Mother, A Daughter, An Artist, A Friend

My Tribute... A Woman, A Mother, A Daughter, An Artist, A Friend

Artists come in many shapes, sizes, and styles of creative expressions.
Whatever their medium, be it music score sheets; the potter's wheel; line-free paper, keyboards, or canvas, the final work stirs, inspires or give cause for pause, for a moment or even a lifetime.

One such artist, which has graced our world for forty-eight short years, and mine for at least twenty-five years, has stirred, inspired and often given me cause for pause throughout my awkward teenage years; on into my spread my wings so I can fly young adulthood years, and now well into my wiser womanhood. Unbeknowns to me, and perhaps many others, Whitney Houston's music was their guiding me along the way. I was first introduced to her music, her song, her voice of inspiration by my mother, who I remember giving me "The Greatest Love of All", when I was a teenager. That song reminded me that in all that I do, in all that I aspire to do, I must first learn to love myself.

Not too long afterwards, when developing an eye for the guy, her song "How will I Know?" also resonated with the developing confidence of the young girl in me, trying to navigate through this world of love, lies and understanding. Then, "Didn't we Almost Have It All" reminded me of what possibilities awaited, if only two were on the same page of the same book, turning the pages in the same direction.

Her songs have solidified friendships, and relationships of all kinds "Your Love Is My Love"; united couples in Holy Matrimony "I Believe In You Me"; and nursed good, but not fully complementary relationships as they came to a close "I Will Always Loved You."

She sang for Presidents and other dignitaries, but I believe her favorite audience was her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, affectionately called "Krissy".

ALL of her songs central theme was LOVE. They lifted, guided, encouraged and pointed us back to the ULTIMATE LOVE OF ALL: JESUS. Her acapella rendition of "Yes Jesus Loves Me, Oh Yes He Does", which was the last song she sang, has always stirred my soul, was sung and heartfelt. It reminds me of the Christian foundation that her parent(s) instilled in her as a child.

No other singing artist in my lifetime has ever delivered the American National Anthem as only Ms. Houston could do. I was most proud to be an American at that moment, and on again Tuesday, November 5, 2008, when Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States. Cut and paste link to view her performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1QmeEdFOSc

She was A Woman, A Mother, A Daughter, An Artist, and A Friend to more than she ever knew. To touch millions of lives profoundly, and encourage deeply thousands of whom she never met, around this world was her purpose, to which she fulfilled and did it well. "The are only two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots, the other is wings." (Anonymous)

Now that's Da Art of Living!

~Simply Lady Dana
February 2010 (c)

Here's another artist musical tribute to Ms. Houston. Click on the link and paste in your browser, and allow a few minutes for loading. The volume starts off low, but then crescendos.

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhA7T8aI9WRI1MD2US

Now LIVE!